Improving Riparian Habitats One Landowner at a Time

Our partners at Molalla River Watch recently published their Summer 2016 Newsletter. This article below, written by Asako Yamamuro, Molalla River Watch Restoration Project Coordinator, captures the spirit of collaboration the District enjoys with our watershed partners. Their valuable on-the-ground work and hard-working volunteers enable the District to more effectively distribute resources throughout our community. Many thanks to Asako and Molalla River Watch for their permission to share this article.

Improving Riparian Habitats One Landowner at a Time

When landowners ask for assistance, Molalla River Watch helps them out. The Buells, who live where the Molalla River and Cedar Creek meet, felt overwhelmed by their ivy problem. They approached Molalla River Watch for advice.

Through our partnerships with Clackamas Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) and Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife, we brought in riparian and fish conservation experts to the Buells’ property. The experts assessed the extent of invasive weed infestation and determined the importance of their property to trout and salmon habitat. The riparian and fish experts discussed options to improve the Buells’ property for wildlife.

With the Buells’ goals in mind and a Conservation Plan written by Clackamas SWCD and tailored for their property, Molalla River Watch submitted a grant to Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board to fund invasive weed removal and planting natives.

Molalla River Watch was awarded the grant and we have started implementing the Conservation Plan by collaborating with the Buells, volunteers, and Wilderness International, which runs at-risk youth work crews. We oversee the work and Clackamas SWCD specialists will assess progress towards accomplishing Conservation Plan goals. The Buells are glad they asked Molalla River Watch for advice and now significantly more wildlife will benefit.