Some of the Native American rock art and structures have been in place for hundreds and in some cases, thousands of years. Natural wind and water erosion clearly impact the sites, but recent evidence indicates that increased visitation is also having a negative effect.

Graffiti incidents at the Palatki, Honanki and V Bar V heritage sites have irreparably damaged ancient pictographs and petroglyphs. In addition, volunteers and researchers at these and other sites believe that many of the Archaic, Sinagua and Yavapai pictographs are noticeably faded, compared to how they appeared in the past. There is a concern that if this is valid and identifiable after only a few decades of observation, the natural degradation process may have been quickened by human impact.

One theory is that ancient pictographs at Palatki and Honanki are being visually degraded by coatings of dust raised by increased vehicular and foot traffic. Videos of vehicles entering Palatki at different speeds indicate increasing amounts of dust thrown into the atmosphere with increasing speed. If vehicles are traveling over 10-15 mph while there are winds from the south, dust is clearly being carried up to the rock art alcoves. To evaluate this theory, we have begun a Dust Study Project at Palatki and Honanki.

The Friends of the Forest photography team has taken baseline photographs at each site under precisely controlled conditions. The photographs include a color calibration chart commonly used for scientific evaluation of color change. In addition, a volunteer artist created modern versions of ancient style pictographs using traditional materials and techniques. These have been put in place at the sites and photographed using a very precise procedure.

Among the benefits of using modern versions of ancient styles is that visitors to the sites can see how ancient pictographs may have looked in terms of brightness and depth of color compared to those that have been weathered for hundreds or thousands of years.

We periodically take a new set of photographs. We then compare the color and luminosity values of specific areas of the pictographs to determine changes over periods of months and eventually years. This process requires significant effort and learning curve by volunteers at the site doing the photography and evaluation afterwards using detailed software processing. We expect initial results of the project to be available later this year. The project will continue indefinitely to determine cumulative effect over time.

Friends of the Forest is continuing to document as many sites in the region as possible for future reference, with over 400 sites having been photographed in detail, resulting in approximately 100,000 photos. As a result of these efforts, we have identified many issues regarding the sites.

Application of Dstretch, RTI, and 3D techniques are now used on a regular basis as part of the documentation process.

Dstretch is a software process that allows archaeologists to see modified color spectra of pictograph panels. This in turn allows us to identify details that cannot be seen under normal circumstances or in regular photographs. The lesson learned from applying this process is that in all cases, cliff rock faces should never be touched, as there is a real possibility that there are essentially “invisible” ancient pictographs present. To date, over 1000 otherwise invisible pictographs have been identified. In many cases they are in direct association with known rock art, but is some cases they have been identified on what were previously believed to be archaeologically sterile rock faces.

RTI or Reflectance Transformation Imaging is a technique to provide very detailed documentation of small-scale rock art and artifact material via interactive 3D lighting of finely detailed subjects. RTI is now one of our standard documentation tools.

The Friends of the Forest photo documentation project continues to acquire and use 3D photo modeling, with over 1,250 3D models now available for public review at www.sketchfab.com/FOFSedona. Application of this technology and review of the resulting models has shown many details of Sinagua dwelling walls and rock art panels that can’t otherwise be seen. We encourage you to visit the site and explore the 3D models.

The culture heritage of our native ancestors is one of the great benefits available to us in the Red Rock District. We are continuing to do everything possible to preserve and study that heritage.

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

The post Technology Helps Preserve Cultures appeared first on Friends of the Forest Sedona.

The Wild and Scenic Rivers of our nation and state will be celebrated in our community on Friday October 5th at the Red Rock Ranger District Visitor Center on State Route 179 south of the Village of Oak Creek. Take this opportunity to discover more about our unique and important river resources.

Events on October 5th kick off at 9:30am with a documentary film: A River Reborn, The Restoration of Fossil Creek, followed by a presentation on the Wild and Scenic Rivers System at 10:30. Meet and greet Moonlight the Screech Owl at 11:30am. Cake and ice cream will be served at noon. A talk about river boating safety and responsible recreation begins at 12:30pm. The Verde Watershed Restoration Coalition will discuss current and upcoming stewardship activities at 1:00pm. Repeat showing of A River Reborn film at 2:30pm. An educational booth will be outside the Visitor Center from 9:30am to 3:00pm.

