volunteers at plots

Just a few years after the West Fork Complex fire, marked forest recovery can be seen in some areas.  Six test plots were installed by community volunteers following the 2013 wildfires to gauge differences in forest recovery based on the types of land treatment. There are two sets of plots with different slope and aspect that examine differences in seeding and mulching applications, including hydro-axing, wood straw mulch, hydro-mulch, mulch pellets, and a control “no treatment” plot. Monitoring and research efforts continue every other month during the summers, led by the RWEACT Natural Resources Committee and the Rio Grande Headwaters Restoration Project.
 
Over the past years, all of the test plots have seen a significant increase in both plant cover and diversity. This increase has been most dramatic in the plots that received seeding and mulch treatments. Mulch cover on all treated test plots has decreased with the most significant decrease occurring in the hydro-mulch test plots.
 
Test plots before and afterVolunteers interested in helping with test plot monitoring can sign up by contacting us.

pdf

2017 Summary Report

Date added: 2018-06-06
pdf

2015 Summary Report

Experimental Soil Stabilization Plots - Oct 2015
Date added: 2018-04-27
pdf

2015 Summary Report - Species Composition

in Experimental Soil Stabilization Plots
Date added: 2018-04-27
pdf

2015 Summary Report - Change in Ground Cover Over Time

in Experimental Plots
Date added: 2018-04-27