Treeline partnering for climate adapted forests - Bonneville Environmental Foundation
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Missed the February
Treeline Newsletter?
Click here to learn about
treeline
what our Extension
Partners are working on.
Interested in submitting
an article? The June
issue will focus on
partnering for climate adapted forests floodplains. Contact Kira.
April 2021
Lomakatsi crew members install erosion
control wattles in the Almeda Fire footprint.
Fire Issue
Treeline aims to: Engage PNW restoration practitioners, nursery
partners and researchers who work for or represent tribes, indigenous
groups, non-profits, agencies, businesses and more. Gather, disseminate,
and discuss information and knowledge across a broad region.
What we are hearing so far:
We shared a survey link in our last newsletter and while it is still open
for your submissions, we are pleased to share this early snapshot of what we
are learning. We invite you to please complete this survey between now
and May 15 so we can include your reflections and priorities.
What partners are thinking about relating to trees, climate and assisted migration:
Trees and shrubs considered native that partners are concerned Trees and shrubs considered native for which partners have
may be suffering from increased mortality, morbidity, diminished intentionally sourced seed or plant materials from an area outside
growth or poor regeneration as a result of climate change: your customary seed zone for the purpose of climate adaptation:
Lomakatsi Restoration Project
Responds to the Almeda Fire
Lomakatsi Restoration Project is a
non-profit, grassroots organization that
develops and implements forest and
watershed restoration projects in Oregon
and Northern California.
X
What was the impact of the Coho and Chinook salmon, Steelhead,
An interview with: Almeda Fire on the local and Pacific lamprey. The fire destroyed
community and ecosystem? much of the important streamside
Marko Bey vegetation across nearly 400 acres of
The Almeda Fire began on September 8, riparian habitat, threatening water quality
Executive Director 2020, starting in Ashland, Oregon and and the health of riparian and aquatic
quickly spreading through the riparian wildlife. Lomakatsi has been working for
Belinda Brown corridor of Bear Creek and devastating a couple of decades in Bear Creek doing
Tribal Partnerships Director the towns of Phoenix and Talent, before riparian restoration with partners, and we
it was stopped in south Medford. The fire know the ground very well. This fire made
Niki Del Pizzo burned 3,200 acres, claimed four lives, deep, devastating cuts to both human
Riparian Restoration Manager and destroyed over 2,400 homes. It hit and ecological communities.
close to home—three Lomakatsi staff
members lost their homes. This was a
Rob Strahan high intensity fire, not just to the homes What made the fire so intense?
PhD, Restoration Ecologist
that were lost, but also to the riparian We live in a dry forest ecosystem here,
corridor and the trees and vegetation. with a frequent fire system influenced by
Bear Creek is a fish-bearing stream and lightning and thousands and thousands
key tributary to the Rogue River. It’s of years of frequent, low to moderate
located largely in an urban watershed intensity fires used by indigenous
and supports anadromous fish including communities to steward the landscape.
To secure funding for your
own restoration projects
visit Promise the Pod.
With the generous support of One Tree
Planted, the Arbor Day Foundation, and
other donors, we are on track to support
the planting of close to 2,000,000 native
plants in the PNW in 2021. This includes
over 200,000 plants directed to fire
recovery areas.
Do you need additional
resources for your plantings?
Reach out to hbuehler@b-e-f.org
Lomakatsi workforce mobilized to help stabilize the for more information.
streambanks in burned areas along Bear Creek.
The Almeda Fire burned at high intensity
along the Bear Creek Greenway.
Over the past century, as most fires have The fire highlighted the vulnerability of areas closer to the stream banks. We
been suppressed, vegetation densities these urban riparian systems to this type gratefully received funds through the
have largely increased across the of situation. Our thinking is evolving with Promise the Prod program to plant six
landscape and we’re seeing the impacts riparian restoration and how we can create thousand trees in the fire footprint over
in large, more destructive wildfires. more resilient, resistant, climate adapted the coming weeks.
systems that take into account this
The Almeda Fire was driven by an new reality we’re living in, of increasing
How is Lomakatsi involved
uncharacteristically strong wind event frequency and severity of wildfire.
in post-fire planning and
late in the Rogue Valley’s dry season. This
response?
region has a hot summer Mediterranean
How is Lomakatsi involved
climate, meaning there is often little to no Lomakatsi is working closely with Jackson
in post-fire actions on the
precipitation in the summer months—in County and our many partners on
ground?
2020, zero precipitation was recorded in long-term ecological recovery efforts—
Medford for 99 consecutive days between When the Almeda Fire hit, our crews including a riparian restoration strategy
June 24 and September 23. Extreme were just coming off a long season and developing prescriptions that include
winds, very little moisture, and dry of wildland firefighting, and we were a fire-wise approach. We’re working with
vegetation created the perfect storm for a commissioned by Jackson County municipalities and watershed councils
high intensity fire. Emergency Management to act to secure funding through the Federal
immediately. Lomakatsi was dispatched Emergency Management Agency (FEMA),
Another primary factor in fire intensity to do emergency erosion mitigation the Oregon Watershed Enhancement
was the high density of non-native plant work before the rainy season started, Board (OWEB) and other sources. We’re
species along the Bear Creek riparian and in preparation for the spawning in discussions with elected officials, tribal
corridor, including large, continuous season of salmon coming up from the partners, state agencies, and foundations
stretches of invasive Himalayan Rogue River to Bear Creek. We installed on how we’re going to address not only the
blackberry brambles that can reach straw wattles and spread straw to ecological but the socioeconomic impacts
10-15 feet high. There was also a large shore up the streambanks and mitigate of these fires. Vulnerable communities
fuel bed of dead blackberry canes sediment influx into Bear Creek, to were hit hard by the Almeda Fire.
