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GreenChop Restoration Project Information

Thanks for signing up to volunteer with the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust on our GreenChop project on September 6th! We will work from 9:00a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Please be on time for project orientation, latecomers will not be able to find us as we will be walking from the parking area to the site of the work party.

At this point, formal registration has closed, but you're still more than welcome to join us! Check out the information below for directions and detailed project information.

Volunteering in the Greenway is a great way to learn new skills and explore this beautiful landscape while having fun outside! In order to ensure a safe and positive work event, we ask that you review the information below to ensure you come to the work party properly prepared.

Since safety is our top priority at the Greenway, the work event will start at 9:00 AM sharp with a safety briefing and orientation. You must attend this safety briefing in order to participate in the work event, so please be on time! We will be working on at the restoration site until 3:00 PM, but if you need to leave at noon, just let us know ahead of time. If you have any questions, please contact us at volunteer@mtsgreenway.org.

*Participants under the age of 18 must have a waiver form signed by a legal guardian to participate. If you need a waiver form, download one from our web site, http://www.mtsgreenway.org/volunteer/downloads/youthwaiver.pdf, and bring it to the project with the signature. Children under age 6 may not attend restoration events. Youth under 13 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.

Parents: please pick up your child on time at the end of the project—no later than the listed end time, preferably earlier. Additionally, the parent or guardian must be reachable by phone for the ENTIRE DAY and must be able to pick up the youth volunteer within a half hour of a phone call. This is especially important in the case of an emergency.*

PROJECT INFORMATION:

The 418-acre Three Forks Natural Area is located in rural eastern King County at the confluence of the three forks of the Snoqualmie River, the largest river system in King County. Three Forks Natural Area includes over five miles of riverfront with juvenile trout habitat, and serves as a sanctuary and corridor for a broad range of wildlife including black bear, elk, cougar, eagle, deer, and river otter. Three Forks Natural Area also plays a role in providing recreation opportunities for local and regional visitors. Larger natural recreation areas such as Mount Si and Rattlesnake Lake Scenic Area are near by and regional trails converge on and near the site including the Snoqualmie Valley Trail Extension, which runs directly through the western portion of the park.

Meadowbrook slough, one of the most notable Class I wetlands in Three Forks Natural Area, has suffered degradation through the introduction of invasive plants such as Himalayan blackberry and Japanese knotweed. These plants do not provide needed shelter for wildlife and fish and their competition jeopardizes the health of native vegetation. Volunteers will help remove these invasives in order to give native plants a better chance at survival and allow “Greenchop” to thrive.

DIRECTIONS:

From I-90, take exit 31 onto Hwy. 202/Bendigo Blvd. Drive past the outlet mall and through town. Hwy. 202 will force you to veer left as you leave town. Cross the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River. Drive for about 2 miles. Take a right onto Meadowbrook Way SE (at a stoplight). After several blocks, take a right onto SE Park Street. Drive for about a quarter mile and look for Greenway event signs to direct you toward parking.

If you get lost or have questions on the day of the event, please call Jenn McKeown, your volunteer event leader, at 206.604.2742, as the office phone is not picked up after 5pm on Friday afternoon.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Participants should be ready to be outdoors and on their feet all day, work hard, get dirty, and have fun! Pay special attention to the packing list below—even if it is nice out where you live, the weather can be very different at the project site. Also, volunteers must provide their own transportation. Unfortunately at this time we cannot arrange carpools. For other general questions, please visit our FAQ page: www.mtsgreenway.org/volunteer/faqs or contact us at volunteer@mtsgreenway.org.

WHAT TO BRING/WEAR:

Digging up invasives and restoring native plants is only fun when it’s safe! These items will help protect your body from injuries, cold, sunburn, bug bites, dehydration, fatigue and other hazards.

