Franklin Falls. NFCT Waterway Work Trip July Introduction: Driving directions and meeting location: Camping and lodging: Food:

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1 Franklin Falls NFCT Waterway Work Trip July Introduction: Last year the NFCT Stewardship Interns and Volunteers installed approximately 20 stone steps on the Permanent Rapids Carry. We also planted 100 saplings for stream-bank stabilization and campsite re-vegetation projects. This year we will try our best to finish the staircase by adding another 12 steps and armoring. We will also be continuing with our campsite maintenance projects along the shores of Franklin Falls Pond. Driving directions and meeting location: If you are coming from the west, the intersection of State Street, Saranac Avenue, and Route 3 in the heart of Bloomingdale, New York, you will head north on Route 3. After approximately 1,000 feet you will turn right on to CR-18. Follow CR-18 along the Saranac River for 4 miles. The parking area will be on your right. We will have a sign showing that an NFCT Event will be occurring. Camping and lodging: There is an established New York Department of Environmental Conservation campsite at the project site. There will be ample room to pitch tents and establish a group camping area for the duration of our WWT. We will also have the opportunity to have camp fires. It is recommended that you bring camping gear with you. If you have any camping gear needs please contact NFCT Trail Director, Walter Opuszynski at walter@northernforestcanoetrail.org or by dialing (802) x2#, we may have what you need for use. There will be a primitive outhouse available for use. We will provide anti-bacterial gel and toilet paper, please bring all other sanitary items you may need. Food: The cost of this WWT goes towards purchasing food for the NFCT interns as volunteers. NFCT interns will prepare meals. Meals will range from dutch oven pizza to chocolate chip pancakes and everything in between. We will have ample drinking water available as well as a variety of powdered drink mixes. We will also have tea and coffee available.

2 What to Bring: Personal camping gear (include rain gear, a tent, eating utensils, flashlight, etc.) Work Gloves Water Bottle Paddling Gear (If you are interested in paddling opportunities) Tools will be provided, although extra shovels, buckets, or mattocks could be helpful Food will be provided by the NFCT (Please notify us of any food preferences/allergies) Paddling: There will be group paddling opportunities weaved into the WWT, as well as time for solo pursuits at the end of the day. These will not be guided tours as our NFCT Interns are not trained or certified guides although they will have Wilderness First Aid Certification and open/fast water paddle skills and rescue training. We will decide as a group the nature of the group paddling opportunities. With the variety of water types in the Franklin Falls area we can work as a group to create different paddles to meet people s abilities and comfort level. If you have any paddling needs or questions please contact NFCT Trail Director, Walter: walter@northernforestcanoetrail.org (802) x2# Project Description The Permanent Rapids Portage follows part of an access for public campsites. It is on this access trail that we will be installing a stone staircase as part of the WWT. The slope is a little steep and the soil is a loose clay/sand causing erosion to begin due to the degree of use that the trail sees. We will be installing a stone staircase to harden the tread and reduce any continued erosion to the trail. Drawing created by the US Forest Service Figure 68--Begin laying steps at the bottom of a grade rather than midway. Stones will be gathered from the surrounding woods. The Stewardship Intern crew will have begun the process before the WWT starts. We should have rock on site to begin construction, but may still need to quarry more. We will be looking for rectangular shaped rock that is roughly 2 X 1 X 1. Rocks will be set in the bank and we will armor the sides of the steps with smaller rock to ensure that our stone staircase will not be eroded over time.

3 Site Pictures The steepest slope is around 21 degrees. This is the area where we will be installing a stone staircase. To the left is a shot taken of the staircase that was installed in the 2009 field season. It has gotten rave reviews and is built to last. We will also be performing a variety of smaller stewardship projects in the area which will include planting saplings and clearing brush from a nearby campsite that experienced a number of blowdowns from a wind event last year.

4 You will be working with the supervision and support of our NFCT Stewardship Interns and our Field Coordinator, Noah Pollock. We will be working out a way for WWT Volunteers to be able to contact the crew if you have to cancel at the last minute or are delayed so we don t get worried. You will be notified of this arrangement well before the WWT. More information about the crew will be posted on our NFCT website under the Get Involved tab! Friday July 16, 2009 Permanent Rapids Portage Trail Waterway Work Trip Schedule 5 PM- For those able to arrive at 5:00, the Stewardship Interns will provide a tour of the project site 6 PM- Dinner will be prepared around 6:00. Please inform us if you are planning on attending Friday s dinner so that we are adequately prepared. Also, make us aware of any food requirements you may have. 7 PM-Feel free to take advantage of all the local paddling opportunities! Saturday July 17, AM-9AM Breakfast 9AM-12PM Worksite Projects 12PM-1PM Lunch 1PM-3PM Worksite Projects 3PM-6PM Group paddle 6PM-7PM Dinner 7PM-Get a paddle in while the sun is up! Sunday July 18, AM-9AM Breakfast 9AM-12PM Worksite Projects 12PM-1PM Lunch 1PM-2PM Wrap-up **Schedule and project descriptions may change. You will be notified as we get closer to the WWT if this happens** Please fill out and return all Waterway Work Trip Forms at your earliest convenience.

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