our first stcf newsletter!
- Jess Ruegg
- Jan 12, 2025
- 3 min read
Greetings, Lovers of the South Toe Valley! I'm Jessica Ruegg, a volunteer with STCF. I have lived in the South Toe Valley since 1999 and I love this incredible place more every day. I am passionate about the work STCF is doing to protect wild lands, water quality, and wild creatures in the valley, and I'm excited to keep everyone up to date and expand our network. Thanks for being part of our team!
All the best,Jessica |
What's in This Newsletter
Since the flood, volunteers have been working hard to remove plastics and hazardous chemicals from waterways and re-vegetate river banks. STCF partnered with the Beacon Network to organize weekly clean ups.
This work is so important!
It is also important to take steps toward permanent protection of wild lands in the valley, STCF's original mission.
Read on for more ways to help protect the South Toe Valley!
Private Property Debris Removal Sign Ups Extended to Monday and Tuesday, January 13 and 14!
Do you have large flood debris on your property? You can sign up to have it removed by FEMA contractors by visiting the Disaster Relief Center next to Fred's in Burnsville January 13-14. Private property owners need to sign forms giving contractors permission to access and and a hold-harmless agreement.
Volunteer at the MLK Day Micaville Cleanup!
Join us at for a big clean up around Micaville on January 20th, 12:30-4! If you have driven through Micaville, you know there is plenty of cleanup left to do. Bring contractor bags, work gloves, dust masks (if you prefer), and scissors, knives, pruners or loppers for cutting plastic out of vegetation. Please invite your friends and neighbors -- let's bring a big crowd!
River Clean Up and Bank Stabilization
Happy New Year! Members of the STCF board and other volunteers celebrated by spreading wildflower seed and winter rye on river banks that were scoured to bare soil. Another group spread coir matting on a badly damaged river bank next to Seven Mile Ridge Road.
We are SO grateful to board member Jesse Schaner, who has been organizing flood cleanups and bank-stabilization efforts since just two weeks after the flood with help from Jared Dubin of the Beacon Network. Thanks to many of you who have come out to bag and haul out plastics and hazardous chemicals, who have joined our efforts to stabilize river banks, or who have given money to buy seeds or coir matting.
Whether you can pick up trash, spread seed, give money, or connect us with owners of high-conservation-value land who are willing to talk with us about conservation easements or other forms of permanent protection, we've got a place for you to plug in!
What's Ahead
In 2025, our efforts continue! You can help by:
CLEANING UP
Volunteer at our river and stream cleanups, most Sundays 1-3pm. Time is of the essence! We want to get as much plastic as possible out before next growing season begins!
SPREADING SEEDS AND COIR MATTING
Spread wildflower and rye seeds in our bank stabilization efforts by contacting us at southtoeconservationfund@gmail.com
SPREADING THE WORD
Spread the word to help make our South Toe neighbors aware of FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Program, which purchases flooded properties at pre-flood appraised values for permanent protection as county-owned greenspace.
Invite others to join our network by subscribing to our newsletter. In order to achieve the South Toe Conservation Fund's goals, we need you and your neighbors!
If you know of an area on a creek or river in the South Toe Watershed that has accumulated flood trash, please let us know at southtoeconservationfund@gmail.com
DONATING FUNDS
Donate to the South Toe Conservation Fund to increase our capacity to permanently conserve wild lands in the South Toe Valley.
If you would like to help fund revegetation efforts, email us at southtoeconservationfund@gmail.com
ATTENDING OUR EVENTS
Attend STCF-hosted events that raise awareness of the natural wonders of our valley as well as other factors that affect undeveloped lands, like US Forest Service management plans.
ORGANIZE A CLEAN UP
We need help organizing and facilitating river clean-ups! Please consider ganging up with a few friends to facilitate one clean-up a month. Or, facilitate just one clean up! We have locations lined up, or you can talk to us about a location you love! Please reach out to southtoeconservationfund@gmail.com.
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