Trails volunteers get Grasslands workout

By Karen Carlson

On Saturday, Jan. 28, Ramona Trails Association volunteers worked out in the Ramona Grasslands cleaning up and removing dangerous, rusty old wire and fencing.

“This is a wonderful example of cooperative relationships between government agencies, local business and volunteers,” said Arvie Degenfelder, RTA volunteer. “San Diego County Parks agreed to allow RTA volunteers to clean up some of the barbed wire and old wire fencing that was posing a threat to the county staff and cattle that graze the area. This is what it’s all about!”

It looked as though that over the many years the fencing and wire had been on the property, more was added with not much of anything removed. The layers of wire were doubled and tripled in some areas. The obvious spaces of repair had dozens of pieces of wire holding them together in many places. Wire cutters, bolt cutters and special fencing removal tools were used to get the wires down and collected.

The group worked in the southern section of Ramona Grasslands for several hours cutting, then rolling the wire up and tossing it in the bin provided by Ramona Disposal Service.

“We couldn’t do all of this without help,” said Ramona Trails Association volunteer Christine Griffin. “Ramona Disposal and all of these volunteers deserve a huge round of applause. Thank you all so much!”

The group wound up the morning with a whoop and a holler of satisfaction of a job well done.