Climate Corps Event: Riparian Stewardship Activity at the River-to-Ridge Trail.
Volunteer Handbook
New Paltz, NY
Climate Corps Edition
Riparian Stewardship & Invasive Guide
Wallkill River Watershed Alliance — Rivers-to-Ridge Buffer Restoration Site
Stewardship Location
LAT: 41.750784
LON: -74.091117
LON: -74.091117
41 Springtown Rd Trailhead
Intern Field Briefing
On Wednesday, June 17, 2026, interns will maintain the Trees for Tribs restoration zone by clearing invasive growth around shelter tubes.
Meeting Details
Location: 41 Springtown Rd Trailhead Parking Lot
Timing: 1:00 PM start
Crew Preparation
Provided: Gloves + water
Bring: Sunblock, bug spray, phone, boots
Weather: Clean skies (Rain forecast delayed until 6-7 PM). Ideal work window!
Trailhead & Site Map
Aerial Reference
Red dot: Trail entrance
Blue dot: Trees for Tribs site
CRITICAL PRIORITY — Tier 2 Eradication Zone
CRISP Tier 2 (Eradicate)
In-Situ Reference Image
IMG_0165-2.jpeg
Diagnostic View: Highly dangerous translucent silica trichomes are distributed along stems and alternate margins. Always use heavy leather gloves!
European Stinging Nettle
Urtica dioica subsp. dioica
- Leaf Arrangement: Strictly opposite, ovate-to-lanceolate with cordate bases.
- Anatomical Markers: Equipped with hollow stinging silica hairs containing formic acid.
- Lookalike Ruled Out: Wood Nettle has alternate leaves clustered near the top of the stem.
High Risk. Wear heavy leather gloves.
Active Control Area — Widespread Colonizer
CRISP Tier 4 (Local Control)
In-Situ Reference Image
IMG_0166.jpeg
Diagnostic View: Alternate deeply divided pinnate leaves with a silvery-white woolly underside. Crushed leaves smell highly aromatic (like sage).
Mugwort
Artemisia vulgaris
- Foliage Setup: Deeply pinnately lobed with smooth dark green tops and woolly backs.
- Scent: Strong aromatic aroma when crushed.
- Lookalike Ruled Out: Common Ragweed leaves are completely green on both sides and lack the sage scent.
Focus: Cutting / Root clearing.
MYSTERY SPECIES IDENTIFIED — Basal Rosette Habit
Unranked Weed
IMG_0172 ID Reference
IMG_0172.jpeg
Diagnostic View: Large, wavy leaves radiating as a flat rosette. The thick perennial taproot must be severed completely below the root crown.
Common Burdock IMG_0172 Match
Arctium minus
- Leaves: Extremely broad, wavy, cordate bases, light veins, rough top surface.
- Growth: Massive flat basal rosette in its first year, bolting with hooked seed-burs in year two.
- Lookalike Ruled Out: Skunk Cabbage leaves are completely flat-edged and release a strong sulfurous skunk odor when torn.
Requires root tools (sever deep taproot).
Widespread Naturalized Species — Buffer Edge Competitor
Unranked Weed
In-Situ Reference Image
IMG_0169.jpeg
Diagnostic View: Highly crinkled, wavy leaf margins with a long, narrow lanceolate profile. Erect, dense greenish-brown flower stems turn deep red in summer.
Curly Dock
Rumex crispus
- Leaf Margins: Wavy, crinkled, undulated edges.
- Seed Heads: Highly structured dense vertical clusters turning a deep copper-brown.
- Lookalike Ruled Out: Native Swamp Dock lower leaves are flat with entirely smooth, non-crinkled borders.
Taproot removal required.
ACTIVE CONTAINMENT — Highly Aggressive Climbing Vine
CRISP Tier 3 (Containment)
In-Situ Reference Image
IMG_0168.jpeg
Diagnostic View: Palmate leaves with 5 to 7 deeply divided lobes. Stems and petioles are lined with scratchy, downward-pointing hook-like prickles.
Japanese Hops
Humulus japonicus
- Structure: 5-7 deeply cut palmately lobed leaves with sharply serrated margins.
- Stem Touch: Coated in downward-pointing, scratchy anchor prickles.
- Lookalike Ruled Out: Native American Hops has primarily 3 lobes and lacks severe rasping climbing prickles.
Wear gloves and eye protection. Highly abrasive.
Active Local Control Phase — Deep Rhizome Invader
CRISP Tier 4 (Local Control)
In-Situ Reference Image
IMG_0167.jpeg
Diagnostic View: Alternate crinkled, lobed leaves lined with sharp yellow spines. Smooth stems lack the continuous wings seen in Bull Thistles.
Canada Thistle
Cirsium arvense
- Leaf Setup: Alternate, deeply crinkled lobed leaves armed with fine spines.
- Stems: Stems are ridged but completely lack continuous spiny "wings".
- Lookalike Ruled Out: Bull Thistle has continuous spiny wings extending down the stems and rough, scratchy upper leaf surfaces.
Spiny leaves. Wear protective work gloves.