BACKGROUND:
Pine Creek Conservation Area (PCCA) is located on the John Day River just east of Clarno, a 2-hour drive from Bend.  PCCA consists of 35,000 acres of Bonneville Power Administration Conservation Mitigation Lands.  These lands are managed in perpetuity by the Warm Springs Confederation of Tribes to enhance fish and wildlife habitat.  ONDA is a major collaborator in the "on-the-ground" management of this area and together with volunteers has contributed hundreds of hours of work on restoration projects here.  PCCA surrounds the Spring Basin Wilderness Study Area on three sides (the fourth side is the John Day River), and is the source of many tributaries to the John Day River.

In order to monitor ecological change within PCCA, a permanent set of photo-points has been established.  Each year these points are visited, and photographs are taken in each of the cardinal directions.  By comparing photos from different years, the PCCA manager can get a sense of how vegetation and streamcourses are responding to management actions.

View of Spring Basin WSA from Pine Creek Conservation Area. (Photo by Jim Davis)

TIMELINE:
Participants should arrive at the car-camping location the night of Friday February 27th.  Saturday morning we will be splitting up individually and using GPS units to navigate to the various photo-points, meeting back at camp in the late afternoon. Sunday morning folks can head back home in the morning.

WHAT TO BRING:
Participants will be responsible for their own camping gear, cooking and food. Please be sure to bring at least 2 liter-sized waterbottles and proper gear for a day of solo hiking: a thermos is also nice this time of year. We will be car-camping, and it will be cold, so no need to skimp on the luxuries!
ONDA will provide potable water, GPS units, mini-radios, first aid kits and maps. 

When you register (below), you will receive a confirmation e-mail and as the trip gets nearer, you will receive an e-mail containing:

• Driving directions/time/map
• Additional suggested gear items to bring
• Car-pool information
• Any last-minute info or detail changes
  

COST:
This trip is free to members, $45 for non-members (why-not just become a member: it is only $35 for a full year!)

GROUP SIZE:
This trip is limited to 3 volunteer participants.

REGISTRATION:
Click HERE to register for the Pine Creek Conservation Area Photo-point Vegetation Monitoring Feb. 27-March 1, 2009

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
This trip will be led by ONDA's Outreach Coordinator, Jefferson Jacobs