Kanuti Refuge: Dalton Highway Invasive Plant Control

Project NameDalton Highway Invasive Plant Control
Project Number121
LocationAlong the Dalton Highway, between Fairbanks and Prudhoe Bay
DatesJune 23-27 and July 21-25, 2008
DurationTwo projects, 5 days each
Number of Volunteers Needed8-12 volunteers for each project
DescriptionFriends are looking for Volunteers June 23-27 and July 21-25 to assist with an invasive plant project along the Dalton Highway to keep invasives out of Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge.

Travel, lodging, food and equipment are provided by Friends and the Fish and Wildlife Service.

At its nearest point, the Kanuti Refuge lies just eight miles west of the Dalton Highway, the road that leads from Fairbanks north to Prudhoe Bay. At least six Koyukuk River tributaries cross the highway and later enter the Refuge. Kanuti Refuge staff, the Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges (Friends) and others are increasingly concerned that these waterways (especially Jim Creek, Fish Creek, Prospect Creek, and Bonanza Creek) could become routes for dispersal of invasive white sweetclover (Melilotus alba) into the Refuge.

Since 2006, The Friends have cooperated annually with Kanuti Refuge, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the National Park Service (NPS), Alaska Department of Transportation (DOT), Alyeska Pipeline Service Company and others to control white sweetclover at key sites where it could easily disperse into the Refuge, where currently no invasive, non-native plants are known to exist. To date, control efforts have focused on manual pulling. This year the group plans to continue removing plants manually, but hopes to expand the effort to include more mechanical control with weed trimmers, and subsequent cultural control (planting native grasses and forbs). The goal is to eliminate 2008 seed production, which will require infested areas to be visited at least twice by 8-10 Friends during the growing season in June and July.

June 23-27: The Refuge needs up to 8 volunteers, arriving in Fairbanks Monday morning, the 23rd and leaving Fairbanks Friday evening the 27th.

July 21-25: The Refuge needs up to 12 volunteers, arriving in Fairbanks Monday morning, 21th and leaving Fairbanks Friday evening the 25th.

Please contact Volunteer Coordinator Betty Siegel betty.siegel@alaska.net for information. (907) 235-1598
Skills NeededAbility to work outside in all weather conditions for 2-3 hours at a time along the Dalton Highway where dust and mosquitoes are to be expected.
Volunteers will use manual methods as well as gas weed trimmers.
ContactBetty Siegel, (907) 235-1598, betty.siegel@alaska.net