Earth Day volunteers help restore NSNWR savanna

PRAIRIE CITY — Nearly 200 volunteers assisted in brush and litter removal during Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge’s annual Earth Day work day in Prairie City Saturday morning.

Volunteers were split into three groups to help the refuge in separate ways. A group of kids spread seed to restore grassland on recent construction areas, while another group planted wildlife around the visitors center. The third group took a hike up a NSNWR trail and assisted in transporting large branches from the savanna woodlands to a burn pile.

All groups played a key role in the restoration process of the savanna and helped maintain an attractive refuge.

Wildlife refuge specialist Rick Hager led the work day and encouraged the volunteers to have fun and enjoy their surroundings because that’s what Earth Day is all about.

“The main thing about this day is to get people out and enjoy being outdoors. So whether we actually accomplish a lot or not, it’s just great to have this many people out doing something,” Hager said. “With that being said, if those branches didn’t get picked up, that’s what I’d be doing all summer long. Volunteers are everything when it comes to getting something like this accomplished.”

The branches were once invasive trees that grew above the canopy and prevented the native oak trees from receiving the proper nutrients. Refuge workers trimmed the invasive trees over the winter, but were unable to use machinery to transport the fallen branches to a burn pile because the ground wasn’t frozen enough. Oak trees are sensitive to compaction, especially in their drip line, so that’s why Earth Day volunteers spent the morning moving the branches by hand, Hager said.

The burning, however, will take place on invasive grassland so no harm will be done to the savanna.

Volunteers worked until about 11:30 a.m. before returning to the visitors center for a free lunch supplied by Prairie City restaurant Goldie’s Ice Cream Shoppe. Shredded pork sandwiches, chips, brownies and lemonade were available to volunteers as a thank you for their participation.

The NSNWR has approximately 5,500 acres of land giving native plants and animals a safe place to live. While at the center visitors can drive through the bison refuge, walk one of the many trails through the prairie or bike on the newly installed bicycle lanes while experiencing what Prairie City looked like hundreds of years ago.

The refuge’s next big event is Pedal the Prairie, a bike ride along the entry way road on May 21.

Contact Alex Olp at aolp@newtondailynews.com