Today, the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System protects over 12,700 miles of 209 rivers in 40 states, representing just one-quarter of one percent of the nation’s 3.6 million miles of streams and rivers. In the days of fur trappers and pioneers, free-flowing rivers were the lifeblood of commerce, transportation and fisheries across America. Today, they are critical yet often-overlooked sources of clean water, critical habitat, and rejuvenating recreation.

Arizona’s Fossil Creek and 40.5 miles of the Verde River’s 170 miles are the only two rivers in the state selected for outstanding scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, and cultural values. The designation prohibits new hydropower projects, bank and channel alterations, or oil, gas and mineral development on riverfront public lands and establishes a federal water right to protect flow-dependent values.

The Wild and Scenic portion of the Verde was designated in 1984, beginning at Beasley Flats and extending downstream 40 miles to the mouth of Red Creek, crossing through parts of three National Forests. The Verde’s diverse recreational opportunities can overshadow its important role as habitat for more than 50 endangered or special status fish and wildlife species. This habitat also supports over 60 percent of the vertebrate species that inhabit the Coconino, Prescott and Tonto National Forests, and contains archaeological evidence of occupation and human use for as long as 8,000 to 10,000 years.

Danielle Boulais is Forest Service Wild & Scenic Rivers/Wilderness Coordinator for the Red Rock Ranger District. She is responsible for coordinating a variety of river management efforts. On the Verde, this includes annual clearing of the river corridor from hazards to ensure safe recreation. Removal of the invasive tamarisk tree has been a fifteen year effort which is now down to the last mile of riverbank to be treated this fall season. A new effort was launched last year, in partnership with the Verde Watershed Restoration Coalition, to treat invasive fountain grass in the lower Wild and Scenic Verde. “The area we were treating was so remote that it took three days of travel by kayaks to reach the site”, said Boulais.

When not working on the Verde during winter months, the focus is on Fossil Creek, which President Barrack Obama designated as a National Wild and Scenic River in 2009. The management plan at Fossil is designed to balance recreation use with the preservation of this unique waterway. Boulais reports that the online reservation system required for summer visitation, in place for three seasons, has drawn favorable public reaction.

In addition to the Wild and Scenic Rivers celebration, October brings seasonal resumption of morning guided hikes on the Red Rock Ranger District. These small group activities generally involve two hours of moderate walking and require registration at the Red Rock Visitor Center or by phone at 928-203-2903. Meeting times and locations are provided to participants when registering. Weather permitting, the Fall program includes:

Photography walks – each Friday in October, hosted by Arizona Natural History Association

Geology walks – October 2, November 6, and December 4, guided by Friends of the Forest volunteer Chris Weld

Birding walks – October 23, November 13 and 27, and December 11, led by naturalist and birder Kevin Harding

Detailed descriptions and guidelines for the full program of Red Rock Ranger District public events can be found at www.friendsoftheforestsedona.org, by clicking on the “EVENTS” link.

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

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For some trails this generally means downed trees. Think of the top of Wilson Mountain. If you’ve never been there, it has wonderful views back over Sedona. To get to the top, it’s a climb. Go in the spring or fall and you are treated to the wonders of the maple forest that the North Wilson Trail cuts through.

After a good rainy season, which we missed this winter, our trails can become quite overgrown. Trails that require brush removal are reported to the Friends of the Forest trail maintenance group to keep the trails clear. Some of the trails can become overgrown quite quickly, and hiking through desert plants such as catclaw isn’t pleasant when it intrudes on the trail.

On other trails the trail patrol might report on signage needs. Have you ever hiked the many trails around Bell Rock? The signs have improved greatly over the years, and for tourists, getting back to their cars has become easier (assuming they remember which parking lot they parked at). To figure out signage needs, the Friends of the Forest trail patrol tries to look through the eyes of a first-time hiker to the area.

Sometimes the summer monsoons wash out trails. That’s when our trail patrols generally find drainage issues to report. Have you ever hiked a trail in Sedona and found yourself starting to walk off on the drainage instead of the regular trail? Well, these drainage pour offs help to keep our trails from eroding too much. These pour offs fill up with sand and mud and require maintenance to be effective, so we report the need for maintenance.

