But my wife and I also enjoyed the spectacular hiking that Sedona has to offer: Boynton Canyon, Fay Canyon, and the West Fork of Oak Creek were particular favorites of ours. We visited the world-class cultural resources in the area: the cliff dwellings and pictographs at Palatki and Honanki, the amazing petroglyphs at V-Bar-V, the reconstructed Tuzigoot pueblo, and Montezuma Castle and Montezuma Well.

We also traveled by car in the 4 corners area and made a point to stop at other important sites where we learned about the richness and complexity of Native American cultures. Near Flagstaff, we visited Walnut Canyon and Wupatki. Further out were the petroglyphs and pictographs in the Moab Utah area, the grandeur of Chaco Canyon and Monument Valley, and Petroglyph National Monument.

I began to appreciate how little I knew about the Sinagua culture that flourished right here in our area and near Flagstaff a thousand years ago. It finally dawned on me that if I joined the team of Friends of the Forest docents who help introduce the Sinagua culture to visitors at Palatki and V-Bar-V, I would have to do my homework. Becoming a docent was my way of entering the world of volunteers and beginning to contribute back to the community.

Even though the pandemic has halted much of the volunteer group work in Sedona, there are still ample opportunities for Friends of the Forest members to stay active. Individual members or couples who live together continue to volunteer their time: removing the graffiti that plagues Red Rock Country, conducting projects coordinated by the District Wildlife Biologist, and patrolling our trails. A group recently formed to create educational videos to post on the web, and limited photo documentation has taken place.

In fact, the Friends of the Forest Photo Documentation Team recently received a Keep Sedona Beautiful Award of Excellence for Cultural Resources for their work, which is gaining national and international attention. Although most of the documentation work in the Forest has been delayed or postponed due to COVID restrictions, computer-based interpretation of photo imagery already in hand continues for the ongoing Dust Impact Study at the Heritage Sites, and for a potentially groundbreaking study to evaluate petroglyph scratchings left by Paleolithic thru protohistoric cultures ranging possibly from 13,000 to 500 years ago. Archeologists have known for some time that nomadic people hunted animals like mammoth in the Verde Valley, having found Clovis points that date from that time, along with mammoth bones.

Even with the pause in most activities, Friends of the Forest Volunteers contributed almost 30,000 hours of effort to the Red Rock District in Fiscal Year 2020.

Friends of the Forest typically holds a new member event this time of year to let residents know of all the volunteer opportunities available. This year an in-person event is out of the question. Instead, we suggest that you visit www.friendsoftheforestsedona.org.

On the Activities Page, you’ll learn about each of the volunteer groups. Trail Patrol members hike our trails, interact with visitors and reports any trail issues. Hard labor keeping our trails in shape is done by the Trail Maintenance & Construction crew. The Red Rock Visitor Center is staffed by Friends of the Forest Volunteers who greet visitors and answer questions.
Docents at the Palatki and V-Bar-V Heritage Sites as well as the photo documentation team work under the umbrella of Cultural Resources & Protection.

Volunteers sample the air at Fossil Creek and the water in Oak Creek. River Rangers support Forest Service employees who monitor health of the Verde River. Graffiti is removed by a dedicated group of volunteers. Events at the Visitor Center and elsewhere are organized by the Interpretive & Educational Programs group. Wildlife projects of all sorts are conducted Friends of the Forest citizen scientists.

In short, there’s something for nearly everyone – even a reformed couch potato like me who found renewed purpose by volunteering with Friends of the Forest.

Author – Craig Swanson

The post Why I Volunteer appeared first on Friends of the Forest Sedona.

First, plan your hike. With over 400 miles of trails on the Red Rock District, you should look for trails that are typically less crowded. If you’re unfamiliar with how popular a trail is, a quick web search should provide the answer. Trails like Devil’s Bridge or Cathedral Rock that are noted as among the most popular in Sedona are poor candidates. You should also try to avoid mid-day when day-trippers from Phoenix have arrived and are starting to hike. As you plan your outing, keep in mind that you should stay home if you feel at all ill.

