Uncategorized admin | 01 Jul 2007 08:02 am
Beaver Creek Project
The project is located adjacent to the Fern Hill Grange about four miles south of Rainier on the Fern Hill Road. The Grange is providing labor as a community service project. Phase one will restore about 400 feet of riparian area on the near side of the creek, replacing invasive Reed Canary Grass and Himalaya blackberry with native species of trees and shrubs.
Phase two will restore about 400 feet of riparian area on the far side of the creek.
The plan is to provide the community with a demonstration area and educational outreach.
Creek barely visible even when grass is down in February. Note clumps of Himalaya blackberry vines.
Grange volunteers cutting blackberry vines one rainy day.
Reed Canary Grass and Himalaya vines energized by spring weather. Beaver Creek to left going to center… Fern Hill Grange building on the right.
Reed Canary Grass is nearly shoulder deep.. KC Van Natta in background.
Grange volunteers Evelyn Kellar and Larry Rea getting ready to do battle with the weeds. Jan Jackson in the background.
KC Van Natta and Larry Rea discussing a better way to handle blackberries.
KC Van Natta wielding machete on Himalaya blackberry vines… the machete is much more effective than clippers. Old Fern Hill School in background.
KC Van Natta examining fire hydrant. Notice vigorous stand of Poison Hemlock in immediate background.
KC Van Natta mechanically weeding Reed Canary Grass on stream bank. Notice hardtack shrubs blooming on opposite bank.
KC Van Natta operating the heavy equipment.
Grange member Margo Rea killing blackberry sprouts.
Grange members mechanically weeding Himalaya blackberry sprouts.
