Volunteers needed for Helen Putnam trail building

The work day at Helen Putnam Regional Park is set for Sept. 30.|

Hike and dig. Hike and rake. Trail work at Helen Putnam Park is finally underway.

Those of you who hike or ride up there will be glad to hear this news. Those of you who donated to the Putnam Challenge Grant also will be glad that your contribution is making a difference. Did you see the piles of gravel along the trail? A few weeks ago a crew of volunteers from the Sonoma County Trails Council began repairs to one of the trails popular to all levels of hikers - Fillaree Trail, a trail that weaves through the oaks along the ridgeline.

Ken, the crew leader, gathered everyone for a briefing in the parking lot - safety, tools, individual limitations and interests, the tasks of the day, and of course, poison oak sensitivity. The crew was only eight individuals. Some were regular volunteers of the Trails Council. Others were newcomers.

Jackie had recently moved to Petaluma and was looking for volunteer opportunities. Larry was a retired firefighter who uses the park regularly and wanted to contribute. Ages ranged from 30s to 70s. There was a job for everyone and all abilities. Ken promised beer, sodas and snacks at the end of the workday to celebrate.

Days before, Ken had met with the park planners to map out the work. They visited the site, walking the trails to document the problems, the challenges and the scope of work. Where will we work? How long will the work take? Can the job be done in four hours? How many volunteers will be needed? What tools will be needed? The Trails Council has been doing this work in Sonoma County for 50 years so they have solid knowledge. The day’s task was to repair erosion on just a small section of Fillaree Trail. A bigger section of work is planned for September.

Ken demonstrated how to use the tools - rake, mattock, shovel, McCleod, and grape hoe - and how to lay them down when hikers came along. Tecnu was available in case you rubbed up to some poison oak.

“Anyone here not sensitive?” he asked. Just one fellow raised his hand. He got a special assignment. Ken explained the tasks of the day - build a berm, cut for drainage, fill with gravel, rake grass, trim branches, make a swale, shape the trail. Lots to do. A trail ambassador was needed to shout out to the crew, “Hiker coming,” so all the volunteers would stop working and let the hiker pass. I think I would like that job. Quite a few hikers did pass by.

A truck carried the tools up near the work site along with a jug of water. The crew followed, hiking up Ridge Trail to Fillaree. Ken assigned tasks based on abilities and muscle, and the crew spread out along the trail. Everyone dug in, literally. Raking, digging, trimming. By noon, the job was done. The trail looked great, and the crew celebrated their work.

But the big one lies ahead. If you have hiked Fillaree, you know the “bog.” It’s that big wet hole surrounding the oak trees that doesn’t dry until summer. It is a mess, and we are going to fix it. Volunteers are going to tackle that bog on Saturday, Sept. 30, at 9 a.m.

And on that day we will also celebrate National Public Lands Day, a day when thousands will volunteer in their public lands throughout the country. Thirty volunteers will be needed at Putnam Park because it is a very, very big job. So sign up at www.sonomacountytrailscouncil.org. It will be a great community effort for our beloved little park.

(Carol Eber is the chair of the Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation and a Petaluma resident.)

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