Homeowners with creeks, ponds or other riparian zones can boost the surrounding landscape thanks to a new program offered by the Clark Conservation District.
The Clark Conservation District’s Free Tree Program gives up to 200 stems per landowner every other year from when they first apply, from trees to shrubs and smaller groundcovers. The program is completing its first year, but site visits are available all year as the next planting season roughly begins in November.
“How it works is they schedule a site visit with either myself or Isaiah (Wynter),” said Mackenzie Perry, Clark Conservation District natural resources technician. “We’ll kind of talk about their goals, what they’re looking for and if they’re eligible. I’ll create a general planting plan for them with a map, and most folks will take suggestions on plant species that will do well with their property. Other folks know what they want. I collaborate with them on plant drop off and give them basic instructions on where to plant, how to plan, that type of thing.”
Wynter, riparian and GIS manager with the Clark Conservation District, explained the importance of building or restoring riparian habitats. If a creek has too much direct sunlight rather than dappled sunlight via vegetation, the water can warm far too fast and make it inhospitable for trout and salmon.
Wynter said shade and plant matter are also important for a riparian ecosystem. Trees will act as a filter and sponge along a creek, which promotes healthy vegetation and water quality. Deciduous tree leaves that fall into a stream will also feed macro invertebrates that fish feed on. Adding a mix of evergreen trees will provide year-round shade over the stream.
“That is going to keep that water temperature cool, which is super important for salmonids,” Wynter said. “It’s going to provide a feeling of safety for the fish. They’re not going to be kind of as wide open from predators. And, eventually, some of those trees might fall into the stream, and that’s going to provide more in-stream habitat. It’s going to make the stream a little bit more complex with pools and ripples and provide other little places for fish and other animals to use.”
Oftentimes, Wynter and Perry said they ask property owners what they used to see on the property in order to provide guidance to return the riparian zone back to its original habitat or try to enhance the quantity of species that were in the water.
Paul Mansur, a homeowner in the Hockinson area, has been working to restore native plant habitat on his property that features a year-round unnamed tributary to Fifth Plain Creek. Mansur was also a participant in the Free Tree Program. Mansur received a variety of plants to utilize in his riparian restoration project that includes red flowering currant, Douglas fir, salal, red twig dogwoods, serviceberry and more.
Throughout Mansur’s efforts, he has been met with the challenging removal of invasive species such as blackberries, ivy and others. After three years and a lot of invasive plant removal, western skunk cabbage on his property has thrived and expanded into growing further away from the creek in larger numbers.
“Sometimes, people reach out and they want to plant but they have something like blackberry or other weeds there,” Wynter said. “So, as part of the program, they’re going to need to have those taken care of first and send photographic proof to us that that was taken care of.”
Wynter and Perry said the size of properties they look at for the Free Tree Program varies drastically. They look at property anywhere from half an acre to dozens of acres.
Wynter added that some people may be wary of their property being checked, but that the mission is solely to rebuild habitat.
“The Clark Conservation District is a local non-regulatory agency whose sole mission is to help people out who have natural resource concerns on their property,” he said. “So people can reach out with any questions about natural resources and that can include forestry. That can include stream health and habitat. That can include farming and livestock or crops, anything like that. If they have questions about that, they can reach out to the conservation district, and then we will figure out which staff member might be the right person to help you out.”
To learn more about the Clark Conservation District, visit clarkcd.org. Information about the Free Tree Program can be found at clarkcd.org/streamside-restoration.