Have a backup planned. If there’s a crowd at the trailhead when you arrive, move on to your backup. There are plenty of spectacular trails that don’t attract the throngs. One tip-off that the trail is overcrowded is when the parking lot is full and a lot of cars are parked along the road – sometimes scores of them. Don’t contribute to the congestion; move on to your backup.

Drive safely to the trailhead. Even though carpooling is usually a great way to reduce your carbon footprint, during the pandemic the CDC recommends extra care, noting “Don’t ride in a vehicle if the driver or other passengers who don’t live with you are not properly wearing face masks.” However, if you share the air at home, you can share the air in a car.

When you arrive at your planned trailhead if you find it’s been closed by the Forest Service, respect that closure. It’s for your safety. The Forest Service takes closing a trail very seriously and only does so if crowding on the trails (or other reasons like rockfalls) causes unacceptable risk.

As a final pre-hike step, come prepared. Bring plenty of water, even for a winter hike, along with snacks, a hat, good footwear, sunscreen, walking sticks and a mask.

As the CDC continues to emphasize on their website, masking, distancing and avoiding crowds are the most effective ways to prevent the spread of the virus. While on a trail and at a distance from other hikers, masking up is not necessary. But there are times out on the trails when you should mask up to protect yourself and others: in the parking lot where crowds of hikers are congregated, or when you stop to rest or sightsee and you are close to others you do not live with.

Masking up when needed is simple etiquette that will make everyone’s experience safer and more comfortable. Keep in mind that Sedona attracts visitors from around the world. Even if our area is controlling the virus well, others are certainly not so fortunate. When encountering other hikers, find a good spot to pull off the trail a few feet and let them pass. When in doubt, yield. But please don’t hike off trail. You’re as likely as not to start a social trail that others will then hike on, damaging the very fragile organic soil that takes decades to recover.

Right now, when our hospitals are struggling to keep up with cases and our healthcare heroes are stretched to their limits, please don’t take risks when you hike. Don’t be a Search and Rescue case. If you come prepared with water and snacks and stay on the trails, you won’t become an unfortunate statistic.

When your hike is done, conclude your experience with these simple steps: don’t congregate unmasked in the parking lot and keep proper social distance.

All of these precautions boil down to three things: plan, prepare and prevent. You’ll fully enjoy the benefits of being outdoors and you’ll look forward to your next hike!

Author – Craig Swanson

The post Hiking Safely During COVID appeared first on Friends of the Forest Sedona.

Below is a grass covered valley extending far to the south with a water filled stock tank in the distance. The flood control dam to the west that prevents floods and downstream erosion is clearly visible. A dirt road to the east at the base of a tree covered Red Rock ridge. A small dark scar is starting down where the road enters into the valley floor.

The flashback to my early childhood is interrupted by an exclamation, “I can still see parts of the old road”. When I was young the gully system below had already started with the road, my grandfather’s version of a social trail; the dam had failed. This new trail may be the only place you can look down and see an entire active gully system. Most are hidden from view.

Gullies began appearing in the Red Rocks country with the arrival of domestic livestock herds and accelerated with the arrival of wheeled vehicles. Herds of newcomers arrived who didn’t understand how to travel across this desert landscape with its unstable soil. Soil made from wind-blown dunes, lake bed sediments and volcanic ash. All of them highly mobile, unstable.

As a Friend of the Forest Sedona Volunteer supporting the Red Rock Ranger District Gully Restoration Projects, I came across a single mountain bike track, placed my foot prints next to it. For years I have been monitoring these tracks, it appears the foot prints are fading faster than the bike track, but they are both still there. Damaged soil can take a very long time to heal. Therefore, one of the first actions in Gully Restoration is erosion control using time tested methods. These methods are very easy to learn and implement by any volunteer. We make the water do most of the work, a very simple concept to learn.

For the Restoration part to be successful, a clear understanding of what caused the gully to form is required and an understanding of the natural cycles that play a role. A depression in the soil from a foot print indicates that something has been removed. The air, the void space between particles, has been compressed out. Without the void space, transport of life supporting water, air and light is reduced or stops. The light that penetrates soil drives photosynthesis which provides nutrients to the organisms below. This top layer of soil is an organic living skin which protects the unstable soil below from erosion. Healthy soil has to breathe to support life, it needs a living skin to protect it from erosion.

