I would like to wish everyone a very HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope 2007 brings you health and happiness.
We had some great accomplishments on the project last year. We also experienced several obstacles.
First and foremost, I want to sincerely thank every one of you who helped out last year. This project would not be
possible without the contributions of time, sweat and money that you have made.
I have filed paperwork to turn the project into a non-profit. I am now waiting to hear back from the IRS. So, from now
on, when you come up on a work weekend, you should keep track of mileage and project purchases and any
contributions. You will be able to deduct them from your taxes.
The Department of Fish and Game enrolled the project into the Private Land Management program which will help
out in funding the project.
We finished the 1000 acres of Juniper removal and we finished expanding and protecting Coon Camp Springs. Both
of these were part of the USFW grant requirements.
We got the cistern and piping installed at Hanna’s spring and started to dig the retaining pond.
We got the fence installed around Horse Meadow spring and started the new retaining pond.
We spread about two acres of grass seed and we put in about fifty plantings of bitterbrush.
We installed floors and inside walls in one bunkhouse and the dining room.
We purchased a small backhoe loader to help out with all of the digging projects.
Plus there were several culverts installed and ditches created to reduce erosion.
On the downside, the cost of diesel fuel has become a very large obstacle to the project. When we started the
project, we were selling the chipped Juniper trees to the power plant and making enough money to pay for the
forester crew and the tree processing. Since then, diesel fuel has doubled in price while the price we get for the
chips has not increased. So now, we lose money on every load of chips we take to the power plant. We have been
exploring other avenues to make money from the Junipers. Selling it as firewood is actually creating more revenue
but it requires much more manual labor.
In 2006, the weather was both a blessing and an obstacle. The winter and spring were the wettest ones on record
for the area. This was great for the plants and wildlife. It wasn’t so great for getting up there and getting a lot of work
done. On one trip, I drove out to Coon Camp spring and as soon as I stopped, my truck sank in mud. Tim had one
of his guys bring the skidder out to pull me out and the skidder also sank. So, Tim had to bring the chipper from the
back of the property (half a day to move it) in order to pull the skidder and the truck out.
We had a work weekend scheduled for the Memorial Day weekend. Some of us got there early to set up the camp.
The night before everyone else was supposed to show up, it started snowing. And, it snowed all night. By the time
daylight arrived, we had about 4 inches on the ground.
I had to chain up the truck and slide down the hill in order to find some cell phone signal. Once I did, I made several
calls and turned all of the volunteers around. Unfortunately, several were already in Susanville and had to turn
around and drive all of the way home.
There were also several weekends that were rained out.
And we had more than usual equipment problems this year. Broken parts, leaking hydraulics and flat tires are
normal. But, we also had several motor problems on the equipment. The worst was the motor on the chipper. It is
presently on its way to Montana for an overhaul.
Overall, it was a good year. The project moves on slowly and we are seeing results. The areas where we have
reduced the Juniper population are quickly recovering.
The seeds and plants that we spread and plant each year are starting to take hold.
Blackberry Bush Rose Bush Grasses and Wildflowers
We are seeing an increase in many different wildlife species from the smallest (mice, squirrels, rabbits, birds) to the
largest (deer and antelope).
Again, many thanks to everybody who has helped on the project.
