The July 19th WVPPCA tour in the Lane County Marcola / Springfield area emphasized successful methods of ponderosa pine establishment in riparian areas and on difficult sites. It also provided a forum for watershed council principles and public organizations promoting watershed improvements to interact with landowners. Our hosts were Lee Downing, local residents and EWEB representatives. Take home message for the day was that the establishment of seedlings in riparian areas involves proper site preparation, seedling selection and judicious follow-up for success. The rapid brush growth and increased animal presence in riparian areas present special challenges for plantation establishment not typical of most ponderosa pine planting sites. The tour focus was on ponderosa pine as a species adaptable to riparian area restoration projects. Reforestation and plantation management on other areas was also discussed. A chicken barbeque lunch was provided by Vernon Hendrick’s Farms.
Lee Downing emphasized the need for good site preparation and careful tree planting. He also stressed that good professional advice is necessary. Lee’s persistence in brush control and replanting the Douglas-fir mortality with Valley Ponderosa had a lot to do with success of his riparian area plantation. After the first year, it was obvious that ponderosa pine was best suited to the site and he concluded that pine is his preferred species.
Jared Weybright, McKenzie Watershed Council Projects Coordinator discussed how streamside forests play a vital role in the overall health of watersheds. Intact riparian forests help protect water quality by filtering sediment and nutrients prior to their entering the stream. Large trees and streamside vegetation provide shade to help cool steams, provide habitat for a great variety of wildlife and can provide cover and habitat for fish and other aquatic life. Intact streamside forests stabilize banks, reduce erosion and can mitigate the effects of both flooding and drought. The Willamette River and its tributaries have seen a significant loss of riparian habitat, and their associated benefits over the past 200 years. Concerned interests, including watershed councils, local municipalities, federal agencies and private landowners are working to address this loss of habitat.
Jared
told the group that for private landowners interested in working to restore and
enhance riparian habitat, watershed councils can be of particular assistance. In
general, watershed councils work with private landowners on a voluntary and
collaborative basis. Many watershed councils have staff dedicated to working
with landowners to initiate and help maintain projects seeking to restore native
vegetation and habitat along streams and rivers. Projects are most often funded
through grants secured by council staff and sources can vary depending upon
local opportunities, but generally include state sources such as the Oregon
Watershed Enhancement Board as well as Federal agencies and private foundations.
Partnerships between private landowners and watershed councils have proven to be
successful throughout Oregon.
Dan Kintigh made a presentation “Choosing the Right Species – Site Preferences”. Where specific tree species grow is not an accident. To ensure success with growing trees in the Willamette Valley, select tree species that will “love” the place there they are planted. Simply surviving is not enough. He suggested that landowners learn the conditions preferred by different species and be able to recognize these conditions on their property. Dan gave the participants a prepared hand out. He dug up one of the stunted trees on the plantation and determined that “J” rooting during the planting process was responsible for poor growth.
Gina Fleck, representing the Eugene Water & Electric Board gave us some history on the Walterville pond and power plant and their history in providing electricity for the Eugene / Springfield area. Several attendees who live in the local area were surprised at the historic importance of the pond.
Dan Kintigh and Rick Fletcher led a discussion of thinning and pruning ponderosa pine plantations and the various kinds of tools available. People wanting to prune ponderosas need to be very careful to prune only during the fall and winter months and to destroy pruning debris larger than 1.5” in diameter, if you are pruning in late winter to avoid ips beetle infestations.
