| Free native trees and shrubs for residents from West Multnomah SWCD and partner agencies |
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Published with permission of West Multnomah SWCD
Think the holidays are over? Well think again, because we have a gift for you, your streamside land, and the watershed! West Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District and its partner agencies will “gift” you with free native trees and shrubs, and “wrap” the gift with free planting, free site preparation and free maintenance.
Can it get any better than that? Yes, it does. We will also pay you for each acre of riparian area you plant in trees (approximately $175 per acre annually, for non-cropland) and enroll in a 15-year conservation contract, and pay you a signing bonus of $100 per acre. You can also get an additional bonus (of at least $425/acre) if we sign up enough neighbors to plant two miles of stream, and even have costs of a conservation easement covered! And if all of these incentives are not enough to send you running to sign up now, you may qualify for certain tax benefits as well.
Let us not forget that your riparian restoration project will contribute to improved water quality of your local stream, stream temperature in the Tualatin River (which is often too high for salmon), and wildlife habitat. It will help you control erosion and comply with
environmental laws. It also provides aesthetic and other improvements to your property, and will reduce your time battling invasive weeds and maintaining your land--because all the project work is done for you!
Sounds too good to be true? Well, the two landowners recently enrolled in the Enhanced Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (ECREP) in the Upper Rock Creek and Abbey Creek watersheds don’t think so. They agree it is good, but it is also true! Both Abbey Creek Stables on NW Germantown Road and Rachael Brake and Grant Rolette of Rock Creek Road have initiated riparian restoration projects with the aid of this program and the District. Activities at the two sites include removing invasive weeds and planting a total of 10 acres in native trees and shrubs. Much of the Himalaya blackberry, garlic mustard, thistle, and other weeds of concern have already been treated and we are preparing to plant almost 20,000 trees and shrubs of more than 30 different species! We are even adding a bit of wetland restoration and native grass seeding, as the metaphorical bow on the gift.
Shelley Rayhawk of Abbey Creek Stables says of her project, “I’ve learned so much neat stuff. I really appreciate how considerate and competent the staff has been.” Her horse boarders are very excited, and the mantra around the barn now is “7,500 stems in February!” “It would have taken us forever (well, 5 or 10 years anyway) to save up he money to do this ourselves,” she concludes. Shelley is happy to show people the project and answer questions. She can be reached at (503) 289-0744.
Rachael and Grant Rolette have really appreciated the enthusiasm and expertise of the personnel helping them. “We also like the fact that our investment is not necessarily monetary, that our efforts towards maintaining the riparian zone count towards the overall project.” Rachael adds that “the overall level of effort by WMSWCD has been great. We are really getting excited about seeing things planted and making these changes to our property.”
So what are the requirements of the program? For West Multnomah County residents, all you need is rural, streamside land on the west slope of the Tualatin hills that is in need of ecological improvement and is not forestland. You will need to have land available to
create a riparian “buffer” at least 35 feet wide along the stream. If you think you might qualify, the Conservation District will do an initial site visit to help determine if your land qualifies and to discuss your objectives and details of the program.
Want to know if the program is the right fit for you? Don’t have a stream, but want help with resource management on your land? Call us, email us, or check out our website for more information on how we can help you meet your land management objectives. We offer technical assistance and conservation planning on rural lands to address most natural resource concerns. Call the West Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District at (503) 238-4775 x 101 or x108. You may also email jim.robison@or.nacdnet.net or kammy.kern-korot@or.nacdnet.net or check out our website at www.westmultconserv.org.
More SWCD success stories
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