August 10, 2005
Forest Vegetation Sampling on The North Rim
Dates:
August 25 - September 3
September 3 - September 13 or
August 25 - September 13
Volunteers needed to assist with a study of high-elevation forests on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona!
The beautiful North Rim region of Grand Canyon National Park has some of the best examples of old-growth coniferous forests in Arizona as well as the entire Southwest. The core area of the North Rim is the Thompson Canyon watershed, which has high-elevation spruce-fir and mixed conifer forests. Forty study plots were sampled in this watershed in 1984, and some sites are thought to have dramatically changed since then, even without fire. The objective of the current project is to resample these plots in order to assist in classifying current forest communities of the North Rim and to document forest changes since 1984.
Volunteers are needed to assist a small team of two National Park Service staff members, including the person heading the research effort. Volunteers will assist with measuring tree sizes and recording data. Field study days will be Sunday through Friday, with Saturdays and Labor Day available for relaxing, hiking, and other personal activities.
Transportation provided from Flagstaff, Arizona, or volunteers may drive to the North Rim in their personal vehicles. A typical field day is 10 hours. Each day, the crew will drive as close as possible to the study plots and then hike to the plots. Two to four plots will be sampled each day. Total hiking distance generally will be 4 to 6 miles in a day; however, the terrain is somewhat rugged, so volunteers must be in good health and good physical condition.
Volunteers may need to prepare their own meals, with stops for grocery shopping arranged. Volunteers will be reimbursed for out of pocket expenses at the rate of $15 per field study day (no reimbursement on personal days). Travel expenses for personal vehicles (to Flagstaff or the North Rim) cannot be reimbursed. Lodging is yet to be determined, but volunteers must be prepared for anything from shared space in a trailer to camping.
Volunteers must be able to:
• Enjoy working in old-growth forests (and a couple burnt-over forests, as well).
• Enjoy learning about the ecology of spruce-fir and mixed conifer forests.
• Follow simple but important directions in measuring and recording numerical values on tree sizes.
• Hike several miles off-trail in somewhat rugged terrain at 7000 to 9000 feet elevation – and repeat for up to six consecutive days.
• Provide all camping and hiking gear, including appropriate clothing and a sleeping bag suitable for night temperatures possibly dipping into the 20’s.
• Appreciate the beauty of the North Rim region.
Contact: John Vankat, Special Projects Ecologist, Grand Canyon National Park (vankatjl@muohio.edu; home and work phone: 928-214-6007) or
Kari Malen, Volunteer Coordinator (gcvolunteers@yahoo.com 928-774-7488)