We will be posting volunteer opportunities here and on facebook. A volunteer coordinator will work with you and guide you through the projects and provide any training required.
If you are interested in volunteering for any project listed or to be on the list for future projects, contact Gene at Cvtvolunteers@gmail.com for more information and a volunteer application.
Current Projects:
Seed Harvest
Well it is that time of year again to start collecting native prairie seed for our restoration efforts. With the number of volunteers growing I am going to schedule a couple of days and work with whoever can make those times. If you really want to do this at other times I would be glad to work with you on an individual basis also. Our best sites for collecting are between Welch and Cannon Falls. We will plan to meet on Saturdays, August 19th and 26th. We will meet at the Welch Station Maintenance shop at 9 am. Opportunities will available for you to bike the trail and stop at designated sites and do some collection, walk to the sites from Welch, (up to 6 miles round trip), or carpool and take shorter hikes to each site. When we meet at 9 we will talk about what we will target for collection and the methods we use. Depending on the attendance, sites will be determined and I will make sure equipment needed will be available at those sites. We will plan to be done by noon, unless everyone on my list shows up and then we may be done before then. I scheduled two Saturdays in case of bad weather or abundant seeds to collect. Unless it is raining we will be doing it on the 19th, and then determine if we want to do it again on the 26th.
| Seed harvest is a great volunteer and/or outreach activity. The Biological Management Plan has identified numerous areas along the trail for this activity. All of the seeds called out in the trail corridor for harvest are easily recognizable. Seed harvest is encouraged along the trail in certain areas where native species populations are high. There are also areas where seed harvest and redistribution is not recommended due to the sensitive nature of the habitat. This project is time sensitive and is primarily done in late summer or early fall. Not all species are mature for harvest at the same time. This activity can be done as an individual project or as a group activity. |
Woody Species Removal/Management
| Clearing invasive, non-native, and aggressive woody species is a high priority for Cannon Valley Trail parcels. This management includes the removal of invasive common buckthorn, tartarian honeysuckle, and amur maple, as well as the thinning of red cedars within the corridor. Control of these woody invasive species can be daunting but can be made more manageable by first targeting mature, fruit-producing plants as well as plants near and alongside trails or large openings. The work will involve hand cutting and sawing of targeted plants. Herbicide application, if needed, will be done by trail staff or trained volunteers. Cut material will be generally removed from the site. This activity can be done as an individual project or as a group activity. |
Herbaceous Species Removal/Management
| Herbaceous vegetation is managed with three main methods. First, physical removal of the plant is a preferred volunteer option and it includes, normally, hand-pulling the targeted species and disposing of it properly. This method is effective for small, localized populations of invasive species or for populations in extremely sensitive communities that could be negatively affected by other methods. Garlic mustard removal is a top priority for CVT. The second and third methods, herbicide application and spot mowing, will be done by trail staff in conjunction with the hand pulling projects. Timing is important to target these plants before they produce flowers and seeds in order to prevent the population from spreading through an area. This activity can be done as an individual project or as a group activity. |
Butternut
| The butternut tree (Juglans cinerea) is a state endangered species and is present throughout the entire trail corridor. This hardwood species has been in dramatic decline due to the fungal disease butternut canker (Sirococcus clavigignenti-juglandacearum). This fungal disease has no known cure, and no known origin. There are, however, individuals within the species that have exhibited disease resistance. These individuals have been found within areas of diseased individuals. The best course of action for this species’ recovery is to leave any, and all butternut trees untouched in hopes that disease-resistant individuals will increase population fitness of the species. It may also be helpful, if disease-resistant trees are positively identified in the trail corridor to harvest seeds and directly plant them in the area in order to minimize foraging pressures and damage to the seed from small mammals, such as squirrels. Trail staff will identify and locate disease-resistant trees and determine best time for volunteers to collect seed. Appropriate locations to plant these seeds will also be identified and volunteers and staff will plant them as soon as possible. This activity can be done as an individual project or as a group activity. |
Follow these steps to sign up as a volunteer for the Cannon Valley Trail:
- Check this page to learn about volunteer positions available.
- Contact the CVT staff person designated for each of the opportunities in which you are interested. He or she will inform you if the position is still open and will register you.
- Schedule your time with the contact person. Arrive on time (or a little early) to work on the projects for which you registered to work. Be sure to call if you will be absent or need to leave early. The CVT is counting on you to be a dependable volunteer.
- Represent the CVT in a positive fashion. You are not expected to be knowledgeable in all areas concerning the CVT. If working with the public in your volunteer position, all questions related to CVT policies and procedures are to be referred to your supervisor, or to the CVT administration office 507-263-0508. Avoid expressing personal opinions.
- Keep track of your hours. This is important for liability coverage, reporting to the CVT Joint Powers Board of Directors, and volunteer recognition. Turn in your hours to your supervisor.
If you have any concerns or special needs, please discuss them with the supervisor of the project. The supervisor will be happy to discuss possible accommodations that may help you successfully perform your volunteer duties
