Bust Buckthorn in Tunnel Valley!

Centered around one of the most impressive landscape features in southern Washington County, Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park totals nearly 600 acres. The ravine for which it is named is approximately a half-mile wide with 80- to 100-foot slopes, and bisects the park north to south before ending in a small lake. Known as a “tunnel valley,” the ravine was carved by a subglacial drainageway that carried large volumes of water, eroding the valley.

Volunteers will work with FMR Senior Ecologist Karen Schik to continue the restoration of this beautiful park, and expand the restoration area, by hauling cut brush, primarily buckthorn. (There may also be some brush-cutting for volunteers comfortable working with handsaws or loppers.) This will help open the canopy, making way for native plants beneficial to local wildlife and waters to return.

No experience is required and all supplies, including snacks, will be provided. Photos from similar events (same park, slightly different location) are available from our fall 2012 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/friendsmissriv/sets/72157631895718593/) and 2013 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/friendsmissriv/sets/72157637645088616/) flickr albums.

Ready to register?

To ensure a high-quality experience, capacity is limited and pre-registration required. To sign up, simply contact FMR’s Volunteer Registrar at jknittel[at]fmr.org, or by selecting her name from the drop-down “Category” menu of our contact form (http://fmr.org/contact). Please include: the name of the event, your name, address and phone number and the number in your party. You will receive a confirmation email and additional details, such as directions and what to wear, from jknittel[at]fmr.org within, at most, a week.

Please add this email to your address book to increase likelihood of receipt. If you don’t see a confirmation from us, please check your spam folder.

More information

Please note: Any addresses or park maps provided via the links below are for general use only. Event registrants will be emailed a map to the correct event meeting spot.

Thank you partners and sponsors City of Cottage Grove, Washington County, REI and the 3M Foundation!

Be sure to register (required) to ensure adequate supplies, lunch included, and to make sure you receive directions to the correct meeting spot.