The Sandy River Basin Watershed Council teamed up with the Zigzag Ranger
District to give Mountain residents an up-close and personal view of invasive
species that are endangering our area.

The July 13 workshop also featured showy native plant alternatives (such as
Red columbine, pictured at right) to the 27 attendees.

“The goal of an early detection and rapid response program is to identify and
quickly control new invasive plants before they have a chance to get
established in our local area,” said David Lebo of the Zigzag Ranger District.
“We need the assistance of local residents to prevent garlic mustard and other
plants from becoming widespread.”

Invasive plants may not seem like much of an issue until you see an entire
field full of Scotch broom or blackberries. Non-natives such as these are a
maintenance problem for homeowners and when they grow in stream side
areas they can severely degrade fish and wildlife habitat.

Russ Plaeger, of the watershed council, reported that a crew from the ranger
district recently found a two-acre patch of Policeman’s helmet next to a
wetland near the Salmon River. The dense thicket of this invader makes it
difficult for native plants to grow on the forest floor.

That means less food and nesting cover for birds and small mammals. In
areas next to the river a dense patch of weeds can limit tree seedling growth
and result in fewer trees to shade the river and reduce soil erosion in future
years.

Policeman’s helmet can be thwarted with the planting of natives like Red
columbine. This bright plant grows up to three feet tall, flowers in the
summer, and attracts hummingbirds and produces seeds that are eaten by
juncos and finches.

Plaeger was encouraged by the workshop turnout, but indicated there’s lots
more to be done.

“The community response to invasive plants has been really great,” he said.
“(But) we need more folks who can serve as scouts in the effort to keep our
beautiful Mountain communities free of new invasive plants.”

At the workshop, locals learned the two best ways to keep invasive plants out
of our local forests are to avoid purchasing non-natives and to be on the
lookout for them.

Each participant received a pocket guide with photos and descriptions of the
12 newest invaders.

Given the turnout and high level of interest in the workshop, another session
will be offered next year, Plaeger said.