In order to participate in a work event, volunteers are required to wear the following:

* Long pants (we’ll be working with tools, so no shorts!)
* Sturdy shoes (absolutely no sandals or canvas shoes!)
* Gloves (provided, but we have limited children’s sizes)

In addition, participants should bring the following:

* Layers, including a t-shirt and long sleeve shirt (no tank tops)
* Rain gear
* Big sack lunch
* At least one full water bottle
* Small daypack for lunch, extra layers, etc.

We'll provide tools, project materials, and some extra gloves and rain gear.

OUTLINE OF THE DAY:

The work party starts at 9:00 AM sharp with a safety briefing. Please be on time, as we will not allow you to work if you are not present for the safety briefing! Individuals are also required to sign a Greenway liability release before participating in events.

We will spend the day at the project site, so make sure to bring anything you might need with you. Event leaders will provide you with all the information you need to do the project, so no experience is necessary! We will take a noon lunch and we will wrap up work by mid-afternoon to provide you with enough time to get back to the parking lot and sign out before 3:00 PM. At the end of the day, we also provide refreshments as reward for all your hard work!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at volunteer@mtsgreenway.org or 206.812.0122. Looking for other projects to get involved in? Additional trail and restoration work events are available on our website, mtsgreenway.org/volunteer.

Thanks again for volunteering with us—we couldn't do this without you!

GREENWAY BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

The Mountains to Sound Greenway connects great recreation, mountain scenery, local history and vibrant communities in a 100-mile landscape along Interstate 90. This corridor extends from the bike and pedestrian trails on the Seattle waterfront through the forests and rugged peaks of the Cascades and down to the edge of desert grasslands of Central Washington. The Greenway includes trails of all kinds, wildlife habitat, parks and camping areas, working farms and forests. These lands are set aside to sustain clean air and water and are a part of plans for urban development that keep green and open spaces accessible to all.

With the increasing population pressures in the greater Puget Sound region, this landscape could easily become a long strip of shopping malls, business parks, and housing developments. The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust is the organization that works to protect this landscape, improve recreational opportunities and preserve forest lands to combat climate change. For more information, please visit mtsgreenway.org.

Twin Falls Trail Project Information

Thanks for signing up to volunteer with the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust on our Twin Falls project on September 6th! We will work from 9:00a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Please be on time for project orientation, latecomers will not be able to find us as we will be walking from the parking area to the site of the work party.

At this point, formal registration has closed, but you're still more than welcome to join us! Check out the information below for directions and detailed project information.

*Participants under the age of 18 must have a waiver form signed by a legal guardian to participate. If you need a waiver form, download one from our web site, http://www.mtsgreenway.org/volunteer/downloads/youthwaiver.pdf, and bring it to the project with the signature. Children under age 6 may not attend restoration events. Youth under 13 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.

Parents: please pick up your child on time at the end of the project—no later than the listed end time, preferably earlier. Additionally, the parent or guardian must be reachable by phone for the ENTIRE DAY and must be able to pick up the youth volunteer within a half hour of a phone call. This is especially important in the case of an emergency.*

PROJECT INFORMATION:

Twin Falls Trail is located in Ollalie State Park and spans 3.5 miles along the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River. It is a popular hike for children and adults alike with its excellent views of the 150 ft Lower Twin Falls and the cascading Upper Falls. The Twin Falls Trail also features impressive stands of old growth trees spanning up to 12 – 14 feet in diameter, including an old Douglas Fir called Grandfather Tree. Over the years, our volunteer program has provided annual maintenance to keep the trail beautiful and accessible to hikers. Our current work, which includes clearing drainage, brushing, and tread restoration, will help repair any remaining damage or wear from the last winter season.

DIRECTIONS:

From I-90 take exit 38, turn right off exit ramp. Take a right on the next gravel road, following Twin Falls Trailhead signs. Park in main parking lot and look for Greenway signs and leaders.

If you get lost or have questions on the day of the event, please call Margaret Ullman, your volunteer event leader, at 206.724.5788, as the office phone is not picked up after 5pm on Friday afternoon.