Once erosion control is completed, the effort focuses on revegetation of bare soil. With a reported average peak temperature of 115F for July 2018 in the Verde Valley, climate change has arrived. Typically, it has been around 100F in June. Many plant species will not survive these elevated temperatures. The shift in month and temperature indicates levels of damaging radiation higher, for a longer duration. This land is adapted to the flood and drought cycles, but higher radiation levels with elevated temperatures makes restoration a new ball game. Things that worked in the past may not work in the future.

Once stabilized, many areas in the Gully System will revegetate in a natural process. For those areas that don’t revegetate, we have to restore life to dead soil. Experience has taught me that it takes about five years to get the natural process restarted in dead soil. Lessons learned: life needs life, the ants are not your friend, and focus on the low radiation high moisture winter months when the ants are hiding and seedlings have a better survival rate.

The Red Rocks Ranger District Gully Restoration Project is an opportunity for volunteers to experience what is going on under their feet. An opportunity to look down at the soil which is alive and breathing. An opportunity to better understand what brings life to this beautiful landscape and what needs to be done to help keep it alive. Maybe even learn how grass chases water.

The Restoration Erosion Control team (my wife and I) joined Friends of The Forest Sedona to get into the communication loop to support the Red Rock Ranger District efforts. With my engineering and restoration experience, I make myself useful on the Gully Restoration Project and local erosion issues. We’re working on how to grow a solution instead of building one, and on how to jump start the restoration process while leaving as few tracks as possible.

Serving Sedona, written this week by Richard Spencer-Coen of Sedona Friends of the Forest, appears Wednesday in the Sedona Red Rock News.

The post What is Gully Restoration? appeared first on Friends of the Forest Sedona.

On Friday March 6th from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 pm at the Red Rock Visitor Center Peter Pilles, Coconino National Forest archaeologist will discuss the rock art styles of every ancient culture that has lived in the Verde Valley area. Pilles will show examples from each culture, and will discuss the unique styles of rock art that distinguish each culture

Then, on Friday March 13th from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 pm at the Red Rock Visitor Center Wendy Hodgson and Andrew Salywon will present “Pre-Columbian Agaves in the Southwest – Discovering Lost Crops among the Hohokam and the Verde Valley Cultures”.  At this talk, you’ll learn the many ways that Native people utilized this amazing plant.

Jake Newhouse will discuss the petroglyphs and solar calendar at the V Bar V Heritage Site on Saturday March 21st from 12:30 to 2:00. At this Spring Equinox presentation, you can learn about the people who made over 1000 petroglyphs at the site, and how they used the solar calendar to help them know when to plant their crops.

Archeology and Heritage Awareness Month wraps up on the Red Rock District on Saturday March 28th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the V Bar V Heritage Site when Bob Erb will demonstrate a wide variety of ancient technology tools commonly used by Native Americans of this region.  Bob is expert at explaining how indigenous people people made and used tools.

In Addition, on Friday April 3, Jim Wilson will present “Ancient Melodies: An Anasazi Legacy of Native American Flutes”. Jim is a docent at V Bar V Heritage Site and is a long-time Friends of the Forest member. His presentation will trace the development of the flute from pre-historic times to the modern flute we know today. He’ll introduce you to flute styles, composition and playing techniques.  Jim is a student of our local Native American heritage and regularly conducts flute workshops.

You may have noticed that the V Bar V petroglyph site was closed to the public in February. The Forest Service embarked on the first phase of an extensive project to construct a visitor-friendly viewing area at the site.  Those of you who have visited V Bar V know that the ground there is sloped, uneven and awkward to stand on.  This project will result in a gradual ramp leading up to a level viewing area.  Since there are irreplaceable artifacts under current ground level, rather than sinking posts into the ground and installing decking, the entire viewing area will consist of fill and retaining walls. For those of you who haven’t yet seen the wonders of V Bar V, March is a perfect time to make your first visit. One of the Friends of the Forest Docents, like Jim Wilson, will introduce you to the Sinagua and to this amazing petroglyph site.