Unfortunately, we also find graffiti in the forest – most often in the form of “Jack loves Jill”. Getting rid of this graffiti as soon as possible helps to preserve the natural state and to discourage copy cats. We let the FOF Graffiti Removal group know what category of graffiti, most frequently scratched on rocks, but sometimes painted, and we forward a picture of the graffiti to the Graffiti Removal group. Then they can address the removal of it.

When you join the Friends of the Forest Trail Patrol group, you can hike by yourself, join us on group hikes, or both. Group hikes can range from easy and relatively short, in the 3 to 4 mile range, to more difficult and longer. We hike both the most popular trails and those less often visited. Sometimes we find nothing to report, other times we keep the Trail Maintenance Group busy. Luckily, we now use a new phone app that makes the reporting easy. It’s our way of helping to maintain the trails around our wonderful area.

We welcome you to join us by getting involved with the trail patrol group. We are currently 138 members strong. By participating in our group hikes, you give back to this wonderful area we live in, get a health benefit by hiking, enjoy our beautiful red rock scenery, and meet new friends.

Serving Sedona, written this week by Terri and Jon Petrescu of Sedona Friends of the Forest, appears Wednesday in the Sedona Red Rock News.

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Under the guidance of Red Rock Ranger District Wildlife Biologist Janie Agyagos, volunteers engaged in a search for a small amphibian – the Arizona toad (Anaxyrus microscaphus). The Arizona toad is native to the southwest but its range is shrinking so it may join the list of endangered and threatened species in the future. A systematic survey to verify current locations of toad populations on or near the Red Rock District is needed to help the Fish and Wildlife Service determine if the Arizona toad needs protection under the Endangered Species Act.

The Arizona toad’s usual habitat is the vicinity of perennially flowing streams, especially during the spring breeding season when egg strings are laid at the bottom of pools or edges of streams. To the surprise of seventeen eager volunteers, even in a dry spring following a dry winter there were more than one hundred locations to be surveyed. After training and assignment of sites, volunteers conducted weekly surveys over an eight-week period at call points along rivers, streams, springs, a lake and water features on private lands.

Why search and survey in pitch dark? The breeding call of the toad was the primary method of species identification and the toads’ calls only occur at night. The volunteers were trained in auditory identification of the most common Verde Valley toad and frog species. The Arizona toad’s call is a long musical trill of 5 to 20 seconds rising in pitch at the start and ending abruptly. By contrast, the more prevalent Woodhouse toad, which can hybridize with the Arizona toad, calls with a nasal “waaah!” resembling the call of a sheep. Mexican Spadefoot toad calls sound like running a fingernail over the teeth of a comb and Great Plains toads trill at high pitch for up to 50 seconds. Volunteers were supplied with toad call recordings as well as protocols for use in the event of visual sightings of toads.

Why put such effort toward documenting this small creature? Healthy ecosystems depend on plant and animal species as their foundations. When a species becomes endangered, it is a sign that the ecosystem is out of balance. Each species that is lost triggers the loss of other species within its ecosystem. Deteriorating or unhealthy ecosystems affect our lives in various ways including adverse affects on the natural resources upon which humans depend. The Arizona toad is among a variety of riparian species that are diminishing due to loss of habitat and increase in non-native predators. Hybridization with Woodhouse toads that thrive in habitats altered by agriculture is an additional factor.

After miles of bumpy forest roads and careful treading on foot, what did these citizen scientists discover? They did not have need for newly acquired knowledge about dorsal stripes, cranial crests, or ventral spotting for up close visual verification of Arizona toads. Nor did the volunteers need to distinguish between kinds of trills or trill versus a “waaah”. Although 90 sites were surveyed along 7 rivers, 9 streams, 1 lake, 15 springs and 5 water features on private lands, no Arizona toads were heard, much less seen, during this breeding season! Woodhouse toads, red-spotted toads, and canyon tree frogs on the other hand, were observed toward the end of the survey season. Volunteers also detected a population of non-native frog not previously documented in the Verde Valley, the Pacific treefrog, along Oak Creek.

Does this mean that the Arizona toad is already gone from our area? Janie Agyagos says, “Based on our survey results it appears that Woodhouse toads, through hybridization and competition for resources, have overtaken the aquatic habitat in the Verde Valley. Some of the headwaters of our perennial drainages, like Sycamore, Wet Beaver Creek and West Clear Creek may still support Arizona toads. Survey of these locations in the future will require overnight backpacking trips or arduous daytime hiking to set out long-duration recorders.”

