more than you'll ever want to know about my project in Catalina Island
so i thought maybe i'd go through all my materials and sorta sum up and put more detail down about my upcoming project at Catalina Island. it is a lot of information but it's really cool, i promise. :-P
i'll have a separate lj cut for each thing in case there's one particular thing you want to read about.
Catalina Island Conservancy
Are responsible for 86% of Catalina Island
Compelling community needs: access to natural, open spaces, sustainable ecosystems, education, preservation & revitalization, and safety.
Project Objectives:
1. Greater increase the accessibility of the interior of Catalina to the general public and enhance the quality of experience for all users.
2. Take steps to reverse the degradation of the island ecosystem
3. Meet the educational needs of the general public
4. Improve the aesthetics of the Conservancy buildings and properties, thereby enhancing the beauty of the land
5. Reduce the threat of fire on Catalina by complying with Los Angeles County Fire Departments’ regulation for brush clearance
we may not be participating in every one of the following mini-projects. there is at least one other team going to catalina island. some of it depends on the weather since we are going there at the beginning of the rainy season.
Eight Major Projects:
1. Trans-Catalina Trail Construction - Corps Members will help launch the second stage of the Trans-Catalina Trail. This trail currently consists of a game trail between the Divide Road and Haypress Reservoir. Corps Members will utilize techniques such as constructing horse landings, switchbacks, climbing turns, and drainage controls to widen and improve the game trail. Corps Members will assist with placing signs at strategic points to mark the trails. This project may also involve the outplanting of native plants to stabilize the soil and restrict hikers to the designated trail.
2. Oak Limitation Study - Corps Members will assist with the collection, monitoring, and outplanting of approximately 35,000 acorns. They will also help to spray weed retardant on oak seedlings in the field sites. Other activities may included ancillary tasks like washing equipment, preparing, storing and organizing materials, counting acorns and recording data.
3. Hayfield Restoration Program - The Conservancy must continue our Hayfield Restoration program by planting approximately 700 seedlings into our existing plots in Middle Canyon. We may also need to eradicate weeds impeding the growth of the seedlings. There may be some work performed at the Native Plant Nursery to load and transport pots, wash pots, gather, clean and return tools.
4. Grass Production Field - The Conservancy must plant more than 1500 grass seedlings into our Grass Production Field, which serves as a seed bank for eventually sowing 20,000 million grass seeds into the 88 acres of the Hayfield Restoration area. Support activities may include working at the Native Plant Nursery on infrastructure needs.
5. Interpretive Center Grounds Revitalization - Participants will assist with the landscaping of the Education Department’s recently obtained interpretive station in Avalon. This facility was formerly the County of Los Angeles Department of Recreation’s Interpretive Center and, once renovated, will become the Catalina Island Conservancy Interpretive Center. Corps Members will plant approximately 150 native plants to revitalize the landscaping of this educational facility. Corps Members may also work to arrange and enhance educational displays at the Interpretive Center.
6. Eagles Nest Lodge Loop Road Mitigation - In an effort to comply with mitigation requirements for Eagles Nest Lodge Loop Road, we plan to plant approximately 700 plants at four disturbed sites in Middle Canyon. Certain tasks may be done at the Native Plant Nursery to prepare for this project. This project may also involve the erection of fence enclosures to protect the seedlings from predation.
7. Wildfire Prevention Measures - AmeriCorps Members will assist with removing brush ten feet away from the road for a seven-mile stretch of the Airport Road as well as along other roadways and around various building structures to comply with the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s requirements. If brush clearance occurs more rapidly than anticipated, Corps Members will assist with other maintenance projects necessary for the revitalization of island structures and signs.
8. Laura Stein Volunteer Camp Improvements - The Conservancy hopes to incorporate the team’s efforts into improvements at our Laura Stein Volunteer Camp, the camp used by volunteer and service groups whose help and support are crucial to the Conservancy’s ability to fulfill our mission. One primary activity will be the groundbreaking and initiation of a self-guided interpretive trail that will begin at the camp and go to nearby points of interest. Eventually, the trail will be about a mile long. Corps Members will also assist with the construction of a new shed and removal of old sheds, facility maintenance, signage, and, depending on weather and materials, possibly the demolition of wood decks and construction of new tent platforms made of sustainable, earth friendly materials.
