Briefs: Volunteers to spruce up Turnbull Refuge
NATURE – The annual community work party to plant trees and shrubs and other projects at Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge south of Cheney is set for Saturday from 9 a.m.-noon.
The Spokane Audubon Society and Friends of Turnbull are helping the refuge’s ongoing effort to restore native riparian habitat to benefit birds and other wildlife species.
“We have hundreds of native saplings to plant and fencing to erect to protect the trees from deer, elk and moose browsing,” said Sandy Rancourt, the refuge’s outdoor education coordinator.
Register and bring a dish for a potluck lunch. Info: (509) 235-4723, ext. 228.
Fly fishing fair in Ellensburg
FISHING – The 10th annual Washington Fly Fishing Fair, featuring a variety of tying, casting and learning events, is set for Friday and Saturday in Ellensburg, sponsored by the Federation of Fly Fishers.
Free seminars include: Fishing the Upper Columbia, Steelhead Fishing in Washington and Bass Fishing in your backyard. Workshops (for various fees) on casting, fishing and tying will be available 8 a.m.-5 p.m. each day at the Kittitas Valley Event Center.
The 2016 Fly Casting Challenge Course will include six obstacles to challenge angler skills.
Private casting lessons with a Certified Casting Instructor will be available for a fee.
Approximately 100 fly tiers will be demonstrating techniques on Friday and Saturday.
Vendors will display tying materials, rods, reels, lines and a full spectrum of items.
Admission: $5 for both days, free for IFFF members, kids, and students with student ID.
English Point Trail helpers needed
TRAILS – Volunteers are needed to help with maintenance work on Friday, April 29, on Trail 80 of the English Point trail system near Lake Coeur d’Alene.
The project is being organized on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests by the Forest Service and Panhandle Backcountry Horseman.
The project includes cleaning out water bars, trimming brush, and removing mud from bridges.
Volunteers will meet at 8 a.m. at the English Point trailhead off East Lancaster Road. Volunteers should bring their own work gloves, sturdy shoes, lunch and plenty of water. The Idaho Trails Association will provide hand tools.
Sign up at IdahoTrailsAssociation.org.
Weed monitoring volunteers needed
INVASIVES – Volunteers are needed to inventory invasive weed species in the Lightning Creek area in a program organized by the Friends of the Scotchman Peaks Wilderness.
With a grant from the National Forest Foundation, volunteers will be trained on identifying weeds and will adopt one of 10 trails in the area to scout for weeds.
Inventoried weeds will be treated by our weed expert, Ken Thacker. Volunteers will follow up to evaluate the effects of the treatment.
Interested in being one of the weed warriors?
Contact britta@scotchmanpeaks.org