In anticipation of next year’s inventory of Wilderness area toads, Friends of the Forest volunteers are already training in how to analyze sound recordings! Information about how to join this and other wildlife or conservation projects can be found at https://www.friendsoftheforestsedona.org.

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

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Friends of the Forest volunteers are out working in the forest daily, maintaining trails, removing graffiti, conducting studies, patrolling trails and acting as docents at our heritage sites. We see first-hand the dangers present and the need to keep safety in mind as we enjoy outdoor activities. We notice that oak brush is already dropping leaves as a defense mechanism against drought. We see the abundance of dead grass that can act as tinder. The Forest Service is so concerned about the dangers that firefighters from other states are already being staged to northern Arizona.

Responding to fires is complex. To give some perspective, in the first 4 months of 2018, there were 34 human caused fires in the Coconino National Forest but only 2 fires that were naturally caused by lightening. In addition, the Forest Service deliberately ignited 33 prescribed and controlled burns of about 14,000 acres.

Human caused fires are always extinguished as soon as possible, as they’re not part of the natural ecosystem and do not occur where a burn will be beneficial. While human caused fires are caused by abandoned camp fires, and sometimes by arson, most are along roads and highways and are caused by sparks, cigarettes or hot mufflers. If you drag a tow chain on the road, sparks can ignite a fire, as can a blown tire that causes you to drive on your rim. While it’s obvious you should never toss a cigarette out the window, it’s less obvious that if you pull over into high dry grass, your hot muffler can start a fire. You may even want to carry a couple of gallons of water in your trunk in case you come across a very small roadside fire.

Travis Mabery, Assistant Fire Management Officer for the Coconino National Forest notes that “we continue to have a tremendous number of abandoned campfires”. If you come across an abandoned camp fire that is simply smoldering and does not present an immediate threat, he asks you to report it by calling 911 or 928-527-3552 right away. If there’s any active fire, you should call 911 immediately.

A controlled burn is a carefully planned activity that has dual purposes, to lessen the chance of catastrophic fire by reducing fuel build-up, and to foster forest regeneration in areas where fire is necessary for new growth. Some pines absolutely require fire for cones to open to disburse their seeds. Without fire, those pine forests cannot persist. For these reasons, the Forest Service is increasing the number of acres that are kept healthy through controlled burns and by manually removing tinder. In 2018, 35,000 to 40,000 acres will be managed this way on the Coconino National Forest.

When a fire is naturally caused by lightening, the Forest Service continually evaluates the situation and adjusts their tactics in response to the situation. Our part of the country has among the highest incidents of lightening caused fires, most of which burn themselves out due to the monsoon rains that accompany the lightening.

Mabery stresses that illegal and irresponsible flying of drones presents a critical danger. If someone flies a drone in the airspace above or around a fire, officials have no choice but to suspend aviation support activity. Unfortunately, this happens on nearly every large fire, and threatens the safety of air crew, fire fighters, and the public. Recently, firefighting aircraft temporarily stopped flying because of a consumer drone in the vicinity of the Tinder fire near Payson that burned well over 12,000 acres, 8,000 of which burned in one afternoon. The Tinder fire was caused by an abandoned campfire.

Flying a drone near a wildfire is illegal and unsafe. In fact, this March a drone crashed and burned in Kendrick Park north of Flagstaff, igniting a 355 acre wildfire. If you fly drones, never ever fly them anywhere near a fire.

Fire season in Arizona is a time for all of us to think carefully about our responsibility to preserve and protect the Coconino National Forest.

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

The post Wildfires a Growing Concern appeared first on Friends of the Forest Sedona.

The citizen science movement, and the volunteer organizations available here in the Verde Valley, provide us with a host of opportunities to contribute to important research while enjoying the outdoors in the company of fellow volunteers.

It’s generally thought that the citizen science movement began with the Audubon Society’s Christmas bird count that has been continuously held since 1900. More recently, scores of opportunities have been made available to volunteers, ranging from Project BudBurst that uses citizen scientists to observe how plants in your community change with the seasons, to Globe at Night where observers around the country measure night time light pollution.

