VOLUNTEERS INSTALL IRRIGATION AT CAVANAUGH BAY
Cavanaugh Bay homeowner, Idaho Aviation Association member, and RAF supporter Steve Pryor reports that thanks to well organized teamwork, an irrigation installation was completed at Cavanaugh Bay, 66S the weekend of May 4-5. Improvements at the parklike airport have been provided by Idaho Aeronautics, Idaho Aviation Association and the RAF. A substantial amount of volunteer work has been, and continues to be provided by the homeowners, in Pryor’s words, “to help this airstrip to be the best it can be,” and the results are impressive.
Thanks in part to a second RAF grant that RAF Idaho Liaison Sparky Parker applied for, the runway turf had been analyzed. The grant also helped fund the parts and controls for the irrigation system, grass seed, and twelve tons of fertilizer to improve and stabilize the runway turf. Volunteer Keith Kopf brought the fertilizer to the site, and the homeowners plan to apply it the first of June. Sparky previously applied for and received a grant for fertilizer in 2022.
“I managed to fly in on Friday hoping to assist where I could,” said Steve Johnson, Idaho Ambassador. “I was greeted by a friendly crowd of really capable people. This was an impressive effort in coordination and labor, digging out and replacing 90 plus deeply placed sprinkler connections, all while keeping the runway open. To get it all done in a weekend was really astonishing.”
Cavanaugh Bay now has vastly improved amenities for fly-in camping. IAA provided loaner bicycles, Idaho Aeronautics completed major investments in the campground including more tie-downs, interior bathrooms, a new deck, refrigerator, freezer, and covered stainless sink outside for campers’ use, new coffeemaker and better internet; and an outhouse available during the off-season. The local homeowners have invested untold hours of labor, equipment usage and travel and generously invite the public to enjoy the results.
For more on Cavanaugh Bay, see the Airfield Guide.
By Carmine Mowbray
Hello, I really enjoyed reading this article about spring cleanup. The volunteer effort to accomplish the many tasks mentioned was impressive. I belong to a group of aviators at 8MA4, Crow Island, Stow Massachusetts. This 2,300 foot grass strip is a wonderful place to be a part of.
As mentioned in the article, turf maintenance is a necessary and expensive part of having a functional runway. I was interred in the grant that you mentioned in your article and wondered if you could share more information about where you found it and how you went about applying for it. Any information would be much appreciated.
Hi Richard- I don’t know if anyone answered your question yet- as an RAF member, what you need to do is contact our RAF Liaison for your state, Massachusetts, who is Drew Lyons. He would be the one to help out with a grant request, which is through the RAF. You can find his contact info on our website, theraf.org. (860-305-4163 dlyons@theraf.org)
Hello Richard,
Glad to see someone else wanting to improve a grass strip. The strip hear at Cavanaugh was in bad shape but now is like a golf course. Beside getting the water system installed where it can be watered 4 days a week instead of one day a week I also had the soil analyzed. I took soil samples and sent them to a lab that does soil analysis. They found that it had plenty of Nitrogen but no Pot Ash and the pH was 5 very acidic it needs to be around 7 which is neutral. With the grant we also purchased 20,000 pounds of Calcium Carbonate (lime) and spread it on the field. Literally in a matter of days you could see the grass turn green and with in two weeks WOW no more bald spots or fungus rings. Email me at smpryor8@yahoo.com and I will give you my phone number and we can discuss what all I did and maybe it will help you on your planning. Steve Pryor