Newsletter # 7 --- September 7, 2006
Dear Friends,
The Sonoran Conservancy of Fountain Hills was created as a nonprofit organization with a Mission “To promote the preservation of natural resources and environmentally sensitive lands.” Specifically the conservancy programs are aligned to the details of the Preserve Master Plan as developed by the McDowell Mountain Preservation Commission and approved by the Town Council of Fountain Hills.
Trail Building
To this end, through an ardent group of volunteers, we have completed 2.6 miles of the plan for a total of 4.2 miles of trails. The energetic group of Trailblazers who accomplished this task spent over 1,040 hours of manual labor. Equating this to current costs for professionally crafted trails, they have saved the Town $41,184. Even more important, having completed trails prior to general public access will help preserve all the remaining open space from wanderers.
Guided Hikes
Likewise our program for training and scheduling Trail Guides was developed to support the Town/MCO Properties agreement that provides a legal way for public access via scheduled, guided hikes. During the past three years we trained 24 persons to become effective trail stewards. They volunteered 612 hours to help over 400 hikers visit our Preserve.
Looking ahead, we continue to invite all lovers of the natural beauty and promised serenity of this Preserve to join in on the tasks still to do. We encourage your physical support by joining our volunteers or by contributing to our Trust Fund.
Guides work on a rotating schedule so with our current group they will only spend 4 hours (one trip) a month. We limited this program to just October for remaining time in 2006. Hike Schedule: Oct. 7th,14th, 21st, 28th Every Saturday morning. Register at 7:30 AM. Leave from end of Eagle Ridge Drive @ 7:45 Return by 11:30AM.
With more volunteers and a good crop of Spring flowers we will offer at least three months of weekend hiking in 2007.
New Trail
Our Tralblazers program will be focusing on clearing the way for a new, “easy access” path that promises to provide a view equal to the current Town overlook trail, but on a smooth surfaced base.
Here we have two major challenges. First, we want to “plant” a series of Sonoran flora along side this easy access trail. Our goal is to create a nature trail with signs identifying all the plant life. We feel this can provide joy and learning to our school aged groups as well as the adult public. One challenge will be to afford the purchase of specimen, native plant life and then keep it alive until it is old enough to survive the typical weather. Another need is to enlist persons with
botanical background to supervise this project.
A second challenge is to seek additional funding through Grants or Gifts to allow us to employ a recognized trail building contractor for assistance in blading a four foot track through some heavily boulder strewn sections. A bid from one source totaled just under $7,000.00. We are exploring all avenues (Town funding, local grant sources, State and Federal sources). For further information or volunteering please call at (480) 837-3253.
Business Report
Current Trust Fund balance is $6,379. This balance represents an accumulative combination of contributions during the past 3 years. (net after expenses)
If you have not joined with our Friends, consider it ...Today. A membership application form is available on this site under the “Public Participation” topic.