Volunteer

No matter what your skills and interests, you can probably exercise them for the benefit of the Refuges.

Currently, our major projects and volunteer opportunities include:

• Habitat restoration.  This typically involves removing non-native plants, planting native plants, and caring for these plants until they are fully established.  The US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) typically takes care of most of the non-native plant removal, and volunteers do the remainder of the restoration steps.  The USFWS has developed a Comprehensive Conservation Plan for the Refuges, which the Refuge Manager uses to plan specific projects. Some of these projects are very large and will take years, for example converting 200 acres of pasture into oak savanna.  Others are smaller, for example converting a one-acre oak stand from blackberries to native grasses and under-story plants.  Over the winter of 2006/2007 we had several hundred volunteers plant over 2,000 shrubs and trees in two habitat restoration projects.  In the summers we need people to water the plants.  In the fall we begin planting again.  Planting continues through the winter until early April.
• Purchasing, starting and growing native plants.  The Conservation Plan calls for hundreds of acres to be planted with native vegetation (shrubs, trees, meadow plants, etc.).  This will require many thousands of plants.  We are setting up a simple nursery near the Refuge office to grow some of the plants.  We would also like to explore the possibility of having interested people in the community grow plants at their homes.  If you enjoy gardening or landscaping, or are interested in native plants, we could really use your help ensuring that we have an appropriate supply of plants for volunteers to plant on the Refuges.
• Locating invasive plants.  We have started to train a limited number of individuals as needed to identify and map target invasive plant species. Plant hunters survey refuge lands (including areas the general public cannot go), locate and record the location of invasive plants for early detection and rapid response to help prevent the spread of non-native invaders. Work must take place at key times of year when plants are most visible during flowering. Volunteers must be able to work independently, find their positions on maps, and negotiate difficult field and possibly wetland terrain on foot. Ability to use GPS is a plus, but not required. We will provide training and equipment.
• Invasive Plant Control. Groups and individuals mow, cut, pull and haul non-native plants such Himalayan blackberry, English ivy, yellow water iris, indigobush, and others. Most work may take place at any time of the year, although some must take place at key times during the growing season when plants are most vulnerable and before setting seed. The Refuge staff takes care of large scale removal of non-native plants, while volunteers are needed to remove them from areas that are inaccessible to machinery, such as in wooded areas, steep slopes, etc.
• Invasive Plant Herbicide Applicators.  The refuge needs also needs assistance in applying herbicides to control persistent or widespread invasive plants such as Himalayan blackberry and Canadian thistle in areas where control by tractor-powered application is not appropriate. This is more effective than hand removal, because the sprayed invasives do not regrow as easily. The refuge will pay for training material, fees and travel for interested individuals to obtain a Washington State Pesticide Applicator Public Operator’s license. In exchange for training, applicators will repay at least 10 hours per year in applicator time, in addition to study and test time. Volunteers must study four applicator guide booklets provided by the refuge and pass four tests at the Washington Department of Agriculture in Olympia to become licensed. Two volunteer applicators were trained last year, but we need additional assistance. Herbicide applicators will be asked to work independently or as part of as a group.
• Team Leaders.  If you are interested in leading any of the above groups of volunteers, we will provide guidance and training. This is a critical part of completing all of these projects, and the more we have, the less impact it will have on the very dedicated team leaders we already have. Please give this position some serious thought and let us know if you are interested.
• Gibbons Creek Wildlife Trail Stewards  This winter (March 2010) we will train interested individuals in refuge information such as history, management, wildlife identification/biology, public use, volunteering, the Refuge Stewards, and rules and regulations. We will then schedule them to spend some time out on the trail to meet with people and share information about the refuge. Primary work time will be during spring, summer and fall, but some of you may be interested in going out periodically during the winter.
• Outreach.  The Refuge Stewards are developing a set of outreach materials that we take to community events, where we talk with people about the Refuges.  We also advocate for the Refuges to the community and to government officials.
• Environmental education.  Several of the Refuge Stewards work with local schools, teaching students about the Refuges and the animals and plants that visit and live there.  We are developing plans and have some funding to do much more in the area of environmental education, but we do not yet have enough volunteers to help us complete and implement the plans.
• Biological surveys.  As part of ongoing Refuge management, the Refuge Manager occasionally asks for volunteers to do things such as bird surveys, plant surveys, water quality monitoring, etc.  We would like to develop a pool of trained volunteers who can help with these surveys.
• Fundraising.  The Columbia Gorge Refuge Stewards is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.  We do not receive funding from the USFWS or any other government organization.  We raise funds through a membership program, grants, donations, and fundraising activities.  In the spring of 2007 we received a small startup grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, which provides startup and other grants to Refuge friends groups.  We have many fundraising ideas and plans but need time and volunteers to pursue them.  All of our funds are spent on projects such as those listed above.

Other Projects

We plan to pursue the following but currently lack the resources (volunteers and funds).  In many cases we have projects and interested volunteers, but lack people to coordinate the work.

• Develop or improve public use facilities.  Though most of the Refuge land is closed to the public, the conservation plan calls for the construction of some public facilities.  These include a loop trail at Steigerwald Refuge, and eventually, a visitor's center/education facility, also at Steigerwald.  This is a long range goal, and would require some very dedicated individuals who really want to see this happen and be willing to work towards that end.

If you would like to volunteer or have some questions about volunteering, please contact us via email at volunteer@refugestewards.org or by postal mail at the address below.  Please include your interests and any special skills you have.  You can also check our calendar to see all the upcoming work days and hikes.

Our mailing address:

Columbia Gorge Refuge Stewards
P.O. Box 827
Washougal, WA 98671