Mullen Wildfire Initiative Community Science Registration

How to Participate

What: Each volunteer may select from 1 to 5 paired sites to monitor and sample this summer. Each pair of sites consists of one location that has been treated with herbicide, and one location which has not. Each pair of sites will be visited once. The monitoring process will consist of participants navigating to study sites via GPS coordinates, laying out a perimeter- from which samples and observations will be taken- and identifying and collecting native and invasive grasses, and taking pictures of the site and collected grasses. The roots of the collected samples will be analyzed for presence of mycorrhizal fungi; symbiotic fungi that are especially important in the early establishment of native plants.

When:

Sites may be sampled from June-September.

What you need to bring:

• GPS Device (either standalone device, or free/paid phone app)
• GPS devices may be supplied through the BI institute, instruction on downloading and using free phone apps will be covered in the training
• Layered clothing (Be prepared for any weather….we’re in Wyoming!)
• Hiking boot/shoe (Something comfortable that will allow for off-trail travel)
• Food and water (It’s always a good idea to bring enough supplies for 2 days)
• Trowel or other digging device to assist with digging up roots of plants to be collected
• Make sure somebody knows where you are going (Leave a friend or family member with the GPS coordinates, tell them who you’re traveling with and when you plan to return)
• A phone or camera capable of taking pictures
• Clipboard, or surface on which to write

What will be supplied to you

• Pre-measured rope/string and tie downs to delineate the sample site
• Sample bags with labels
• Data sheet

Where:

The sites are divided amongst four main areas in the Medicine Bow/Route National Forest. Decide which area interests you, and then click on one of the four maps below for more specific information on sites in that area, including the accessibility and difficulty ratings.

Click on Map to Zoom In

Training

In-person training will take place on May 25th. The location will be in the vicinity of Happy Jack/Vedauwoo; the specific location will be announced in the near future. The training will cover how to navigate to the sites via GPS, how to set a perimeter around the sample area, how to identify and sample grasses, filling out the data sheet, and taking pictures. During the training we will also provide to you the items listed above under “What will be supplied to you”.

Training is required. For those unable to make the in-person training, a training video link will be made available. For those of you who are unable to make it to the training, and will not be in Laramie before you will be sampling sites, please let us know as soon as possible, so we may arrange supplying you with the necessary items to complete the sampling procedure.