Seeking Volunteers to help with rare plant surveys at the Pine Hill Ecological Preserve Saturday June 24

The Sacramento Area chapter of CNPS is going to be helping with some rare plant surveys and inventory at the Pine Hill Ecological Preserve on Saturday June 24th.  We will be meeting Graciela M. Hinshaw (Pine Hill Preserve Manager) in Shingle Springs at 8:30am. Graciela will provide the equipment(pin flags) and cold drinks (water, gatorade) but be prepared for hot weather (bring hats, sun screen, appropriate clothing, lunch, etc.). 

First thing in the morning Graciella will give us an orientation and information on identification of the target species and will go over the survey methodology we will be using.  If people have and can bring GPS units to record and report where the pin flags marking clusters of rare plants will be placed it will be greatly appreciated.

Here is some information on where and what we will be doing from Graciella.

"The Ponderosa 50 parcel of the Preserve Cameron Park unit and, because there are some people interested in proposing a new paved road along Wild Chaparral within the Preserve limits we need to document what we have there as soon as possible to strengthen our argument against this idea.  Also, there are a couple of development projects proposed on lands adjacent to the Preserve (I guess that is why they will need the road) and we also need to document what and how this projects could affect rare plants within the Preserve lands (further fragmentation of populations, edge effect, other)."

Directions to the site (About 35-40 minutes from Sacramento )- We will be meeting at the intersection of Wild Chaparral road and Many Oaks road in Shingle Springs.  To get there from Sacramento take HWY 50 east and take the N Shingle Springs/Ponderosa 50 exit, turn west on Wild Chaparral and continue until the end of the pavement (by the intersection with Many Oaks).  There is plenty of room to park about 6 vehicles there, at the farthest southeast corner of the Pine Hill Preserve. Carpooling is encouraged! I can take at 3 people with me.

The surveys are expected to continue until October, maybe even later during this year, so there is going to be plenty of opportunities for people to help in the future as well.

Please let me know if you can make it!

Thanks!