So I figured that the best way to give ya'll an idea of what our work is like is to post "before and after" pictures of our sites. It's truly amazing what progress 5 people can make...
It would also be a good idea to give ya'll a step by step outline of what we do when we get to a site, AKA lock. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locks_on_the_C%26O_Canal [1])
-Assess lock and clarify specific dangers and safety protocol
-Assign specific jobs to each crew member
-Put on appropriate PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) for the job
-GET TO WORK!
-How?
-Take the weed wacker to the bottom of the lock, which is sometimes filled with about a foot of water
-After the bottom of the lock is cleared, take the chainsaw to any exisiting trees and treat with herbicide
-Use loppers and pole saw to remove vegetation from the top portions of the lock walls and treat roots with herbicide
-Use rakes and man power to pull debris out into the forest to lay
-Set up the ladder and treat the vegetation hanging on the walls with a backpack sprayer via foliar spray
-Any trees growing out of the lock wall (example:tree of heaven) are removed by climbing up the ladder and using a hand saw to cut and herbicide to treat
-Swamp, AKA pull debris, out of the locks and into the forest
-Come back to site after a few weeks to monitor the foliar sprayed vegetation and remove when plants have died out
-Why?
-To protect the integrity of historical structures throughout the C&O Canal NHP for future generations to enjoy and experience.
Follow the pictures from left to right to see before, during and after photos of our work :