Closer to home, Janie Agyagos, Wildlife Biologist for the Red Rock District of the National Forest Service, manages projects that you can become directly involved in. Her duties include inventorying and monitoring special status plant, fish and wildlife species, designing and implementing habitat improvement projects, managing area closures for the protection of rare fish, wildlife and plant species and/or their habitat, and conducting project effect analyses and consultations.

Her current list of approximately 30 initiatives includes peregrine nest monitoring, North American bat acoustical monitoring, a roadside weed inventory, Arizona toad surveys, Johnson grass control, pollinator photography, removal of unneeded range fencing, and many others. Our Red Rock Ranger District is somewhat unique in that we do not have timber-based funding that covers the salaries of seasonal biologists. Thus, Janie is not able to call on Forest Service employees to staff these projects.

Enter Friends of the Forest volunteers. In 2017, over 50 volunteers provided hundreds of hours of labor so that these important inventory, monitoring, and maintenance projects could be completed. The sheer number of volunteers allows more projects to be conducted with more sites continually monitored. The knowledge gained has increased our understanding of the state of the local environment and the status of local wildlife populations. The work accomplished has improved the habitat of threatened species.

Each year, the list of projects changes, as some long-term or one-time projects are completed, and others are begun. At any time, there is a broad range of initiatives that volunteers are involved in. These range from extremely easy to quite strenuous, and vary in duration from a couple of days to year-long. Whether your skills and interests include photography, construction, weed removal, wildlife monitoring, hiking, or 4×4 driving, there are projects that may appeal to you.

While anyone can participate, most of these projects are staffed by volunteers from Friends of the Forest (FOF). All it takes is membership in FOF, an interest in the project, and a commitment of time and effort. Janie trains all volunteers, monitors progress, and documents and reports on the results.

Those who volunteer find the experience particularly rewarding.

“Recently Janie sent out a request for volunteers to assist with a monitoring project for Arizona toads, where volunteers would go out weekly to five or six different designated sites for two months to listen for toad mating calls,” said Mike Ward, longtime resident and former Friends of the Forest president. “Who would be enthused enough to volunteer to listen for toad croaks an hour after sundown? I was not surprised that she attracted over 20 volunteers at her training session. I have monitored peregrine falcons for her for 15 years on Cathedral Rock, counted bats as they leave their roosts after sun down, worked on Leopard frog habitat projects, traveled along roads and highways on the district to GPS invasive weed encroachments, and now I am going out to listen for croaking toads. Janie’s passion for what she does is infectious to those who volunteer for her.”

If you would like to volunteer for one or more of her current projects, you can contact Janie Agyagos at jagyagos@fs.fed.us or by calling her at (928) 203-7507. You can become a FOF member and learn more about the current projects by visiting the Friends of the Forest web site, https://www.friendsoftheforestsedona.org.
In an upcoming article, Friends of the Forest member Jennifer Young will write about her experience volunteering on the Arizona Toad Survey project.

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

The post Projects Keep Scientists Busy appeared first on Friends of the Forest Sedona.

The April calendar starts with a First Friday talk on April 6 at 11:00am on a topic of interest to those who may wish to enhance their experience in our vibrant landscape. Uses of binoculars and spotting scopes is the topic. Naturalist and birding guide Kevin Harding will decode the often-confusing terminology and technology of recreational optics. This is an opportunity to immerse in the world of diopters, magnification, field of view, “eye fatigue and relief” and more. Guidance on choosing optical gear is just the first step. Harding will offer tips for care of gear and demonstrate how to use binoculars and scopes for best results. The talk should be of interest to birders, hunters, trackers, butterfly enthusiasts, boaters, wildlife and sports watchers. Harding has guided birding and nature walks for the Red Rock Ranger District Interpretive Program for 4 years and says, “I was inspired by many people asking me questions about the variety of binoculars/scopes that are available. ”

April 6 is also the start of the spring program of wildflower walks scheduled each Friday from 9:00-11:00am during April and May. The weekly walks are led by Friends of the Forest and Arizona Natural History Association naturalists. Registered participants will be advised of the changing hike locations as the wildflower season progresses. An early blooming plant likely to be observed is the Purple Nerve Spring Parsley producing a cluster of purple flowers close to the ground. Blackfoot Daisy and Evening Primrose follow a bit later, with groups tending to bloom at the same time creating spectacular displays of white flowers. All lilies are protected in Arizona and a local lily, the perennial Blue Dick, is a favorite flower with bright blue blossoms atop a foot-tall plant. Later in spring the cactus put on their floral display. The yellow bloom on the common Engelmann’s Prickly Pear cactus and the bright red Hedgehog cactus are favorites of many of the native bees of Arizona. It is typical to see more than a dozen different flower species in bloom on these seasonal hikes.

