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La Salle Pass     Wildcat Canyon     S Park Alpine     Selkirk Gulch     Packer Gulch     Farnum Peak

La Salle Pass Restoration Project

This year's seeds yield next year's grasses. Photo Jim Lockhart
1,150 feet of routes were seeded
at La Salle Restoration Project
on Saturday October 24

Wild Connections intrepid Board members stepped up to scatter native seeds just ahead of the approaching winter storm. They seeded and raked in 620 feet at Site 1, 220 feet at Site 2 and 310 feet at Site 3. This completes the site work that was started in September. (See below)

On Sunday the area got the expected snow, along with much colder temperatures. The moisture is particularly welcome as the project site was very dry. Over-wintering gives the seeds the best chance to germinate next spring to revegetate the former routes.

Native grass seed mixture. Photo John Stansfield

September Work Day

Volunteers from Wild Connections and staff from the USFS South Park Ranger District and the Platte Canyon Fire Department set 124 posts at three locations on LaSalle Pass on September 12.

The Forest Service then installed the heavy steel cable and ripped the hard-packed road beds behind the barriers.

A big shout out to you volunteers and to the 30 people whose donations raised $6,192 to pay for the materials!

 



Site 1 with Martland Peak in right distance. Photo Jean Smith
Site 2 where FR 44 turns east. Photo Vickie Smith
Extensive fencing at Site 3. Photo Vickie Smith

Volunteers from Wild Connections and staff from the USFS South Park Ranger District and the Platte Canyon Fire Department set 124 posts at three locations on LaSalle Pass on September 12. A big shout out to these fine folks!

 

If you've ever set posts, you know it is hard work, and everyone was really glad that the Forest Service had augured the holes earlier in the week. Volunteers placed the posts, mixed concrete, and checked to be sure they were vertical.

 

After the concrete cures cable will be strung to complete the barriers at these three illegal routes. Access to several designated dispersed camp sites is provided (example at right) and the route over the pass leads to nearby motorized routes to the east in the Badger Flats area.

 

This project continues Wild Connections work to protect roadless areas and wildlife habitat in the Farnum Peak area of South Park. These closures will benefit animals typical of shrublands, aspen and pine forests of the area, and in particular the Golden Eagles, Bald Eagles and Americaan Pregrine Falcons that frequent the cliffs near the Pass. This population is declining, and have likely been adversely affected by human presence and noise from motorized traffic.


The work crew. Photo Kristin Skoog
Defining a desginated camping site. Photo Claude Neumann
Golden Eagle. Photo CPW
American Peregrine Falcon Photo CPW
A large Restricted Area, outlined in yellow, is designed protect the eagles and falcons. Map Wild Connections

Kristin Skoog recounts some more details about the work and the site. And yes, she asked for your help! But we went over the goal by several hundred dollars, so save your $ for an end of the year gift!



Wild Connections' mission is to identify, protect, and restore wildlands, native species, and biological diversity in the Arkansas and South Platte watersheds.

2168 Pheasant Place, Colorado Springs CO 80909
(817) 939-4239 (Salida)   info@wildconnections.org