A GBI vegetation crew recently finished up a field season conducting botanical surveys in areas of Whiskeytown National Recreation Area with unique habitats that have not yet undergone extensive surveying. The crew mapped populations of rare plants, invasive plants, and native plants identified as good candidates for seed collection, working across a variety of terrain, including off-trail areas, areas adjacent to highway 299, utility roads, utility pole footprints, and trails. Additionally, the crew managed invasive plant populations through manual and chemical treatment methods, processed the seeds collected, and engaged in habitat restoration by planting and sowing locally sourced native species. This is all part of an important ongoing effort to restore an area that is still recovering from the destruction caused by the 2018 Carr Fire, which burned 229,651 acres, encompassing more than 97 percent of this 42,500-acre park unit.
Two members of the GBI crew kindly shared their experiences with us. Vegetation/botany technician, Thomas Brugnara admits to having been unsure of how he would fare in the field when he joined the crew in August: “Having recently graduated college with a BS in Environmental Studies from the University of Oregon, I had enough experience working with plants to know it was an area of interest, but not enough to keep me from feeling a sense of imposter syndrome. Instead of letting this uncertainty negatively impact my experience, I jumped headfirst into my job with the desire to learn from my team. My eagerness to learn and gain experience in this new field was fostered by my crew lead, Steven Clinton, who did a wonderful job integrating me into his crew.”
Steven, in turn, is quick to praise the crew that he led. “I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with everyone on my crew,” he tells us. “I was consistently impressed by their hard work, curiosity, willingness to learn and to look out for one another. One of the things I took great joy in was watching crew members learn the local flora, recognize morphological patterns among species, and help incoming staff get up to speed with plant identification. I would like to give a special shout-out to all my crew members this season because this truly was a team effort: Bostwick Cook, Celeste Shelton, Aberdeen Spade, Kaylie Cory, Thomas Brugnara, Ayana Shearer, Brady Griggs, Anna Templeton, and Jake Fanene. Thank you!”
Both Steven and Thomas also remark on the rewarding relationship with National Park Service staff at Whiskeytown. “They were fantastic to work with,” says Steven. “I admired their extensive local knowledge and dedication to their roles. I would specifically like to thank Chris McCarron and Tyler Self for their guidance throughout the season.”
When asked if there were any standout moments over the course of the hitch, Steven notes that there were too many to name them all, but lists a few:
- The time our entire crew endearingly dressed up as Biological Science Technician, Tyler Self for Halloween
- Finding the first recorded population of Carolina bugbane (Trautvetteria carolinensis) in Shasta County
- Planting MacNab Cypress (Hesperocyparis macnabiana) seedlings
Steven and Thomas also both identify the experience as one that has helped them grow and sharpen their skills.
Thomas: “I gained experience surveying and collecting data for rare and invasive plant populations, mapping and flagging rare/threatened plants, working with seeds from native plants, and performing herbicide treatments on invasive plant infestations. Working with our crew of three, which eventually became eight, helped me become comfortable in an unfamiliar field and fueled my passion for botany. I’ve gained a lot of valuable skills, experience, and knowledge over the last five months that I’m excited to apply in my future career.”
Steven: “Having the opportunity to work as the Vegetation Crew Lead at Whiskeytown was an incredibly rewarding experience. I learned a ton this past season. I gained new skills, honed existing ones, and had the privilege of working with a great group of people. I left Whiskeytown with a sense of accomplishment, and I am grateful to have been able to contribute to the ecosystem health of this unique and floristically diverse landscape in a meaningful way.”
We’re delighted that Thomas and Steven have shared their experiences with us, and even more pleased at the great work they did in the field. In the word of Research Associate Program Coordinator, Vincent Coccia, “The Whiskeytown crew was hardworking and had a difficult job to accomplish. We will soon be recruiting for the next season and I hope their message will help us gain equally passionate applicants.”
