Wow, I cannot believe how quickly these five months have passed! But then again, when reflecting on the range of projects to which I was given the opportunity to contribute, and the amount that I have learned, it’s hard to believe that all of it occurred in just five months…

Throughout this internship, I have gained not only the concrete/technical skills—such as high desert plant identification, GIS capabilities, and vegetation monitoring methods, but also an appreciation for the diverse responsibilities and sustained efforts of land management.

I would describe myself as a “results-oriented” individual, that is, I find fulfillment in seeing the direct impacts of my work; therefore at times I found the array of simultaneous projects frustrating because I didn’t feel like I was focusing my efforts in a productive way. However, to future interns I would impart the following advice: Do not be intimidated, frustrated, or concerned if you feel that you are not able to see projects start to finish. If you are asked to work on several long term projects (as is the tendency of most land management initiatives…), it is important to understand why/to what end you are working on a particular project, but don’t necessarily expect “results.” Not only will you get the most out of your internship by staying open to and aware of new developments and projects, (even if you have four other tasks in the works) but these seemingly small contributions add up to the sustained, diverse efforts required of land management; that is, based on my very limited experience in the arena.

Thanks to CBG and the BLM in Carson City for this opportunity!

-Margaret

The month of May has truly begun to feel like field season. Last month seemed to be dominated by outreach events: Reno Earth Day (the topic of my previous post), the Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful Clean-Up Day, in which our team helped direct volunteers in the “sprucing” (litter collecting and thistle digging) of Swan Lake Recreation Area north of Reno, and the TREE event just last week: a collaborative event with the Nature Conservancy and Forest Service to provide local fourth graders the opportunity to explore McCarran Ranch Preserve and learn about its ecology; our team was tasked with leading the invasive species and plant diversity activities. The preparation and execution of these events was enjoyable and rewarding; however I am excited to get out in the field on a more regular basis.

Looking ahead, we have a range of tasks to accomplish including weed mapping, rare plant surveying, and seed collecting. In preparation for summer field work, over the last couple of weeks our team has been organizing field equipment, analyzing plant location data, and putting together a seed collection calendar.

Thinking about longer term preparation and streamlining of weed and rare plant field work, we have been compiling weed infestation and treatment data from past years (the past 12 years to be exact…), as well as rare plant survey data; our end goal is to compile these historical vegetation data into one GIS (.mxd) file. It is not what one would call a light undertaking; however I think that it will prove extremely useful for us and future botany teams.

Although I am looking forward to field season, I would like to emphasize that over the past nearly four months, one aspect of this internship that I have truly valued, and will continue to enjoy, is the variety of tasks assigned to the botany team. With every project, I learn something new, whether it’s a local plant species, a tool in GIS, or how to effectively keep a fourth grader’s attention while discussing riparian vegetation.  “Routine” is not a part of this experience, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Margaret Lindman, BLM, Carson City

Tough day at the office…

Reno Earth Day, which happened last Sunday, was a grand success. The annual 3,000 person event takes place in Idlewild Park along the Truckee River. Hundreds of canopies arranged by environmental groups, artists, public agencies, and food vendors line the green space and baseball fields. It is a lively and cooperative community event that I was glad to take part in.

We had been generating outreach material for months leading up to the event, and were able to hand out a wide range of activities, from invasive species word searches to Seymour the Antelope coloring pages. In addition we had informational brochures on local plant diversity, EDDMapS web-based invasive species mapping system, local trail maps, horse and burro management, and more.

However our number one initiative at the event was educating and involving fourth graders in Every Kid in a Park (EKIP): a nationwide program that provides free access to national parks and other public lands to kids ages 9-11! We had a separate table at our Earth Day booth devoted to EKIP, where fourth graders worked through an activity that involved assigning either Hooker’s balsamroot or Lupine to its appropriate family. Although a bit advanced (we have since revised the activity for future events), with provided references on inflorescence, leaf and root structure, as well as our guidance, students were able to complete the activity, after which we were able to give them their park pass! It was delightful to see students, their families and friends excited about the possibilities for outdoor exploration.

Reno Earth Day was a valuable experience to interact with the public, and share information about how they can engage with and promote the health of their public lands.

Margaret Lindman, Carson City BLM

I arrived in Carson City, NV about three weeks ago via the California Zephyr Amtrak Route from Chicago. Leaving behind the flat-lands of Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska, climbing the Rockies of Colorado and Utah, and waking up in the sparse sagebrush landscape of Nevada, made for a whirlwind journey through some remarkably diverse landscapes. I am thrilled by this opportunity to explore a new part of the country.

Through getting out in the field with my stellar team of fellow botany interns, I am starting to familiarize myself with the Great Basin landscape. This past week, we went out to the American Flat Mill, which is the site of a former gold and silver processing plant. The abandoned structure was recently demolished, and the site is in critical need of ecological rehabilitation.

This past Wednesday we spread a variety of native seed throughout the site including Basin wildrye (Leymus cinereus) and Antelope bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata).

Teammates, Alec and Sam, loading up the seeders.

The following day we returned to the American Flat Mill to collect willow trimmings from various aggressive willow species, so that they might be propagated in May. We dug the trimmings a trench home for their dormant season.

Alec posing in our willow trimmings trench/bathtub.

The various debris and structures left behind from the processing plant give this site a curiously eerie aura. Learning about the rise and fall of the silver and gold mining era provides important insight into how this site has evolved, and how it has had to adapt over the last century. Our hope is that the seeding and planting efforts here will culminate into a place that has not forgotten its history, but has developed the strength necessary to thrive in the future.

Although still very foreign to my Midwestern home, I look forward to getting to know the landscape of the Great Basin–its stark geological features, xeric vegetation, and intense sun–and serving as a steward of its health.

Margaret Lindman

BLM, Carson City, NV