“Sound urban planting practice includes a significant proportion of native vegetation, because natives require less maintenance and water than exotic counterparts, and provide places for native birds and animals to live.” — A Green City Program, Planet Drum Books, San Francisco, 1989.
Presently we are not only concerned about RVNA, we are concerned about the health of the Willamette River and our regional watershed in general.
Additionally, we are very aware of the Western Wildlife Corridor and migratory fish in the river.
For this reason, we ask these questions:
How can we minimize our negative impacts and maximize positive contributions to our neighboring natural area?
How can we naturescape
our yards and integrate them into the wildlife corridor?
Remove ivy, blackberry, morning glory, and other invasive plants that spread to urban wilderness.
Plant (more) native plants.
Strictly limit the use of toxic chemicals (Weed killers, & rodent poison).
Manage stormwater to protect our streams, rivers and the entire watershed.
Create habitat in residential areas for birds, bees, butterflies and wildlife.
Did you know water is an essential element in creating nature-induced habitat? Birdbaths, can save lives in dry, hot months; however they are too deep for bees. Bees become thirsty when gathering pollen, but they need resting places so they can drink and not drown. Try this functional and stylish DIY bee waterer, found
[HERE].
What more can you do to help RVNA?
Get rid of Garlic Mustard in your yard and along neighborhood streets and paths!
Master Gardner Series (includes native landscaping course
[LINK]
Avoid using pesticides that harm the bees and other critters. Studies have shown that neonicotinoid pesticides harm bees, soil organisms, aquatic life, and farmland birds. Beware: Plants you buy at nurseries or retail outlets may have been treated with neonicotinoids!
OSU also has an Understanding Pesticides online course in their Master Gardner Online series.
Use your green Waste Management roll cart for yard debris. It's amazing how much vegetation you can process if you fill your green cart every week.
DO NOT dump yard debris anywhere along Palatine Hill Road, Boones Ferry Road, or any other neighborhood road that seems to be 'vacant'. It's your responsibility to remove yard debris. Roadside dumping is considered illegal!
NEVER dump motor oil, paint, anti-freeze, or nasty cleaning chemicals on the ground or pour them into a stormwater grate or catch basin. If you do, they may very well end up in the river!
You can dispose of used motor oil or anti-freeze at your curbside by placing it in a milk jug with a screw cap and placing it next to your roll cart.
Check your local waste management or trash removal site for specific instructions. (See next item.)
Use Metro's Hazardous Waste program to get rid of unwanted chemicals.
[LINK]
Naturescaping
[permission to us Naturescaping Art, resource naturescaping-concept-art.jpg ?]
Naturescaping is the practice of designing yards and landscapes that mimic the processes found in nature. A thoughtfully naturescaped yard reduces energy costs and the need for water, fertilizer, and herbicide. Naturescaping is also a great way to attract wildlife. A naturescaped yard can look like a classic formal garden, a beautiful woodland, or anything in between. (Definition from Ashcreek Naturescaping).
You can hire Ashcreek Forestry
to do the planning and work!
See URBAN & HOME NATURESCAPING
on this [PAGE].
Make a Rain Garden
Here is an interesting article: A Rain Garden to Inspire Students and Future Conservationists on
Washington Nature website.
Make a Pollinator Garden
Here is a lovely new guide on How To create a pollinator garden!
[LINK]
Attention: Swimming Pool & Spa Owners!
Pool Owners: De-chlorinate pool/spa water before draining.
DO NOT dump chlorinated pool/spa water into stormwater grate or catch basin, sewers, or into any stream or culvert — This is a fine-able offense!
De-chlorinated water can be discharged to a yard, but it cannot run off to a neighbor's property or into the street/public storm water system.
Here is a link to the US Forest Service paper entitled Using Vitamin C To Neutralize Chlorine in Water Systems
[LINK].
The process produces chloride in small amounts, but it does not produce enough to significantly increase salinity of the water.
Pool & Spa reference sheet: Pools, Spas, and Clean Rivers, by City of Portland:
[LINK.
If you do not have a pool, but you observe a pool owner dumping their pool water off their property, or if pool water runs off onto your property or a neighbor's, call this hotline: 503-823-7180. Provide the date, time, location, source of water and hazardous material if known. A Bureau of Environmental Services Enforcement Officer will investigate the situation. [Will link to relevant city code].
Naturescaping is a method of landscape design and landscaping that allows people and nature to coexist. By incorporating certain plants, especially native ones, into one's yard, one can attract beneficial insects, birds, and other creatures, and help keep our rivers and streams healthy.
Links
The Portland Plant List (200+ pages) is an extensive, concise reference to native plants in and around the Willamette Valley. It also lists and rates many invasive plants.
[LINK]
We'll annotate this list as time permits. Contributions welcome.
A Backyard Habitat Open House was held Saturday, July 18th, 2015.
[LINK]
End Notes
Many of the non-governmental organizations listed on our
Confluences page deal with the issues listed above!
[LINK]
See David Suzuki's A new kind of NIMBY: Nature in My Backyard
[DEAD LINK].
There may be technical assistance for residents on tree planting. Can you get a free saplings? Is there any Tax incentive for planting certain trees? [need LINK]
