A collaboration between Lane County Parks, Friends of Buford Park & Mt. Pisgah and Willamalane Park and Recreation District, as well as City of Eugene Parks and Open Space, has been awarded a partnership grant with the National Civilian Conservation Corps (AmeriCorps NCCC). Two 8-person AmeriCorps teams will be working to improve access to nature and enhance habitat conditions in parks and conservation lands in and adjacent to the Eugene–Springfield area during January and February 2023. The teams’ work will focus on habitat and trails projects in Howard Buford Recreation Area and surrounding conservation lands, as well as nearly a dozen other Lane County, Willamalane and City of Eugene parks.
The NCCC teams will assist with tree planting, vegetation management, ladder fuel reduction and invasive species removal, install thousands of shrubs and trees representing twenty native species associated with riparian and floodplain habitats occurring along the Coast Fork of the Willamette River, maintain existing trails, repair damaged trails, and construct new trail segments.
Projects are expected to benefit the community by:
- Improving access to nature (which has public health benefits)
- Improving conditions and enhancing the quality of native ecosystems and species (including riparian habitats and rare native prairie and savanna habitats)
- Reducing the risk of severe or high intensity wildfire (through priority fuels reduction tasks)
- Bettering native habitats and access to nature enhances regional livability, increases opportunities for outdoor education, and strengthens the regional economy attracting tourism and a high quality of life for job seekers
AmeriCorps NCCC was inspired by the New Deal’s Civilian Conservation Corps and is designed to provide young adults (18-26) with challenging job opportunities through conservation projects and community service. Participants can earn money for college, build their resume, develop skills, and give back to their communities. AmeriCorps NCCC volunteers work together as a team to complete conservation projects. The teams working with Lane County are new to Oregon and come from a wide variety of locations throughout the country.
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up