Last Sunday morning, Colorado College student Rayna Nolen and a crew of eight piled into two pickup trucks and headed up to Garden of the Gods. Their final destination was not the famed towers of pink and deep-red sandstones, but an area a couple of miles north of the park known as Williams Canyon.
It was almost three years ago that Williams Canyon was burned in what was named the Waldo Canyon Fire, a blaze that consumed over 18,000 acres in Colorado Springs. Rocky Mountain Field Institute (RMFI) is conducting restoration efforts in the Waldo Canyon burn scar, which includes projects in Williams Canyon. Williams Canyon’s watershed is considered a top priority because of the flooding hazard that it poses for Manitou Springs. Nolen has recently been hired at RMFI as the new Environmental Leadership Intern, and is being trained to lead volunteers in post-fire restoration techniques.
In the Waldo Canyon Fire burn scar, RMFI has been focusing on soil stabilization. One strategy is the implementation of LEBs or log erosion barriers. The crew converts logs primarily from deadfall into barriers placed strategically on the steep hillside to improve plant growth and minimize potential flooding hazards. It’s hard work, but the crews move quickly. Nolen was proud to share that on one especially productive workday a crew built a total of 65 LEBS.
RMFI has been planting a seed mixture in the burn scar, which contains one-part native grasses and two-parts oats.
“The oats germinate more quickly, but will die out after two or three generations because they are non-native” Nolen said.
The oats grow faster than the wild grasses and their roots aid in soil stabilizing while the grasses mature. The return of wild grasses is noticeable, says Nolen, who states that young aspen stands can also be found in the canyon. Nolen notes that these signs are promising, but it will be close to 60 years before the area returns to its former successional stage.
“Williams Canyon is still recovering,” said Nolen, referring to the burned hillside, charred trees and spare vegetation, but signs of life are slowly returning to the area. Nolen mentions how during her training session the group’s conversation was muffled by the gobbles of a nearby rafter of turkeys. Another species that is currently thriving in Williams Canyon is the woodpecker. The increased number of dead trees has provided more available nesting for the birds. Nolen shared that some of her coworkers have also spotted signs of bears returning to the area.
“Students interested in helping should get involved,” said Nolen who encourages students and community members alike to participate in RMFI’s volunteer days.
Williams Canyon is only a couple of miles from Garden of the Gods, but its burn scar is mostly hidden from view in the park. Nolen reminds us, however, that we can’t forget about this critical area that is making a comeback thanks in part to the efforts of RMFI and its volunteers.