Tuesday April 10 from 8:00-10:00am is Photo Walk day. Explore Red Rock Country through your camera lens with local photographer JK Lovelett. This relaxed outing is suitable for any level photographer and any type of camera (or smart phone). “With wildflowers blooming, new tree foliage and other greening vegetation, the red rocks are a perfect backdrop against the changing cloudscape of Spring”, says Lovelett. Photo composition ideas and techniques that work with our landscape will be introduced. The moderate level hike provides many iconic Sedona views, including Bell Rock, Courthouse, Twin Buttes, Thunder Mountain, and Cathedral Rock while meandering through junipers and pinyon.

Birding Walks are offered on April 10 and 24 from 8:00-10:00, led by Kevin Harding. In addition to practicing new optics skills gained at the April 6 talk, participants will have a chance to see a wide variety of wetland species, migrating and native Arizona birds. April’s Geology Walk is on April 19 from 9:00-11:00 with earth science specialist Chris Weld. Sedona’s legendary red rocks evolved over millions of years, as wind, water and faulting shaped the land. Hikers will view the dramatic effects of Oak Creek Canyon faulting and examine sedimentary, volcanic and erosional land features to discover more of Sedona’s geologic story. All guided hikes involve two hours of moderate level hiking and periods of standing. Locations are provided at registration at 928-203-2903.

Heading into May, the First Friday Red Rock Visitor Center talk on May 4 at 11:00am is titled “Liking Lichens”. Lichenologist and Friends of the Forest volunteer Garry Neil will explain what is that “stuff” growing on rocks, trees, and soils around us — and why we might appreciate these organisms. Learn about the role of lichens as major partners in biological soil crusts, enriching and increasing soil stability. Participants will have an opportunity for hands-on examination of various local lichen species.

More program information is available at https://www.friendsoftheforestsedona.org. Friends of the Forest is a nonprofit that supports the Red Rock Ranger District of the Coconino National forest in Sedona.

The post Walk the Walk, Talk the Talk on a Guided Tour appeared first on Friends of the Forest Sedona.

FOF is particularly active during March, when Arizona State Parks sponsors Archeology Heritage Awareness Month. Organizations throughout Arizona participate, holding events that entertain and educate about our Native American and pioneer history.

During March, the Red Rock Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest is sponsoring special events that you can participate in at V Bar V Heritage Site which is located 2 miles south of I-17 at Exit 298, on Forest Road 618, and at the Red Rock Ranger District visitor center. The events are free and open to the public. A Red Rock Pass or equivalent entrance fee is required per vehicle at V Bar V.

At V Bar V Archeology Discovery Days, you can learn more about the lives of both early European settlers and of the Native Americans who lived in the Verde Valley. This event will take place at V Bar V on Saturday and Sunday, March 24 and 25 from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm. Demonstrations include making fire by friction, throwing darts with atlatls, and spinning cotton. You can learn how beads, bows and arrows, and yucca fiber sandals were made by the ancestors of the Native Americans of this area. While at V Bar V, you’ll want to visit and learn about the petroglyphs that the Sinagua carved into a sandstone wall nearly a thousand years ago. Be sure to bring walking shoes, hat, sunscreen, and snacks.

The highlight of your day may be tasting roasted agave and learning about how native people used this amazing plant. The agave roast is only rarely offered by the Forest Service at V-V Discovery Days. Plants are specially selected for harvest only if bloom is imminent, after which the plant dies. They’re trimmed prior to being slow cooked for days in order to become sweet and tender. The roasting pit will be prepared on Tuesday the 20th, with the agave hearts placed in it that afternoon. The cooked agave will be uncovered on Saturday at approximately 11:00am as part of the activities. All attendees will be able to sample the agave stem (and the resulting quid), as well as the heart.

By holding these special events, the Forest Service hopes that visitors will gain respect and knowledge that will help protect the fragile archaeological resources of this area.
For more information, call the Red Rock Ranger District at 928-203-2900 or visit the Friends of the Forest Sedona web site.