Our docents may even tempt you to visit the other spectacular ancient sites in the area: the cliff dwelling and pictographs at Palatki and Honanki, the remains of an extensive pueblo and the beautiful visitor center museum at Tuzigoot, the Montezuma Well ruins, and the spectacular Montezuma Castle cliff dwelling.

I became a docent for Friends of the Forest because I became fascinated by the indigenous peoples who inhabited our area, and wanted to learn more about them.  I knew that if I were to try to explain their cultures to visitors, I would need to do educate myself.  With the help of Friends of the Forest leaders Jerry Walters and Spence Gustav, I began building a storehouse of information that I could share. Serving as a volunteer docent at V Bar V and Palatki has proved to be even more rewarding than I anticipated. I look forward to every outing, particularly the smiles on the faces of visitors as they learn about the creativity and ingenuity of the ancients.

If you’re interested in becoming a docent for Friends of the Forest, and helping introduce visitors to our Native American heritage, or if you just want to learn more about Friends of the Forest, you can contact us via our web site: www.friendsoftheforestsedona.org.

Serving Sedona, written this week by Craig Swanson of Sedona Friends of the Forest, appears Wednesday in the Sedona Red Rock News.

The post Learn About our Rich Native American Heritage appeared first on Friends of the Forest Sedona.

Join us on Thursday, February 27^th at 2:00pm, as Sedona Friends of the Forest (FOF) hosts a New Member Welcome event in the Administration Building just below the Red Rock Ranger Station Visitor Center on State Route 179, just south of the Village Of Oak Creek. We look forward to seeing not only new members, but also anyone who wants to learn more about our activities and is considering joining our organization.

Beginning at 2:00pm, attendees can sign in at the Administration Building then continue down the corridor the to meeting room at the back of the building. The program will begin with a short video and welcome from our FOF President, followed by presentations from FOF committee chairpersons, who will describe their various activities, such as graffiti removal, trail maintenance, and construction, trail patrol, visitor information services, photo documentation of archaeological sites, River Range support, water sampling, air quality monitoring, or participating in one of the many special projects directed by our local Wildlife Biologist. In addition to the “boots on the ground” activities, there are also a number of administrative tasks to which volunteers can contribute including publicity, educational lecture topics, website design and maintenance, treasury functions and special events participation such as V-V Days, Smokey’s Birthday Party, Hummingbird feeding and Star Parties at the Ranger Station. Whatever your interests, there are so many ways you can help preserve the wonder that is Sedona. At the end of the presentations you will have an opportunity to speak to the various committee chairs, ask questions and learn more about your specific interests.

As we enter 26^th year of partnership with the Red Rock Ranger District, Friends volunteers help fill the gap between limited staff and District resources and the every-growing need to protect the land, service its visitors and educate the public about the value of “Leave no Trace”. New volunteers are always welcome.  Every year, new members bring new and different skills to our organization. New committees are being formed every year.  Come and discover how volunteering with Friends of The Forest can not only help preserve this valuable natural resource, but will give you the opportunity to forge new friendships and participate in the wide range of activities and educational experiences available to members.

But even if you don’t participate in single committee, your membership contribution helps insure the future of our organization and its activities, assuring that the most beautiful place on earth remains that way for generations to come. Mark you calendar for Thursday, February 27^th at 2:00pm. For more information about the Friends, go to: friendsoftheforestsedona.org

Serving Sedona, written this week by Noreen Lisowski, membership chair of Friends of the Friends of the Forest, appears Wednesday in the Sedona Red Rock News.

The post Sedona is Being Loved to Death appeared first on Friends of the Forest Sedona.

Arizona’s pronghorn antelope have experienced dramatic reduction in range and numbers across a century. Agyagos will explore the causal factors in these changes and introduce us to interesting characteristics of this special mammal. The pronghorn is known for its speed, which can reach close to 60 mph, second only to the cheetah as the fastest land mammal. Perhaps less known is the pronghorn’s endurance which enables it to maintain speeds of 40 mph for more than two miles, easily outrunning natural predators. Beyond these dramatic characteristics, Agyagos will discuss other unique features of the pronghorn. For example, pronghorn antelope do not eat grass, so what are they eating out in the grasslands?

