Environmental mats help protect Wyoming’s US Capitol Christmas Tree area
Encana’s innovative planking technology will minimize disturbance for Nov. 6th tree cutting
by Bridger-Teton National Forest
October 25, 2010
Innovative environmental planking technology and vegetative mats will be laid this weekend near Wyoming’s US Capitol Christmas Tree in order to protect the area near Wyoming’s perfect 67-foot Engelmann Spruce in preparation for the cutting ceremony on November 6.
The tree site protection effort is part of a donation from Encana Oil and Gas, Inc. USA with sections of planking designed to protect vegetation, reduce damage to native plant root systems and limit soil compaction caused by equipment and vehicles.
The 8 x 13-foot oak mats are technical green technology assets used in Encana’s natural gas fields to protect habitat and key species. The planking sections are being moved from surface reclamation projects in the Jonah gas field north to Teton County this weekend.
"With the upcoming Tree Cutting Ceremony in Jackson in just two weeks, we can’t thank EnCana enough for being such a terrific partner and key sponsor in Wyoming’s US Capitol Christmas Tree project," said the tree project coordinator Mary Cernicek.
"At Encana, we are using proven environmental technology to successfully in decrease disturbance and we are proud to lend these mats to the Forest Service and Wyoming’s Capitol Christmas Tree project. These mats significantly reduce disturbance and help speed the recovery of sites – and with a large tree like this, Encana’s planking mats are a perfect project fit," said Randy Teeuwen, Encana Community Relations and Relations Advisor.
"Because this is the first time Wyoming has been selected to provide the US Capitol Christmas Tree, we want to demonstrate industry leadership with both the innovative planking and sponsorship," he added.
Photo and video uplinks will be available on Wyoming’s Christmas Tree project Facebook site: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Capitol-Christmas-Tree-2010/104904166232147
The Tree Cutting Ceremony will be held on November 6 with members of the Northern Arapaho tribe blessing the tree and a celebration on the Jackson Town Square later that afternoon. Beginning November 10, the Tree will make a 20-day trek across Wyoming and the nation to Washington, DC with celebration stops in communities all along the way.
ABOUT THE CAPITOL CHRISTMAS TREE PROJECT
The Bridger-Teton National Forest, at the request of Senator John Barrasso, is leading the State of Wyoming in the delivery of the Capitol Christmas Tree for 2010. This is the first time in the nation’s history that Wyoming has been selected to provide the Capitol Christmas Tree.
The Capitol Christmas Tree will grace the west front lawn of the U.S. Capitol in December 2010. The Architect of the U.S. Capitol has already selected a 67-foot Engelmann spruce from the Bridger-Teton National Forest that will be cut, loaded, covered and prepped for travel in November to Washington, D.C.
In mid-November, the tree will be toured across the state of Wyoming before heading east to the U.S. Capitol. In late November, the tree will be delivered to the U.S. Capitol, where it will be lowered into 5-foot deep hole, strung with lights, and decorated with thousands of handcrafted ornaments made by Wyomingites from across the State. In December, the Speaker of the House, along with one Wyoming student, will light the tree and showcase Wyoming's historical, cultural and natural beauty.
Through the holiday season, the tree will be lit at dusk, where it will be enjoyed by people from across world. The theme of Wyoming's tree is "Wyoming- Forever West."
For more information on the Capitol Christmas Tree for 2010, please visit: www.capitolchristmastree2010.org, you can also contact CapitolChristmasTree2010@gmail.com, or call Mary Cernicek at (307) 739-5564.
Follow the Capitol Christmas Tree on:
Twitter at: www.twitter.com/BridgerTetonNF
And Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Capitol-Christmas-Tree-2010/104904166232147
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