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Show , . . X- X, ( ,,; '' 1 -ZT-- -X ' I " - . K - ? h . ::- l ' ;' f I -s; , , . -'.' ' 'v"v , ' '-, -. - ' ' i I . , . . .. j X - I v . .-. - r ' .4 t - ' . ' I ' . - "y!,, i i ., -x . Xi '": . .. i I . - v ' ".-4 I I x . , ; -x y j &&M3tt.L.!!l4bM'iiilu Y t'tt n ' i iWil miifc ma i hi mil wwi.. -m .A Junior high students from Panguitch plant new willows will protect riparian areas native willows along Allen Henrie's and reduce sediment transport within the Panguitch property. Once established, the watershed. Students Work And Learn During Community Watershed Days By Vicki Tyler Dixie National Forest PANGUITCH - May 21-23 marked the second annual "Community Watershed Days" sponsored by the Upper Sevier River Information and Education Committee. Panguitch students, from elementary ele-mentary through secondary, helped plant willows, grasses and forbs, stabilize riparian areas, construct rock erosion walls and dig up thistle at the Panguitch Outdoor Classroom, Allen Henrie's ranch and along the Sevier River. A mile section of Bureau of Land Management land along the Sevier River will see improved water and riparian conditions, thanks to the efforts of 19 Panguitch High School students. These students, as well as one dedicated hunter, Stan Beckstrom (Utah Division of Wildlife Resources), Lisa Church (Bureau of Land Management) and Nate Harris (Utah State University Agriculture Agricul-ture Experiment Station), spent the better part of a day planting narrowleaf cottonwood, chokecherry, silver buffaloberry and river birch. Although these shrubs were once prevalent along portions of the Sevier River, extensive land use has all but eliminated these important riparian plants. While Allen Henrie barbe-qued barbe-qued hamburgers for an ambitious ambi-tious bunch of Panguitch junior high school students, they planted plant-ed native willows along his Panguitch Creek property. Willow bundles, gathered from nearby live plants, were anchored into areas along the stream bank that had previously eroded. The newly transplanted willows will send out new sprouts and quickly become established along the riparian area, providing shade for area trout, and reducing sediment transport within the watershed. "Whether you know it or not," said Allen Henrie, "you are doing a great service. What you have done today will make the water run clearer, and it will be a better place for the fish, birds and wildlife that live here." Not to be outdone, the smallest small-est participants in the annual Watershed Days were Panguitch Elementary School youth, kindergarten through fifth grade. Presentations from Debbi Cantu (Bryce Canyon National Park), Jason Bradshaw (Soil Conservation Service), Nathan Harris (Utah State University Extension) and Jake Schoppe and crew (U.S. Forest Service) helped participants better bet-ter understand natural resources within the watershed and hands-on hands-on activities reinforced those concepts learned. Over 210 students stu-dents and 21 teachers and parents par-ents participated in the elementary elemen-tary portion of watershed days, held at the Panguitch Outdoor Classroom. . "It was a great day," said Marilyn Bulkley, Elementary Teacher and project organizer. "I am already looking forward to next year." To learn more about the Upper Sevier Community Watershed Project, or to volunteer for area projects, visit www.uppersevier.net. I |