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Large-scale reveg<br>project part of CVIP

GCNP — We're talking serious numbers here.

At Canyon View Information Plaza, not only have thousands of plants, trees and shrubs been planted, but thousands of man hours have gone into the project. Scores of volunteers from various groups have helped the Grand Canyon National Park revegetation crew get the plaza ready for Thursday's opening.

Shanna Watahomigie, left, and Melissa Gishie of the park’s reveg crew puts in grass plugs on the grounds of Canyon View Information Plaza.

"We started salvaging a few years ago after the site plan was done," said Frank Hays, restoration biologist for the park. "We pulled out as many of the larger pinon and junipers we could ... that came from the site and planted them back."

The trees are special additions to the plaza. The slow-growing trees can be in a nursery for eight to 10 years and still be less than two feet tall. Hays said there are six- to seven-foot trees on the site that are probably 50 to 60 years old.

"We've had high success rates, probably 85 percent, on what we transplant," Hays said of the reveg project. "We collected seed from native plants on the site and shipped them off to a government facility in New Mexico."

Hays is talking about the Natural Resource Conservation Service at Los Lunas, N.M.

"They grow plants for us there ... and ship them back to us," Hays said. "Then we get them and put them back in the ground."

In all, there are more than 1,500 shrubs and trees replanted on the site.

Collecting seed is a very important part of the whole process. But it can't come from just anywhere. Seeds are collected only from zones that are characteristic of the plaza's location. Hays said it's important to maintain geno-types on the site.

Among the areas where plants have been saved includes the turnaround area near Mather Point that is being constructed, as well as the site where a new maintenance building will be constructed.

Another important part of the project is the spreading of mulch, which helps reduce the growth of any non-native plants and acts as a shelter for native seed.

"We'll be watching for non-native plants and eradicating them," Hays said. "We also salvaged the top few inches of topsoil ... and that helps speed up the process. Topsoil is full of micro-organisms."

Reclaim water is used on the site, as is the norm all around the park. Hays said the plants will need watering for two to three growth seasons and then after they're established, they'll be on their own.

The anticipated traffic at CVIP may pose somewhat of a problem for the success rate of the plants. Hays said as few as 100 passes over an area can kill the grasses.

Hays applauded the help the reveg crew has received from volunteers. For example, a few weekends ago, the environmental club from Grand Canyon School helped out on a Sunday while receiving a tour of the new plaza.

"They help us with everything from salvaging to seed collection to planting back in the ground,” Hays said.

Hays estimated volunteers chipping in about 16,000 hours to the project this year, compared to 14,000 last year. The park reveg crew currently has 15 workers but had 18 seasonal workers along with 10 more from the Youth Conser-vation Corps during the summer.


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