The Sandy River Basin Watershed Council (SRBWC) is at it again, protecting
the Mountain’s most valuable asset – its native vegetation.

In partnership with the YESS Project and Clackamas County Conservation
District (CCSWCD), the Watershed Council – a non-regulatory, non-profit
organization – launched its most recent project to eradicate invasive plant
species.

“Every bit of the work we do is through cooperative relationships with land
owners,” said Corinne Handelman, the Watershed Council, Community
Stewardship Coordinator.

Handelman also noted that the service is entirely free to land owners.
In 2014, of the 75 properties surveyed on the Mountain, 50 percent had
invasive species infestation. Upon identification, each of these areas was
treated.

The Salmon River has some of the most productive salmon spawning habitat
in the Sandy Basin. The mission of this project is to ensure the local
ecosystem has positive bio-diversity of native vegetation.

This vegetation shades streams to keep the water cool, promoting native
insect multiplicity which provides food for salmon. As salmon spawn and die
their bodies come back and fertilize the trees.

Handelman noted they are essentially “protecting the cycle of life.”
Invasive species disrupt this natural cycle by overwhelming native plants for
nutrients, light and space.

By definition an invasive species causes environmental, economic or human
health harm. Not only are they unwelcome, but they cause harm. One
Policeman’s Helmet has between three and eight thousand exploding seed
pods that can carry up to eight feet away. These seeds travel by way of
rivers, seasonal ponds, side channels, wetlands or any riparian area.

Therefore, this issue does not only pertain to riverfront property.

One invasive species often leads to a disturbance that allows more invasive
species to move in.

“Visitors come all over to the Pacific Northwest to go into the wild areas to
see the native vegetation,” said Amber Ayers, invasive species outreach
assistant for the Watershed Council. “(But) a lot of the places we are actually
finding it is not directly on the river.”

The Watershed Council in partnership with CCSWCD has yielded proven
results. They identify emerging invasive species such as knotweed, garlic
mustard and orange hawkweed.

“You don’t know it’s a problem, until it’s a problem,” Handelman said.
Project YESS, established in 1980, is a youth education and workforce
program designed to help youth prepare for the GED examination, establish
career goals, develop job search skills and transition to college or advanced
training opportunities, as cited on the Mount Hood Community College
website.

These young students attack the invasive species with enthusiasm and the
work had an impact on them.

“Sustaining our native plants makes me feel like a true Oregonian,” said
Revery McDinley, Project YESS member.

“It’s a satisfying feeling knowing you are helping the community,” said
Trystan Bishop, Project YESS member.

Many of these invasive species are still commercially sold. This is the
suspected cause of the Policeman’s Helmet’s burgeoning presence on the
Mountain in the last decade.

Land owners often think they can tackle the problem on their own, Ayers
noted. However with ample acreage, steep slopes and lack of proper training
this task is arduous and seldom successful.

Consequently, the Watershed Council is actively reaching out to land owners
for permission to survey for these invasive species. Even after the initial
eradication they come back year after year for maintenance. In addition, this
fall they will replant disrupted areas with deep rooted indigenous plants.
“It’s a neighbor by neighbor campaign,” Handelman said “We are here to
provide a service.”

The Watershed Council receives funding from CCSWCD and the Nature
Conservancy to conduct this work free to landowners through this funding.
Residents who find invasive species should report it to the Oregon Invasive
Species Hotline at oregoninvasivehotline.org.

The Watershed Council will host a cleanup effort at 9:30 a.m., Saturday Aug.
15 at Wildwood Recreation Park. Park entry is free for those who volunteer for
the entire day. Local residents can RSVP for this event by emailing
corinne@sandyriver.org.