Agyagos has over 27 years of work experience with the USDA Forest Service in the capacity of a wildlife biologist. Her connection to the pronghorn, and all species of wildlife, is through the Forest Service’s responsibility to ensure the protection of wildlife habitat within all the varied uses of public lands such as grazing, recreation, utilities, roadways, and fire management. In coordination with other agencies, such as Arizona Game and Fish, Agyagos works to identify the stressors to our local wildlife, and then implement habitat improvement or restoration projects.

When it comes to wildlife habitat, there may be nothing more crucial than water resources. The February 7th First Friday Presentation will take us to the river – the Verde River – for a screening of “Viva La Verde!”. Presenter Gary Beverly co-produced the 58-minute documentary film. Beverly is a long time Sierra Club member and is active in local and statewide issues specializing in public lands and water. The film explores the past, present and future of Arizona rivers, using the foremost surviving perennial river in Arizona, the Verde, as a case study. The value and vulnerability of the upper Verde River, and its support to some of the best riparian habitat in the Southwest, is powerfully presented. The film features outstanding photography and video footage collected during five years of exploring the river, telling the story of the Verde’s history, ecology, geology and hydrology through animations and interviews with scientists and river activists. “Viva la Verde!” concludes by demonstrating how individual citizens can help preserve this unique and wonderful river, the only surviving living perennial river in Arizona. Beverly will lead a lively discussion of upper Verde River issues following the film’s showing. The presentation begins at 11:00 am at the Red Rock District Visitor Center.

Upcoming guided interpretive hikes are a perfect opportunity for a direct experience with local flora and fauna. Birding walks and nature hikes are offered throughout the winter months, led by Friends of the Forest volunteer Kevin Harding. Harding is an avid birder, naturalist and tracker with years of experience and knowledge to share. His birding walks are popular with both novice and experienced birders. Participants are likely to see a wide variety of wetland species and winter birds native to Arizona. Nature hikers will learn about native plant species and the interpretation of animal signs – tracks, scat and more.

Birding walks are offered on Tuesdays: January 14, 18, February 11, 25, and March 10 from 9:00 to 11:00 am. March 24 and April 7 from 8:00 to 10:00 am. Nature hikes are offered January 21 and March 17 from 9:00 to 11:00 am. These events are free of charge, space is limited, and registration is required at the Red Rock District Visitor Center or by calling 928-203-2903. Locations and other information will be provided with registration. A full schedule of public events on the Red Rock Ranger District is posted at https://www.friendsoftheforestsedona.org/events/.

Serving Sedona, written this week by Jennifer Young of Friends of the Forest, appears Wednesdays in the Sedona Red Rock News.

The post Tracking the Plight of the Pronghorn in the Verde Valley appeared first on Friends of the Forest Sedona.

This realization prompted me to wonder why Friends of the Forest has been so successful for so long.

Here on the Coconino National Forest, we appreciate the power of fire. We know that it has the potential to destroy if out of control, but we also know that fire is one way that nature rejuvenates the land. In addition, we understand the pivotal role fire played in the evolution of ancient societies. Harnessed right, fire is power.

I came to think of Friends of the Forest as an amazing controlled burn that has benefited the Red Rock District for the past quarter century.

In 1994, a group of citizens lit that fire. They made certain that the conditions were right, and that they had enough fuel to make it burn bright – talented and dedicated volunteers who were willing to donate their time in the service of a greater good.

Without proper tending by the organization, and by Forest Service staff, the fire could easily have gone out. Instead, the cooperation of all parties coupled with the continuing desire to contribute good work, simply provided more fuel for the fire. They also had a great time in the process, making it a welcoming environment.

So, the fire grew over time, from less than 100 members in the beginning to over 575 today – from about 10,000 hours volunteered in 1999 to some 35,000 hours a year today. The constant infusion of new members means that the fuel supply is in fact increasing. the fire can burn brighter and hotter than ever.

