Oxy – South Metro Pheasants Forever Chapter #0816

New Cottonwoods at Barr Lake

Posted on June 29, 2023 | by vP0ut-70

On June 29, Barr Lake State Park and South Metro Pheasants Forever hosted a team of Oxy volunteers in a Cottonwood replacement project. The cottonwoods that surround Barr Lake serve as a home for many different species of animals that are reaching the end of their lives. The project planted a dozen cottonwoods in a meadow on the south side of the park’s preserve area.

A special thanks to both Barr Lake staff and Oxy volunteers for joining us in this project! And a big thanks to all of the PF volunteers who support these projects. Our wildlife thanks you.

The team: 22 total volunteers gathered for the event.

The first step in the process was digging the proper holes- not too big, not too small!

The tree and root ball, weighing about 250 lbs, need to be handled gently to keep the roots covered.

) Justin, of Barr Lake, instructing on taking the wire off of the root ball.

Earth Day 2023

Posted on April 22, 2023 | by vP0ut-70

On Saturday, April 22, a cold and blustery Earth Day, South Metro PF again sponsored adding to the pollinator plot at Barr Lake State Park. Joined by the Wildlands Restoration Volunteers and with Oxy’s financial support, Pheasant’s Forever volunteers and Barr Lake staff guided the planting of 130 + rabbit brush bushes and a variety of flowering plants. The purpose of the pollinator plot is a multiyear project to enhance the habitat environment for birds and bees while providing a great educational environment for the community.

Prepping the site during the cold and blustering

May 25, 2022 – Habitat Project at Barr Lake State Park

Posted on June 6, 2022 | by vP0ut-70

On May 25^th, Oxy, STEAD school, Pheasants Forever and the Barr Lake team all partnered to provide protection and food for our bird friends of all varieties.

400 feet of nesting, berries and shelter were on the agenda for planting. First, the holes (185 of them) were dug. Six cubic yards of compost and mulch were used to make our new plants welcome as we tucked them into the ground. Our new residents- 35 Junipers, 60 each of chokeberry and sumac bushes were planted.

There were approximately 60 people present to do the planting -20 students and 5 adults from STEAD school, 30+ Oxy employees, the Pheasants Forever Habitat and outreach chairs, and a half dozen employees from Barr Lake.

All enjoyed the morning of connecting to each other, and to the wildlife that we are helping protect!

April 23, 2022 – Hands-on Habitat Project

Posted on April 25, 2022 | by vP0ut-70

In partnership with Barr Lake and Oxy, SE Metro Pheasants Forever Chapter joined the national effort for “Hands-on Habitat”. This project highlighted dry lands habitat development in Barr Lake’s Educational Plots. Previously, the primary development has been with the pollinator plot. This project planting included planting rabbit brush and prairie dropseed plants. It also included a dry land seeding of a grass mix specifically designed by the National Pheasants Forever wildlife team. The mix included Blue Stem, Indian Grass, Switchgrass as well as several other native grasses.

September 25, 2021 was National Public Land Day!

Posted on October 11, 2021 | by vP0ut-70

Sept. 25 was National Public Land Day!

South Metro Pheasants Forever and Oxy joined to participate in two events at Barr Lake State Park that day.

The first was the painting of a mural depicting our pollinator plot and the multicultural volunteers responsible for the creation of the pollinator plot.

The artist, Dominic Velando, sketched the mural and guided the volunteers in the painting. Thanks Dominic! The second was adding more pollinators plants to the plot!

Oxy volunteers team for two Barr Lake projects

Posted on August 25, 2021 | by vP0ut-70

On Thursday, August 19, PF and Occidental volunteers teamed with Barr Lake staff to complete the next stages of 2 projects. The first project, an exciting project that will continue for the next month, is the mural project.

The first step was to build the fencing structure needed as the surface for the mural. The team measured, dug holes, measured again, widened the holes and finally cemented in the upright structure beams for the fence. It was hard work, and created many laughs as the structure took shape!

The next steps on the mural will take place in September as the fence is finished and the mural sketched in for the final painting stage on National Public Land day, the 25th of September. At the same time as the posts were being planted, additional planting was taking place in the Pollinator Plot. More rabbit brush, coneflowers, and others joined the growing plot. The additional plants were gently placed by the Oxy team as the PF team helped with both projects!

It was a great team day. Thanks Oxy!!