Starrigavan Valley near Sitka
Over forty years ago, a visionary group of Sitka schoolteachers cherished the Starrigavan Valley for hiking, hunting, camping and recreation. That is what motivated them to create the Sitka Conservation Society and advocate for an end to industrial-scale clear-cut logging. Now, 40 years later, SCS continues to be inspired by the Starrigavan Valley and teaches local students how to restore fish and wildlife habitat damaging by past logging practices. Not only do students learn the science of ecological restoration and scientific monitoring through practical projects, but they also provide essential information to the Sitka Ranger District for targeting restoration efforts. All in all, this program engages Sitkans in responsible natural resource planning and inspires a sense of watershed stewardship, while training natural resource managers of the future.
Fall 2011 student vegetation mapping project
In the Fall of 2011, SCS partnered with the Sitka Ranger District of the Tongass National Forest to map vegetation that identifies critical locations for wildlife habitat restoration in Starrigavan Valley. Our team consisted of twelve students from the Sitka High School Field Science Class and their teacher. Through the project, students received practical training in plant identification and gps mapping techniques. The target was Vaccinium species (Blueberry and Huckleberry), because that can be critical food for deer to survive winter when snow covers other forage plants. The team mapped the occurrence of Vaccinium in young growth forests and analyzed the data using Google Fusion Tables and Google Earth.
CLICK HERE to access the Starrigavan Classroom Data portal – to see interactive maps and to download data.
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Starrigavan Stream Team
Each May in Starrigavan Valley, nearly 100 7th Graders from Blatchley Middle School in Sitka spend a couple days doing hands-on stream restoration and monitoring. In the classroom, the students learn about watershed ecology and salmon habitat. Then they hit the field and help professional watershed managers actually install in-stream wood structures to rebuild fish [...]
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Vegetation Mapping Project Completed!
This winter, students from Sitka High’s Field Science Class worked with the Sitka Ranger District to target wildlife habitat restoration activities. We mapped occurrences of Vaccinium species (Blueberry) and other deer forage plants in young growth forests. We then used data analysis and mapping technologies to identify potential locations where the Forest Service can create [...]
