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Crews protect riparian habitat and natural waters on the North Kaibab Ranger District Fredonia, Ariz., Oct. 30, 2019 — The Kaibab National Forest and a Hopi Ancestral Lands Crew, along with personnel from
Grand Canyon Trust and the
Springs Stewardship Institute are working to protect riparian habitat and natural waters on the North Kaibab Ranger District (NKRD) of the Kaibab National Forest.
The Ancestral Lands program was started in 2008 through
Conservation Legacy and the
Southwest Conservation Corps. Its focus is to support the self-empowerment of Native American communities through a grass roots community driven approach. The goals of the program are to provide job and leadership
experience for local Native American youth while connecting them to their heritage and cultural values. The program exposes youth to potential careers with land management agencies through the completion of important conservation and interpretation projects.
With programs in Acoma Pueblo, Navajo Nation, Hopi Nation and Zuni Pueblo Ancestral Lands crews have been working on projects from historical preservation, traditional agriculture, chainsaw crews, stream restoration, fencing, trail construction
and more. For more information on Ancestral lands programs visit:
https://conservationlegacy.org/ancestrallands.
This year's projects on the NKRD intend to build upon a 4-year program of protecting and restoring natural waters, such as springs and sink hole lakes, by installing or repairing bison-proof post and pole protective fences around Crane
Lake, Deer Lake, Timp Spring and Squaw Spring. Crews also helped protect vital meadow habitat by performing tree removal in the Mile-and-a-Half meadow area. "These projects will engage tribal youth in waters-related and land resource management projects that are within their traditional tribal lands while providing job opportunities for underserved Native American tribal members," said Kit
MacDonald, soils and watershed program manager with the Coconino National Forest and formerly with the Kaibab National Forest. "Springs and natural waters on the NKRD are often sites of high cultural resource density, which are in need of protection from trampling
and damage by domestic livestock and bison." The North Kaibab Ranger District and Grand Canyon National Park have been working together to exclude bison from these important habitats and to encourage the bison to return to the House Rock Valley area. "Bison have migrated from House Rock Valley onto the Kaibab Plateau in the Kaibab National Forest and the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park where they are causing damage to unprotected springs, wetlands and riparian areas," said Micah
Kiesow, forest soil scientist and project manager with the Kaibab National Forest.
Crewmembers expressed that getting to work outdoors and connect with nature on lands sacred to their people were some of the highlights of working on this project. Working with one's own hands to create a lasting impact was central to the
crew's experience and has created lifelong memories. For Erin Eustace, crew leader from the community of Pollaca, First Mesa on the Hopi Reservation, the most memorable part of her experience in doing conservation work has been "being able to showcase what the Hopi youth can do and seeing
the elders surprised at all the work they can accomplish." "My grandmother inspired me to join the Ancestral Lands Crew," said Shawuana Polequaptewa, crewmember from Shungopavi village, Second Mesa. "I wanted to try something that got me out of my comfort zone to honor her and being here helps
me connect to her." Shawuana said she felt strongly why conservation work and this project specifically is so important. "Water is healing, these springs are sacred special places that are powerful. They are a connection to my people, and they need to be protected,"
said Shawuana. For some program participants like Ke'Andre David from Walpi village, First Mesa, the motivation to join the crew is the opportunity to learn new skills, reconnect with nature and explore career options while making money for school. Ke'Andre
said his favorite part so far has been "meeting new people and how the crew has come together to learn from each other." Ke'Andre said he plans to join the crew for a few more terms before attending college. Because of his experience in the Ancestral Lands
program he is considering a major in Environmental Sciences. For photos of the crew working please visit:
http://bit.ly/HopiALC2019 Kaibab National Forest information is available through the following sources:
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Kaibab National Forest Website:
www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab ·
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/KaibabNF ·
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/KaibabNF
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Attachment:
1650-1_NKRD Springs and Natural Waters Protection_NewsRelease_10_30_19.pdf
Description: 1650-1_NKRD Springs and Natural Waters Protection_NewsRelease_10_30_19.pdf
