The Sandy River Basin Watershed Council (SRBWC) is prepped for an invasive
species attack on the Mountain environs.

SRBWC will be partnering with the Clackamas County Soil & Water
Conservation District (CCSWCD) to reduce the spread of Policeman’s Helmet
by expanding landowner outreach and surveying for other invasive plants.

“These efforts will focus on high priority habitat restoration sites along the
Salmon River where the Sandy River Basin Partners have invested
considerable resources to control invasives, replant with native riparian plants
and install large woody debris to increase in-stream habit complexity,” said
Corinne Handelman, community stewardship coordinator for SRBWC. “This
summer, (we) will reach out to private property owners to secure access to
new focus areas, identify and remove infestations of Policeman’s Helmet, and
during the fall and winter we will add native vegetation replanting in treated
areas with the largest amount of invasive species impact to secure them from
regrowth and re-establish native riparian conditions.”

Handelman also noted that this replanting effort will help to restore long-term
riparian processes such as native vegetation succession.

Policeman’s Helmet is the main target of the upcoming effort. This is a prolific
seed producer that can grow more than 8-feet tall each year as an annual
flowering plant.

“Policeman’s Helmet is a priority in Clackamas County because of its
damaging impact on the health of our streams and rivers,” said Sam
Leininger, weed wise program manager at CCSWCD. “It spreads quickly along
streams and rivers where it displaces vegetation important to wildlife.

Policeman’s Helmet leaves stream banks exposed, especially during periods of
peak stream flow. This increases erosion along streams, which can threaten
homes.”

Leininger also noted that this erosion introduces sediment into our waterways
which adversely affects spawning habitat for our native fish.

“Fortunately, the extent of this infestation is limited in Clackamas County and
we are working hard to prevent Policeman’s Helmet from spreading further,”
he said.

Landowner outreach will start the first week of July, and the first day of
surveying new properties will likely begin around July 6, Handelman said.
Volunteer crews will begin treatments July 13, schedule permitting.

Area residents who find this species on their property should report it either to
Leininger from CCSWCD at eleininger@conservationdistrict.org or at the
Oregon Invasive Species Hotline at oregoninvasivehotline.org. Removal work
is free to landowners.