Our heritage sites have lasted in excellent condition for hundreds of years, allowing us to imagine what life was like for the ancient Sinagua. To keep them preserved so future generations can also marvel at the ingenuity and creativity of the Sinagua, the Forest Service reminds us to follow a set of simple site etiquette guidelines.

Please don’t climb, sit, or stand on walls. They’re fragile and continue to deteriorate. And when you walk, try to keep from kicking up dust. There is concern that dust from foot traffic and vehicles may be sticking to the rock art, degrading it over time.

Graffiti destroys rock art and is disrespectful to contemporary Native Americans. Drawing, scratching, carving, and oil from even the cleanest hands harms the images. Please assist scientists trying to unravel the meaning of the symbols painted and pecked on stone, and refrain from touching rock art.

Artifacts tell a complicated story. If they’re moved, a piece of that story is lost forever. Removing artifacts or piling them destroys the story they can tell. Cultural deposits, including the soil at a site, are important for reconstructing ancient environments. Adding anything to a site, such as offerings, destroys the dating potential. Look, but don’t touch.

Never make a fire at an archeological site. Fire destroys prehistoric organic materials and the dating potential of artifacts, and damages rock art by covering it with soot. Camping is not allowed at our heritage sites and is discouraged at all archaeological sites.

Also, please stay on trails and keep your pets at home. Fragile desert plants and soil are destroyed when you or your pets wander off trail. While pets are not permitted at cultural heritage sites, we encourage you to visit them and to learn about the history of native peoples in the Verde Valley.

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

The post Sedona artifacts, sites tell stories of history appeared first on Friends of the Forest Sedona.

Within a matter of days, the couple decided to settle in the area and immediately joined Friends of the Forest. Over the next six years, Roberta and Kurt have supported a wide range of FOF activities. Kurt has been a stalwart contributor to the Trail Maintenance and Construction group and as well as graffiti remediation efforts. Roberta volunteered for a rotation as Coordinator of Trail Patrol, an activity that engages the greatest number of FOF volunteers. The couple has volunteered together on projects related to archaeology site documentation and wildlife monitoring. More than a few new friendships have formed along the way.

Like Roberta and Kurt, the urge to help preserve the National Forest wonderland that surrounds us drew 74 new members to Friends of the Forest in 2017. The group now totals 510 members, including 290 lifetime members.

Would you like to learn how you can get involved? Join us for a presentation and social gathering on Thursday February 15 at 2:00 pm. The annual Friends of the Forest Welcome Event will be held at the Red Rock Ranger District Visitor Center located on Highway 179, one mile south of the Village of Oak Creek. New members, prospective members and simply curious folk will enjoy presentations from Friends team leaders, meet Forest Service personnel and socialize with other Friends volunteers.

Through ongoing partnership with the Red Rock Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest, Friends volunteers continue to fill the gap between the many needs of the Forest and its visitors and the limited District resources. New volunteers are always welcome to help in the core FOF activities, which include Visitor Information Services volunteers assisting at the Visitor Center, Cultural Resources docents at Palatki and other heritage sites, Trail Patrol members hiking area trails with assistance or information for other hikers, and the hardworking men and women on Trail Construction and Maintenance crews.

In recent years, the scope of Friends of the Forest activity has expanded significantly into new areas of emphasis and support such as graffiti remediation, public education programs and guided hikes, photo documentation of archaeological sites, and maintenance of a wilderness air quality monitoring station.

A fast growing category of volunteer interest and participation might be described as “Citizen Science”. Red Rock Ranger District Wildlife Biologist Janie Agyagos is one of several Forest Service specialists who are engaging Friends volunteer citizen scientists in a variety of research activities: locating and documenting ancient agaves, cataloging lichens, monitoring peregrine falcon nests, counting bats exiting their roosts, identifying and inventorying the Arizona Toad, and surveying invasive weeds.

Last year FOF implemented new software tools which help to track individual member interests, skills and areas of volunteer participation. Within the growing organization, these tools enable FOF team leaders to easily connect volunteers with their passions. We are streamlining our administrative tasks in order to devote maximum focus, time and energy to work on the National Forest. That said, leadership, administrative and technical tasks are another realm where volunteers can contribute: website design and maintenance, treasury functions, publicity, and even software development. Volunteer-developed smart phone apps and data bases are in use by FOF volunteers and Forest Service personnel for reporting and tracking of Forest conditions – an example of volunteer skills applied to Forest management needs.

