Mariposa County Weed Control Project Planned for National Public Lands Day

The Bureau of Land Management’s Mother Lode Field Office is seeking volunteers to remove French broom near Midpines on Sept. 25 as part of the nationwide celebration of National Public Lands Day.

The project will run from 9 a.m. to about 3:30 p.m. on Feliciana Mountain, near Midpines, in Mariposa County.

“French broom is an invasive fast-spreading weed that is relatively new to the Midpines area,” said James Barnes, project coordinator. “The patch of French broom targeted for removal must be cut/killed before it spreads downstream into Bear Creek and, eventually, the Merced River.”

Volunteers will use loppers to cut down a small patch of French broom on BLM-managed public land on the western flanks of Feliciana Mountain. Cutting the French broom at this time of year will usually kill it, thus stopping its spread.

Volunteers should bring lunch and wear a hat, long pants, long-sleeve shirt, sturdy shoes and gloves. Please leave pets at home. BLM will provide loppers, eye protection and plenty of ice-cold bottled water.

For more information or to sign up for the event, contact Barnes at (916) 941-3140 or jjbarnes@blm.gov

National Public Lands Day, a project of the National Environmental Education Foundation, is a chance to help keep our public lands beautiful.

Each year, thousands of Americans take part in NPLD, the nation’s largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance the public lands. Last year, 150,000 volunteers participated at more than 2,000 locations across the country. Their efforts to build trails, remove invasive species, paint signs, beautify landscaping, remove trash, etc. totaled millions of dollars in improvements.

NPLD is also a fee-free day in many federally managed lands. And volunteers who participate are given coupons for second free entry into their favorite federal public land areas that have entrance fees. To celebrate our public lands, please visit http://www.publiclandsday.org and find a location near you.