The Basic Plan:
Week 1: Shed building/maintenance (#8)
Week 2: Brush clearing along the road
Week 3: Trail building
Week 4: Brush clearing
Week 5: Trail maintenance
Week 6: Acorn planting (#2)
Team living:
2 canvas sided 8 person tents on raised decks
8 padded bunk beds
Solar energy provides limited lighting
Bathrooms with flush toilets
2 heated and 1 unheated shower
Potable running hot/cold water
Outdoor kitchen: propane and flat top grill, fire pit
History:
Native American tribes lived there for 6,000 years until 1542 when Spanish explorers discovered the island. The Spanish introduced grazing animals that were detrimental to native plants. In 1919, William Wriggley, Jr. (yes, the gum guy) bought the island to preserve it and in 1972 he established the Conservancy.
November to May the average temperature is 63 degrees. It is sunny or partly sunny there 267 days out of the year. They get 14 inches of rain a year with the majority between mid-October and mid-April.
The town of Avalon has 3,200 regular residents but on the weekends and during the summer the population can rise to 10,000. The city has power from the California State Legislature to control the number, size, speed and noise of vehicles in the city limits. There is an 8-10 year waiting list to get a car and the most common forms of transportation are golf carts, bicycles, and walking.
May 29th is a legal holiday where they celebrate the opening of the Casino Building which is the most famous building on the island. There has never been any gambling there; instead, the building houses the Catalina Island Museum, the Art Association Art Gallery, a fitness center, and the Casino Ballroom.
Fun Facts:
Pigeons carried messages from Catalina to the California mainland from 1850-1899.
The first golf course in Southern California was opened on Catalina Island in 1892.
14 buffalo were brought to the island in 1924 for the filming of “The Vanishing American,” and in 1934, 11 more buffalo were added to complement the herd. Today there are somewhere between 200-300 buffalo on the island.
i'll have a separate lj cut for each thing in case there's one particular thing you want to read about.
Catalina Island Conservancy
Are responsible for 86% of Catalina Island
Compelling community needs: access to natural, open spaces, sustainable ecosystems, education, preservation & revitalization, and safety.
Project Objectives:
1. Greater increase the accessibility of the interior of Catalina to the general public and enhance the quality of experience for all users.
2. Take steps to reverse the degradation of the island ecosystem
3. Meet the educational needs of the general public
4. Improve the aesthetics of the Conservancy buildings and properties, thereby enhancing the beauty of the land
5. Reduce the threat of fire on Catalina by complying with Los Angeles County Fire Departments’ regulation for brush clearance
we may not be participating in every one of the following mini-projects. there is at least one other team going to catalina island. some of it depends on the weather since we are going there at the beginning of the rainy season.
Eight Major Projects:
1. Trans-Catalina Trail Construction - Corps Members will help launch the second stage of the Trans-Catalina Trail. This trail currently consists of a game trail between the Divide Road and Haypress Reservoir. Corps Members will utilize techniques such as constructing horse landings, switchbacks, climbing turns, and drainage controls to widen and improve the game trail. Corps Members will assist with placing signs at strategic points to mark the trails. This project may also involve the outplanting of native plants to stabilize the soil and restrict hikers to the designated trail.
2. Oak Limitation Study - Corps Members will assist with the collection, monitoring, and outplanting of approximately 35,000 acorns. They will also help to spray weed retardant on oak seedlings in the field sites. Other activities may included ancillary tasks like washing equipment, preparing, storing and organizing materials, counting acorns and recording data.
3. Hayfield Restoration Program - The Conservancy must continue our Hayfield Restoration program by planting approximately 700 seedlings into our existing plots in Middle Canyon. We may also need to eradicate weeds impeding the growth of the seedlings. There may be some work performed at the Native Plant Nursery to load and transport pots, wash pots, gather, clean and return tools.
