Fourche Creek Information > Intern Diaries >

Internship at Audubon 2007: Victoria Whaley

My name is Victoria Whaley and I am currently majoring in Biology. I interned with Audubon Arkansas during the spring 2007.I began in mid-January at the beginning of the WRP project, which involved reforestation. I mainly observed this project due to other priorities, which kept me away from this particular project. This was a long project, but a fascinating one due to seeing reforestation at work. The next project I participated in was the prescribed burn or controlled burn. Although I did not directly participate due to lack of experience and certification, I was able to watch and take notes. I learned the importance of prescribed burns and was able to learn the process of a prescribed burn.

Another very important project I participated in was stream assessment. I observed and directly participated in this project with the aid of my boss Johnnie Chamberlain. We would walk along stream banks, if possible, and observe many factors. We would observe both the left and right banks to determine bank stability. During stream assessment, the dominant substrate must be determined. This involves determining if the creek bottom is made up of cobble, gravel, sediment, and such. The weather conditions over the past two days are of importance when assessing a stream and water clarity is also an important factor. Floodplain levels and a riparian buffer must also be determined and scored. We also looked for signs of wildlife, such as tracks or burrows. Plant life is very important along a stream. Vegetation along a bank promotes bank stabilization, so without vegetation erosion is much more likely to occur. During the process, Johnnie will make a sketch of the stream as we walk along the reach, which is the area we assess. I usually take about 8 to 10 pictures per reach, which are usually pictures of the good and bad. Once we finished a reach, we had to score the reach. I incorporated many classes into this project, such as mammology, botany, ecology, herpetology, and urban ecology. This was truly my favorite project.

These restoration projects have shown me that one person can make a difference. If we all would just pick up trash or plant vegetation along a creek, we could make a difference. Audubon has truly shown me that no matter how small or how big a project, it can be achieved. I am grateful for this experience.