S.O.S. (Shade Our Streams)
Bet you didn’t know Rudyard Kipling, famous English poet, short-story writer, and novelist, visited Oregon in June, 1889, and fished the Clackamas River just upstream from Carver. His account of Oregon’s most famous fishing trip begins, “I have lived!”
Without Facebook or Twitter, it took a year to go viral, but within a decade, a worldwide audience appealed for more information about the Clackamas River. Now the Clackamas River Basin Council wants to spread the word again—faster this time.
Specifically, right now, the CRBC would like you to know about—so that you can help—the Shade Our Streams February Work Party on Deep Creek in Boring on February 11. Project Manager Jenny Bieger says, “Join us as we plant one of our Shade Our Streams demonstration sites! We’ll meet at nine and work until one. Refreshments, tools, gloves, and expertise will be provided. Wear sturdy shoes, rain-proof clothing and bring a water bottle.”
Deep Creek is the sub-watershed that flows through Boring and surrounding lands and is a priority area for the Council. Salmon were recently spotted returning (in Fall 2010) to the North Fork of Deep Creek to spawn. But this Clackamas River tributary is also plagued by turbidity (water cloudiness, usually from excess soil in the water), and pesticides.
The volunteer work party on February 11 is part of the “kick-off” year of an eight-year project to plant 300,000 trees over 30 stream miles—at no cost to property owners— to improve water quality, and thus fish habitat in the Clackamas River basin.
Last year CRBC partnered with the Boring/Damascus Grange to begin restoring streamside habitat by removing invasive species from a site on Deep Creek near the Cazadero Trail and just across Highway 212 from the Boring Station Trailhead Park, now being constructed.
Within the memory of current residents of Boring, there were abundant salmon runs in Deep Creek. Now they are no more, but last year a salmon was reported making its way upstream near Boring, and Shade Our Streams project is designed to bring them back.
The project will focus on planting along the streams that need the most help—those areas that lack healthy habitats and are overrun with invasive weeds. Native trees improve water quality and create better habitat for plants, animals, and fish. Shade Our Streams will focus on the Deep, Clear, and Eagle Creek watersheds.
From its headwaters in the Mt. Hood National Forest to its confluence with the Willamette River, the Clackamas River basin encompasses nearly 1,000 square miles. The river hosts threatened and endangered species, boasts numerous recreation opportunities, and provides drinking water to almost 400,000 people.
The Clackamas River Basin Council, with diverse representatives from over twenty stakeholder groups, fosters partnerships with organizations and private individuals to advocate natural resource conservation and preserve the watershed for future generations. Stakeholders include (but are not limited to) those involved in agriculture, education, fish and wildlife, hydropower, recreation, timber production, and government agencies.
The watershed is home to the last significant run of wild late winter Coho in the Columbia Basin. The wild late run Coho generally spawn on the main stem of the Clackamas above the North Fork Reservoir. The watershed has one of only two remaining runs of spring Chinook in the Willamette Basin. The watershed also supports a significant population of winter steelhead, cutthroat trout and native lamprey.
Salmon have returned to one of two Clackamas County creeks opened up to the endangered fish after the removal of large culverts this summer by the non-profit Clackamas River Basin Council.
Spring Creek, northwest of Milo McIver State Park, and Delph Creek, northeast of the North Fork Reservoir, each had two culverts completely blocking fish passage.
Water running over the culverts, pipe-shaped support structures that allow creeks to run under roadways, can erode banks, creating jumps that block salmon passage.
The Clackamas River Basin Council, through Pacific Bridge and volunteer crews, removed the culverts, built bridges to replace them and planted native species of plants along the creeks, both of which are high-priority tributaries for Endangered Species Act-listed Coho salmon and Steelhead recovery.
The projects were funded by the U.S. Forest Service, Clackamas County, Clackamas Stewardship Partners, the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, the Fish America Foundation, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The culvert removal opened 2.6 miles of salmon habitat in Spring Creek and 4.5 miles in Delph Creek — and salmon have already returned to Spring Creek.
“By opening additional habitat, we’re giving this endangered species places to thrive,” said Jenny Beiger, project manager for the Clackamas River Basin Council.
Salmon Carcass Tossing
Rebecca Walker is CRBC’s Education & Outreach Coordinator. She’s the one to contact about Down the River Cleanup, educational programs, marketing and outreach, pesticide use reduction information, volunteering opportunities, and the Rock Creek Partnership—among other things.
Possibly the stinkiest (and for some, most interesting) opportunity, salmon carcass tossing also performs a vital function. Historically, the salmon would have made it upstream on their own steam. After using their noses to guide them to their home streams from the Pacific Ocean, they’d lay their eggs and perish shortly after. The nutrients from their bodies would make their way into the water column, nourishing nearby plant life and aquatic creatures. Currently, a number of barriers make it impossible for salmon to return to the upper reaches of the watershed, leaving these portions of the Clackamas nutrient-deprived.