4. Grass Production Field - The Conservancy must plant more than 1500 grass seedlings into our Grass Production Field, which serves as a seed bank for eventually sowing 20,000 million grass seeds into the 88 acres of the Hayfield Restoration area. Support activities may include working at the Native Plant Nursery on infrastructure needs.
5. Interpretive Center Grounds Revitalization - Participants will assist with the landscaping of the Education Department’s recently obtained interpretive station in Avalon. This facility was formerly the County of Los Angeles Department of Recreation’s Interpretive Center and, once renovated, will become the Catalina Island Conservancy Interpretive Center. Corps Members will plant approximately 150 native plants to revitalize the landscaping of this educational facility. Corps Members may also work to arrange and enhance educational displays at the Interpretive Center.
6. Eagles Nest Lodge Loop Road Mitigation - In an effort to comply with mitigation requirements for Eagles Nest Lodge Loop Road, we plan to plant approximately 700 plants at four disturbed sites in Middle Canyon. Certain tasks may be done at the Native Plant Nursery to prepare for this project. This project may also involve the erection of fence enclosures to protect the seedlings from predation.
7. Wildfire Prevention Measures - AmeriCorps Members will assist with removing brush ten feet away from the road for a seven-mile stretch of the Airport Road as well as along other roadways and around various building structures to comply with the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s requirements. If brush clearance occurs more rapidly than anticipated, Corps Members will assist with other maintenance projects necessary for the revitalization of island structures and signs.
8. Laura Stein Volunteer Camp Improvements - The Conservancy hopes to incorporate the team’s efforts into improvements at our Laura Stein Volunteer Camp, the camp used by volunteer and service groups whose help and support are crucial to the Conservancy’s ability to fulfill our mission. One primary activity will be the groundbreaking and initiation of a self-guided interpretive trail that will begin at the camp and go to nearby points of interest. Eventually, the trail will be about a mile long. Corps Members will also assist with the construction of a new shed and removal of old sheds, facility maintenance, signage, and, depending on weather and materials, possibly the demolition of wood decks and construction of new tent platforms made of sustainable, earth friendly materials.
The Basic Plan:
Week 1: Shed building/maintenance (#8)
Week 2: Brush clearing along the road
Week 3: Trail building
Week 4: Brush clearing
Week 5: Trail maintenance
Week 6: Acorn planting (#2)
Team living:
2 canvas sided 8 person tents on raised decks
8 padded bunk beds
Solar energy provides limited lighting
Bathrooms with flush toilets
2 heated and 1 unheated shower
Potable running hot/cold water
Outdoor kitchen: propane and flat top grill, fire pit
History:
Native American tribes lived there for 6,000 years until 1542 when Spanish explorers discovered the island. The Spanish introduced grazing animals that were detrimental to native plants. In 1919, William Wriggley, Jr. (yes, the gum guy) bought the island to preserve it and in 1972 he established the Conservancy.
November to May the average temperature is 63 degrees. It is sunny or partly sunny there 267 days out of the year. They get 14 inches of rain a year with the majority between mid-October and mid-April.
The town of Avalon has 3,200 regular residents but on the weekends and during the summer the population can rise to 10,000. The city has power from the California State Legislature to control the number, size, speed and noise of vehicles in the city limits. There is an 8-10 year waiting list to get a car and the most common forms of transportation are golf carts, bicycles, and walking.
May 29th is a legal holiday where they celebrate the opening of the Casino Building which is the most famous building on the island. There has never been any gambling there; instead, the building houses the Catalina Island Museum, the Art Association Art Gallery, a fitness center, and the Casino Ballroom.
Fun Facts:
Pigeons carried messages from Catalina to the California mainland from 1850-1899.
The first golf course in Southern California was opened on Catalina Island in 1892.
14 buffalo were brought to the island in 1924 for the filming of “The Vanishing American,” and in 1934, 11 more buffalo were added to complement the herd. Today there are somewhere between 200-300 buffalo on the island.