General Site Information

The Santa Fe National Forest Crew #2 will be working throughout the Forest, completing a variety of trail maintenance projects. The work is expected to include a couple of hitches in wilderness areas, improvements to a motorcycle trail, some cross-cut sawing, and a whole lot of fun.

The crew is comprised of four members and a project leader, and will be working in Santa Fe for fifteen weeks. Members receive training in trail work skills and Wilderness First Aid before heading to Santa Fe. Members will also receive training in Leave No Trace and learn more about the Southwest.

Much of the Forest is dry, though not quite a desert, and mountainous, with vegetation varying with elevation and direction (slopes facing west tend to be wetter than slopes facing east, slopes facing south get more sun than those facing north). Additional information about the Santa Fe National Forest is available at http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/sfe/.

Check out where we will start our project. The arrow indicates the junction of Crooked Creek and the Wenaha River. We will be working upstream on Crooked Creek, clearing the trail corridor and doing tread repair.
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The C&O Canal NHP runs 184.5 miles alongside the Potomac River. Beginning in Georgetown the canal winds its way North West to Cumberland, Maryland. In 2009, over 3.8 million people accessed the park. That's more visitors than Yellowstone NP!

Alongside the canal runs the towpath that is used by many each day for walking, cycling, and enjoying nature. It is a serene setting with cooling canopies or lush trees, vibrant blooms of flowers, and animals scurrying across the path.

The C&O Canl NHP has a rich history. "In the 19th century the C&O Canal provided jobs and opportunities for people throughout the Potomac River Valley. Today the canal's remains provide a place to recreate and enjoy nature, but most importantly they tell the story of the canal's important role in many aspects of American history.

There are over 1,300 historical structures along the C&O Canal. Lockhouses, aqueducts, dams and pumphouses are just a few of the engineering marvels of the 19th Century found on the canal. Most of the original structures still exist today. They are a silent testimony to those who used to work and live here on the C&O Canal.

The canal was literally a man-made river. To make the canal work a complex system of hydrology was constructed. To supply water for the canal seven feeder dams were built on the Potomac River from Cumberland to Little Falls. To control the water, seventy-four lift locks were placed in the canal.

The C&O Canal National Historical Park is in a constantly shifting, dynamic state. Weather and climate change, geologic processes, flooding and human-caused factors such as air and water pollution are only a few of the agents of change that have helped to carve the Potomac River Valley. The park provides a "living laboratory" that helps us better understand how these environmental factors have shaped park landscapes and ecosystems.

C&O Canal NHP includes nearly 20,000 acres of natural habitats where close to 4 million people each year enjoy hiking, biking, fishing and various other recreational activities. As areas of natural habitat outside the park are altered by modern land use practices, C&O Canal NHP becomes a refuge for the preservation of biodiversity."

All of the above information can be found at www.nps.gov/choh

"Though a short distance from the urban environments of Cleveland and Akron, Cuyahoga Valley National Park seems worlds away. The winding Cuyahoga—the "crooked river" as named by American Indians—gives way to deep forests, rolling hills, and open farmlands. The park is a refuge for flora and fauna and provides recreation and solitude for visitors." CVNP

The SCA Conservation Corps - Native Plant Team is partnering with staff of Cuyahoga Valley National Park to assist in removing exotic, invasive plant infestations across the Park. In addition the SCA Corps members will be working on education and outreach material to be used in community service and volunteer service days.

Some examples of invasive and exotic species are: Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard), Elaeagnus umbellata (autumn olive), and Phragmites australis (common reed).

A list of invasive/exotic plant species can be found at:
https://mwrcms.nps.gov/cuva/naturescience/invasive-plants.htm

Attached is a copy of how the Park came to be through the actions of dedicated volunteers.

For more information you can visit the park website at:

http://www.nps.gov/cuva/