CRBC has worked with partners including SOLV, Clackamas High School, ODF&W, the US Forest Service, and OWEB to place several tons of donated salmon carcasses in Clackamas streams. We’ll be doing so again this year, as well as conducting follow-up insect monitoring with Portland State University to determine if and how macroinvertebrate (stream insect) populations changed post-placement.
Down the River Clean Up
CRBC is pleased to partner with WE LOVE CLEAN RIVERS, INC to coordinate the annual Down the River Clean Up on the Clackamas River each year. Since its inception, the Down the River Clean Up has involved more than 1,800 volunteers and removed almost twenty tons of trash from the Clackamas River.
A flotilla of volunteers will raft, kayak, tube, SCUBA, or canoe down a fifteen-mile stretch of the Clackamas, removing any trash it may encounter along the way to preserve and protect the beautiful and bountiful river.
Sponsors and partners include Clackamas River Water Providers, KEEN Footwear, Next Adventure, REI, Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, eNRG Kayaking, Adventure Without Limits, Natural High Rafting, Outward Bound, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, Clackamas County, Metro, SOLV and many more. Visit WE LOVE CLEAN RIVERS to sign up to attend the Clean Up, or to learn more.
Why is Shade Our Streams important?
Helping Property Owners – CRBC is excited to offer assistance to landowners who are interested in improving their riparian property. Removing stubborn weeds and replacing them with native plants can create beautiful streamside areas that will not only provide a natural space for families to enjoy the outdoors, but can also reduce bank erosion, lower home energy costs, and increase property values. The US Forest Service states that trees can increase your property value by an average of 10%! (http://www.arborday.org/trees/benefits.cfm)
Restoring the Environment – Establishing native plant buffers around streams has many environmental benefits. Replacing invasive weeds with native plants promotes diverse habitats and provides sources of food and cover for birds and wildlife. Fish species depend on streamside trees to provide shade and cool the water temperatures. Vegetation also improves fish habitat by adding natural debris to the stream where juvenile fish can grow large and hide from predators
Improving Community Health – The Clackamas River Basin is an asset to the entire community, providing drinking water for nearly 400,000 individuals. The shade provided by native plants lowers water temperatures and reduces the risk of bacteria growth. This cleaner water is healthier to drink and healthier to play in! Riparian trees also beautify the area, making a more pleasant streamside experience for all.
How can I get involved?
As a community project, Shade Our Streams has all kinds of ways for community members to get more involved in the Clackamas Basin or on their own property. Contact CRBC if you live along Deep, Clear, or Eagle Creeks, or one of their tributaries. The Council offers professional advice on riparian land stewardship and what landowners can do to make a difference.
They suggest landowners talk with their neighbors to see how they can combine forces for a neighborhood wide event. They also have regular volunteer opportunities to help achieve projects big and small, whether outside or in the office.
CRBC’s Executive Director, Cheryl McGinnis asks you to contact her about partnership opportunities, personnel matters, CRBC Basin Action Plan and budget, grant opportunities and administration, legal or policy matters, interest in serving on our Board of Directors or on one of the CRBC committees. “Since the summer of 2006, we have been generating funding and working with landowners, businesses, state and federal agencies, and volunteers from all walks of life for the bettering of natural resources as they relate to our watershed.”
McGinnis added, “We connect people to places. Your actions can make a difference to our water quality. Please call and volunteer.”
What kind of results can I look forward to?
CRBC has worked with a number of landowners to create demonstration sites that will be open to tours. Contact the Council if you’d like to receive notification about organized tours, or for information about visiting the public properties they’ve worked on.
“I know I won’t see these trees mature, but it gives me great satisfaction to know that I can do something to help the area. My property has had a 180-degree turn around from what it was, and it makes me want to do more to improve it.” – Terry Low, Foster Creek landowner.
To participate in the February 11 work party, just show up at Boring Station Trailhead Park, 1100 Richey Road, Boring, and be part of planting 1,000 trees. If you can’t make it, there’s another opportunity at the Sandy Wetlands Work Party on March 3 at S.E. Jacoby Road, Sandy.
To get to the wetland, travel eastbound on Highway 26 (if coming from the Damascus area), then turn right on Meinig Avenue (immediately before Joe’s Donuts). Then take a left to continue following Meinig Avenue. Turn left at the juncture with Dubarko Road, then right onto Jacoby Road. Park on the right side of the street, before crossing Tickle Creek. Cross the street, and you’ll be at the CRBC work party site!
If you are a minor who will be attending without a parent, please CONTACT BECKY WALKER at rebecca@clackamasriver.org for a volunteer waiver form. If you do not have a signed waiver, you will not be able to attend.
