The Friends Research Fund (FRF) awarded grants totaling $ 3,856 to four undergraduate students to conduct botanical and geological studies in the Monument. Britton Glenn and Andrew Restrepo, both enrolled at Evergreen State College, will research varient lichen; Lauren Castro, University of Oregon, will focus on mapping geological areas near Grizzly Peak, and Samuel Barrus, Oregon State University, will investigate the geological age and properties of the Barron Mine located on the Sampson Creek Preserve.
These student will present their finding in next year at the Monument Research Symposium, held annually in March. Final Reports will be held with the Friends and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
Thank you to the FRF 2021 review committee members: Scot Loring, Botanist and Friends Board member; Hans Stroo, Environmental Scientist; Maia Black, Community Member; and Matthew McClintock, BLM Geologist. The Committee was chaired by Friends Board Members Jacqueline Blanchette and Elaney Marcotte, and advised by Lisa James, Friends CSNM Executive Director.
Descriptions of the 2021 research grants
Project Title: Vagrant Lichens in Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument
Britton Glenn and Andrew Restrepo, Botany / Ecology, Evergreen State College
Britton and Andrew will be working together to study vagrant lichen in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument under their faculty advisor, Lalita Calabria, Professor of Botany. Vagrant lichens are likely sensitive to human-induced habitat changes and invasion by non-native plant species. Britton and Andrew will be documenting how the unique vagrant lichen populations of the Monument interact with native and non-native grasses. The data they collect will be used to update the current distribution and ecology of vagrant lichens.
Project Title: CSNM Geological Mapping
Lauren Castro, Earth Science, University of Oregon
This summer and fall, Lauren will be working with Jad D’Allura, Professor Emeritus of Geology at Southern Oregon University. Lauren will focus on mapping the northwest portion of the Monument near Grizzly Peak, as well as sample and analyze welded tuffs in the Little Hyatt Reservoir area. This study will improve and update current geological studies of the Monument.
Project Title: Barron Mine
Samuel Barrus, Geology, Oregon State University
Samuel will be working with professors Dr. Jad D’Allura, SOU Professor Emeritus and Dr. John Dilles, OSU Professor of Geology. His project focuses on analyzing the geology of the now abandoned Barron Mine, located on the Sampson Creek Preserve owned by the Selburg Institute, also a project co-funder with the Friends. This project will help determine the geologic age and properties of the Barron Mine.