Cutting willows on Rock Creek - A Volunteer Opportunity

A view from a rip-rapped bank along Rock Creek

Reader of YGF, Mark Mariano, recently contacted me to spread the word about an opportunity to help out the Trout Unlimited with some willow cutting and replanting efforts on Rock Creek. Mark is an Ecology Restoration major at the University of Montana and he is part of the University group that is assisting Trout Unlimited with the efforts to cut willows down near Rock Creek Lodge (think lower Lower Rock Creek). TU will then take the willow cuttings and replant them into some of the roadside rip-rapped banks that line Rock Creek, with the intention of protecting Rock Creek Road from erosion, enhancing habitat, filtering sediment, and regulating water temperature. Also known as, the things willows do.

The TU/UM event is taking place on March 24, 2012 at 10:00 am at the Rock Creek Lodge. A shuttle from Missoula will be leaving town at 9:15 am. To RSVP for more details: Call Dan at 320-493-1663 or email Dan at daniel.kaus@umontana.edu or Mark at MarianoConst@msn.com.