If you’ve got a bit of time and energy to spare, the Coral Bay Community Council needs help. The council is seeking volunteers to clear out undesirable and invasive plant species and to install fence posts at its wetlands restoration project on Agriculture Department land across from the dumpster in Coral Bay.
“The corner will be a park,” Community Council President Sharon Coldren said.
Work begins this week with botanist Gary Ray on hand to identify those plants that need to go.
Coldren said if you can’t join the Community Council team for training and removal of undesirable shrubs and vines on Wednesday from 7 to 9 a.m. or 9 to 11 a.m., you can form your own team and work when it suits you.
“It will take more than one session of volunteers,” Coldren said.
Wear gloves, old clothes with long pants and thick-soled, closed-toe shoes. Bring clippers and lopping shears if you have them. Other tools will be provided.
The next step after getting rid of the undesirable species involves putting up a fence to keep out the sheep, goats and donkeys that roam Coral Bay. After the fence is up, volunteers will plant native species.
The work is being done with a $21,000 matching grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Coldren said. The matching part means that the Community Foundation must sign on volunteers, whose work is valued at about $20 per hour, and get in-kind donations from the local government and businesses. People can also donate money to help with the project.
Coldren said that once this work is done, community meetings will be held to determine what residents want in the way of park furniture and children’s playground equipment.
A meeting was held to gather ideas on June 18.
For more information, call the Community Council’s environmental projects manager, Tricia Reed, at 776-2099 or visit coralbaycommunitycouncil.org.