Our recent Membership Meeting and Awards Ceremony highlighted some of the members who contribute the most to our efforts. First, our Committee Chairs had the pleasure of presenting certificates to major contributors in our various activities: air quality testing, cultural resources, graffiti removal, interpretive programs, river patrol, trail maintenance & construction, trail patrol, visitor information services, water sampling, and Wildlife/Fish/Rare Plant Projects.

I then presented awards to members deserving exceptional recognition. I honored Rich Spinelli for consistently giving his time to Friends to of the Forest in a variety of activities over the past 6 years by awarding him the Distinguished Volunteer Award. Ruti Lovitt received the Heart of the Friends award, given to a member who exhibits “Heart” to the Friends of the Forest. The New Volunteer of the Year Award went to Annie Glickstein, and I presented the Volunteer of the Year Award to Bea and Bill Logan. I concluded our awards ceremony by presenting Peggy and Richard Spencer-Coen with the President’s Award, recognizing them for their significant contributions to the Friends’ volunteer work. I noted that Annie, Bea, Bill, Peggy and Richard are all recent additions to the organization, a vivid demonstration that new members’ energy and dedication are key to our continued success.

Sedona Mayor Sandy Moriarty then recognized November 2, 2019 as Friends of the Forest Day, in honor of our exemplary service to the community over the past quarter century. As a long-time resident of Sedona, she recalled the founding of Friends of the Forest and remarked on how valuable the organization is to the community. She expressed the community’s gratitude to all of the fantastic volunteer organizations who contribute so much to the quality of life for residents and visitors.

The ceremony concluded with remarks by Dennis Parker, our second President, who served in 1997 and 1998. As one of the founding members of Friends of the Forest, he recalled the group of about 90 dedicated residents who started with only three committees, Trail Patrol, Trail Maintenance and Construction and Visitor Center Support. At that time, the tiny Visitor Center was tucked away on Brewer road, staffed by only one Forest Service staff and one volunteer.

Dennis and the other founding members of Friends of the Forest lit the fire of volunteerism that still burns brightly in Red Rock Country.

To learn more about Friends of the Forest, and perhaps join our group of active volunteers, we invite you to our next meeting, to be held on Wednesday December 11, at 9 am in the Red Rock Ranger District Administration Building, located off of Hwy 179 a mile south of the Village of Oak Creek.

Serving Sedona, written this week by Craig Swanson of Sedona Friends of the Forest, appears Wednesday in the Sedona Red Rock News.

The post Friends of the Forest Celebrates 25 Years appeared first on Friends of the Forest Sedona.

Its natural beauty and diversity, cultural heritage, and outstanding recreation opportunities have earned the creek designation as a wild and scenic river—a distinction shared by only one quarter of one percent of America’s rivers. The story of Fossil Creek is one of rapid change, increasing pressure, and collaborative effort set in a unique and cherished landscape, and the next chapter is one of opportunity.

Fossil Creek begins as do many Arizona waterways, as a normally dry streambed. This changes when a series of springs emit 20,000 gallons of water per minute, transforming the dry streambed to a robustly flowing creek. The water has percolated through overlying bedrock, leaving it so high in calcium carbonate that when it mixes with air, a substance similar to limestone called travertine is created. Travertine deposits so quickly that it encases anything in the stream channel—leaves, rocks, sticks, even trash.  When these objects decompose they leave the imprints that give Fossil Creek its name. The travertine also forms large dams that span the creek, creating valuable habitat for fish and other aquatic species.

Water in dry places supports all manner of life, and the green ribbon of Fossil Creek’s riparian area is a prime example. Over 500 plant and 200 wildlife species have been documented in Fossil Creek, with the potential for many more. Many of these species are of special interest to scientists and managers because of their rarity or their value as indicators for ecosystem health. Of particular note is the creek’s fish, which are composed of purely native species. This is the result of an intensive and collaborative fish restoration effort in the 2000s.

The value of reliable water to human life, culture, and economy is clear in Fossil Creek. Human use of the area dates back 10,000 years, and several phases of settlement contribute to a rich cultural landscape. Many prehistoric sites can be found in Fossil Creek that date to the early agricultural period, and the Apache and Yavapai peoples maintain deep cultural connections to the creek to this day. When Euro-American settlers arrived in the area the economic potential of the creek was quickly realized. In the early 1900s a hydropower project was built to provide electricity to regional towns and mining ventures.