Friends of the Forest is truly a place to contribute most any skill or pursue wide-ranging interests. There is something for everyone, whether you wish to be inside or outside, work solo or with others, be comfortable with a no-sweat task or burn a lot of calories. There will no doubt be something new happening on the Red Rock Ranger District by the Welcome Event date. If you wish to help protect the beautiful National Forest we are privileged to call home, please join us on February 15 at 2:00pm to learn more.

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

The post Friends of the Forest Hosts Annual Welcome Event on February 15 appeared first on Friends of the Forest Sedona.

In announcing the trail, Adam Barnett, Recreation Officer for the Red Rock Ranger District, noted that “it is a very unusual situation to be able to name something that will last forever for somebody who has made a lifetime contribution to the Red Rock District and the trails here.”

Responding to this extraordinary honor, Friends of the Forest volunteers Gene and Darl Rector remarked that “having a trail named in our honor is over the moon! We know that many people will enjoy having that trail as part of the system… We think that we have had the best retirement that anyone could have here in the Verde Valley working on trails, keeping fit and meeting an unbelievable array of helpers.”

Construction of the new trail, and restoration of the surrounding social trails, will begin on Saturday January 13 at 8:30 am, with volunteers meeting at the Bell Rock Vista Trailhead off of SR 179 just north of the Village of Oak Creek. If you want to help create this new trail, be sure to bring work gloves, water, and snacks. Wear boots, long pants and a long sleeve shirt, and bring a bike helmet or hard hat if you have one. It will be a great opportunity to meet people and contribute to our community.

Following the work, there will a brief dedication ceremony, starting at approximately 1:00 pm, with a lunch for volunteers to follow. This day of work is sponsored by the Forest Service and supported by the Friends of the Forest, the Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund, and a grant from the Yavapai County Resource Advisory Council.

Gene grew up on a California cattle ranch, and Darl’s father ran the Cecil Pack Train in Sequoia National Forest where she helped with the mules and cooked for the visitors who came to hunt and fish. When Gene was 19, he needed a job. As he puts it, “I went to get a job working for Darl’s father and she came with it.” Love of the outdoors runs deep in both of them. Their love of Sedona was set when they honeymooned here in 1959.

Gene and Darl have been keeping our trails cleared and maintained since 1996 when the volunteer coordinator at the time asked them if they would start working on clearing the wilderness trails in Secret Canyon. They’ve been working ever since, often in wilderness areas.

They created the “Hotshots”, a core of Friends of the Forest (FOF) trail maintenance volunteers dedicated to tackling the most difficult problems. As one FOF volunteer stated, “Gene taught me more than anyone about working on the trails. He was always concerned about safety and when I was with Gene I knew we would be OK.”

Over the years, FOF has presented the Rectors numerous awards for their incredible service. But the greatest reward for all of their hard work has been the work itself. As Gene has said, “Going to work in the woods is like entering a cathedral. It is full of peace and quiet and is therapeutic for me.”

FOF volunteers assist the Forest Service maintain some 300 miles of trails in the Sedona Area. We maintain existing trails, construct new ones, and complete special projects like installing the new kiosks you may have seen at many of our trailheads. In fiscal year 2017, our trail maintenance volunteers contributed 4,275 hours of labor.

The nature of the land, and in particular the impact of the monsoon rains means that our trails need regular attention or they will quickly deteriorate. While some of the work is hard, there are tasks for all levels. Ernie DiMillo, chair of the Trail Maintenance Committee notes, “you work to your ability.”

Work days are typically Fridays, starting in the morning, using tools supplied by FOF. Work locations vary, depending on where the Forest Service determines that trails need attention. While volunteers with Friends of the Forest are covered by Forest Service insurance when they are working, in fiscal year 2017 there were no injuries reported by any volunteer group doing any activity, a record the Forest Service is very proud of.

If you are interested in helping keep our trails maintained, please visit our web site at https://www.friendsoftheforestsedona.org where you can learn more about our activities and contact us to become a member and a volunteer.

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

The post Trail Maintenance Legends Honored by the Forest Service appeared first on Friends of the Forest Sedona.