In the 1990s and early 2000s, the view of Fossil Creek as a power generator changed. Though renewal of the federal license for the project was initially pursued, a collaborative effort changed the conversation into one focused on the potential for restoring water to the creek. In 2005 this vision came true. In the following years most of the hydropower infrastructure was removed in what has been called one of the largest river restoration projects in the Southwest. In recognition of its restored flow and remarkable values, Congress designated Fossil Creek a wild and scenic river in 2009.

The renewed creek was quickly discovered, and more and more people began to visit. Problems with trash, human waste, denuded stream banks, traffic congestion, and confrontations increased. The Forest Service scrambled to adapt its management of the area to keep pace with increasing demand, and to protect the values that make the area special, including visitors’ experience. Parking was improved, and traffic flow was managed. But still the problems worsened. Finally, in 2016, the Forest Service implemented a permit system as a way to manage visitor numbers, provide education, and protect the creek. This system has been widely viewed as a success.

Fortunately, comprehensive planning is mandated to ensure wild and scenic rivers are protected. This effort for Fossil Creek has been ongoing for years, and we are now close to completing a final plan. Information about this plan can be found at http://tinyurl.com/FossilCreekCRMP. The plan will ensure Fossil Creek is protected in its own right and for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations. However, the Forest Service is just one entity who cares deeply about this special place, and its resources are ever more limited. Successfully managing Fossil Creek under the comprehensive plan will require creative thinking and group effort. Implementing the plan will present opportunities to work with the Forest Service and others to steward one of Arizona’s gems.

Serving Sedona, written this week for Friends of the Forest by Marcos Roybal, US Forest Service Fossil Creek Project Coordinator, appears Wednesday in the Sedona Red Rock News.

The post Fossil Creek Plan Close to Completion appeared first on Friends of the Forest Sedona.

The First Friday lecture program kicks off on October 4 at 11 a.m. with a talk titled “Fresh Eyes on an Ancient Landscape: Sedona Paleogeology” presented by Friends of the Forest volunteer and naturalist Barry Mallis. Mallis’ interest in the stories earth is telling us began with geology study in college and research on Pleistocene Age geology on Long Island, New York. Now retired from a fifty-year career in education, Mallis says, “my love of geology could not have found a better milieu than that of Central and Northern Arizona.”  He has led geology-focused nature walks at Red Rock State Park for several years. On the October 4th photographic tour of our surrounding landscape, Mallis will examine the forces which have shaped Sedona’s legendary red rocks and how the geology of our region fits into the history of Earth’s development. On this journey from the macro level of our continent’s formation to a micro level look at specific features of today’s Red Rock Country vistas, Mallis seeks to stimulate us to view our stunning landscape with new eyes.

The November 8th First Friday program brings us even closer to home, right to our back yards in fact. Yavapai Master Gardener Jennifer Moreland will present “Backyard Composting”. Moreland believes, “Backyard composting is the ultimate recycling activity that everyone can be doing. We all can participate in building healthier soils by composting yard cuttings and kitchen scraps into nutritious compost to be added back into yard soils.”  Healthy soils contribute to plant health, water conservation, erosion control, and healthy habitat for birds, pollinators and other wildlife. Moreland will discuss how to build a compost pile, what to put in it, and most importantly, she says, “How to cook it by maintaining a proper balance of components – greens, browns, water and air.”  We can all learn successful soil recipes at her presentation.   

Naturalist and birding guide Kevin Harding resumes his popular birding walks on Tuesday mornings: October 22 at 8 a.m., November 12 at 8 a.m., November 26 at 9 a.m. and December 10 at 9 a.m. Harding, a retired teacher, has been birding for forty years and is a trained animal tracker. During his winters in Sedona, he is an active volunteer with Friends of the Forest and Northern Arizona Audubon. Birding Walk participants will have a chance to see a wide variety of wetland species, migrating birds and winter birds native to Arizona. Harding’s birding outings are enjoyable for experienced birders as well as newcomers. Guidance on the use of binoculars and spotting scopes is offered. Participants should be able to walk one mile on level ground, bring binoculars and wear subdued clothing.

For another perspective on local geology, join naturalist Chris Weld on a Red Rock Geology Walk on October 24 at 9 a.m. or November 7 at 10.am. Weld has led interpretive programs focused on Sedona’s geology for fifteen years. Participants will have an opportunity to view the dramatic effects of Oak Creek Canyon faulting. The route of the walk will highlight sedimentary and volcanic rock layers as well as views of splendid erosional land features. Geology hike participants should be prepared for two hours of moderately difficult hiking and standing.

For the latest information about Red Rock Ranger District public programs and registration call 928-203-2903. Program schedules are also posted on Friends of the Forest website, https://www.friendsoftheforestsedona.org/events/

The post Stories the red rocks tell us appeared first on Friends of the Forest Sedona.

Mary Lee Dunning set the stage as the founding President of the organization in 1994.  She has been followed by many other women as FOF officers, work team or project leaders, and skilled administrative volunteers.   On the USDA Forest Service side, women in key positions in the Agency have been supervisors and mentors for FOF volunteers, including some who have worked continuously on the District for twenty-five years.

Through the twenty years for which data is available, Friends women have logged over 150,000 hours of volunteer service, accounting for one of every three hours of FOF work.  They are active in all eleven of the Friends work teams, known as Committees, and currently lead three of these teams.  Trail Patrol, Visitor Information Services and Cultural Site Docent duty are particularly popular, accounting for almost 70% of this year’s women volunteer hours to date.  And Friends women can be found working on Trail Maintenance crews, scrubbing graffiti off our red rocks, driving bumpy Forest roads for Air Quality Monitoring or River Ranger Support, and hiking to remote areas for a variety of wildlife and rare plant projects.

Behind the statistics are women like Justine Kusner, Darl Rector and Jean Ober who have logged a mere 14,000 hours of service collectively during their years with the Friends.  On the occasion of the Friends 20th anniversary, Justine, who served as FOF President in 1999 and 2000, wrote about what attracted her and husband Bill to the Friends: “It was the phrase ‘Let’s Get Physical’.  Less talk, more work.  That’s our kind of group.”

Darl Rector has devoted so much time to patrolling and maintaining our area trails for twenty-four years together with husband Gene, that the Forest Service recently named a trail for the volunteer couple.  The Rector Connector is located between Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte.  Darl says, “The best thing that happened to Gene and I in retirement was finding and joining FOF.  We have made so many wonderful friends and enjoyed a variety of activities. To me, working in the beauty of the red rocks was much like being in a huge outdoor cathedral.  Having a trail named for us has to be the ultimate honor!  I am thrilled to still be able to hike and spend time with some great gals on the trails.”

Jean Ober is surely a Renaissance FOF volunteer, having brought her talent and energy to nearly every one of the diverse activities of the organization, including serving on the Board and as Newsletter Editor.  “The name of our organization “Friends” truly reflects what it is like for me to work with others on the many Committees we have.  On trail maintenance, no one is expected to work beyond their capability and I can trim cat claw and branches off the trails, use a McLeod tool to clean drains and reshape trails, plant native cacti to revegetate areas as well as help build rock structures working along-side other ladies and gentlemen of the crew.  Comradery and a sense of a job well done are rewards along with the many Friends I have made.  These friendships continue to grow as I have expanded to more activities within the organization,” Jean says.

Preparing this article has reinforced my experience of Friends of the Forest as an organization culture where gender is not of consequence.  What a delight!  In fact, some women I spoke to about the topic of women in the organization expressed surprise that this would be a topic to write about.  I have enjoyed this non-topic nonetheless.   My congratulations to the many women volunteering across twenty-five years on the Red Rock District of the National Forest.

And, yes, a few batches of cookies and banana bread have been prepared through the years to sustain those attending FOF quarterly membership meetings.  Visitors, curious women and men, are welcome to attend these meetings to learn more about the organization.  The next opportunity is Wednesday September 11 at 9:00am in the Red Rock District Administration Building, adjacent to the Visitor Center, on highway 179 one mile south of the Village of Oak Creek.   Or visit our website www.friendsoftheforestsedona.org

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