among the brambles. After a long, hot preserve spawning habitats. Lomakatsi’s
summer, these plants retained very little multi-cultural crews were assisted in Lomakatsi takes a holistic approach
moisture, and were easily ignited. The these efforts by an inter-tribal workforce to ecological restoration, community
native trees and plant species here have we employed including members of the engagement and collaboration
evolved alongside fire for millennia, Northern Paiute, The Klamath Tribes, with partners. As a multi-cultural
and native species are generally more Shasta Nation and Ajumawi-Atsuge organization with over 70% of our
resistant to fire than invasive ones. Nation (Pit River Tribe). in-house staff representing Latinx
and tribal communities, including
Following the removal of indigenous Over the coming weeks, months and in leadership positions, we’ve been
peoples as the primary caretakers of the years, we will be working with our working with diverse partners since our
land, settlers began removing healthy partners to plant a diversity of native inception. Before working in a new area,
streamside forests to support grazing and trees and shrubs to prevent erosion we first engage with tribal governments
urban development. Over time, riparian and revegetate the streamside corridor, and communities about work being
corridors have been heavily degraded in a way that is much more resistant implemented on their ancestral lands.
and inundated with invasive species— to fire than the vegetation that was In this case, we’ve been working closely
including some highly flammable there before. Jackson County did aerial with Shasta tribal leaders to guide
varieties such as non-native blackberry. seeding across the whole fire footprint, ecological restoration and cultural
and Lomakatsi followed up with seeding resource protection efforts in the Almeda
on the ground and deploying straw to Fire area.
Lomakatsi crew members install erosion control
wattles in the Almeda Fire footprint.
We’re also building on Lomakatsi’s What would it take to scale the What are the biggest barriers
established Workforce Training and work you are doing to create to increasing the scale and
Employment Program to increase regional more fire resilient forests? impact of prescribed burning?
capacity for restoration, in collaboration
with economic development and In the Rogue River Basin, and Controlled burning within the Wildland
community workforce organizations. throughout Lomakatsi’s work across Urban Interface is complex and
Oregon and Northern California, we have presents a number of challenges. These
been incrementally scaling our projects include the need for specific weather
How did previous restoration over the last two decades. Many of our conditions, compliance with various
efforts, including prescribed initiatives operate under large-scale, laws and regulations including around
burning, impact the long-term collaboratives. Lomakatsi air quality, funding for operations that
Almeda Fire? is involved in what are called master require careful planning and qualified
We’ve been working on a long-term stewardship agreements with federal crews, and public support. Lomakatsi is
riparian restoration stewardship agencies including the US Forest Service diligently working with many partners,
initiative over the past 14 years, near and Bureau of Land Management, and elected officials, tribal communities, and
where the ignition started, at the with our tribal, municipal and non-profit prescribed fire councils across Oregon
confluence of Ashland Creek and Bear partners, where we act as business and Northern California to address the
Creek. This has been in partnership partners and co-invest in the work. impediments to prescribed fire.
with the City of Ashland, Rogue River
In the dry forest, fire-adapted landscape
Watershed Council, the local Helman Are you noticing climate
of the Rogue Basin, we know that
Elementary School and US Fish & change impacts where you
Wildlife Service. We’ve removed a lot of fires are going to come. There are
work and are you doing
invasive blackberry and used controlled over a million acres here in need of
anything differently as a result?
burning to reduce vegetation, coupled treatment—they are departed from
with non-chemical maintenance through historic conditions and are now overly In upland environments, we are
digging, mulching and planting a dense. Also, industrial logging has had seeing increases in drought related
diversity of site-specific native species in an influence on the exclusion of fire. impacts. Directly through reduced
place of invasive ones. To scale this work, we have to work tree growth, and indirectly through
together with a big collaborative team increased susceptibility to wildfire,
Our treatment area did not burn as of many partners across a lot of land. insects and disease. Forests with higher
severely as adjacent untreated areas— Realistically, we need to be treating over tree densities are more susceptible to
noticeably, the fire stayed on the 100,000 acres a year in the Rogue Basin these impacts than forests that are less
ground and burned at lower intensity. over the next 30 years. dense. These drought environments
In untreated areas of dense blackberry, also relate to soil temperature and soil
that’s where the fire burned with very Restoration is expensive, but far more moisture availability in addition to air
high intensity. In general, under most cost effective than dealing with the temperature and precipitation. Our
conditions, science and practice have devastating impacts of wildfires on restoration work is ecological forestry,
shown that fire behavior will change if communities, ecosystem services, and and we promote those resilient forests
you maintain historic levels of trees and biological diversity. We need more by reducing tree densities in favor of
vegetation in fire-adapted ecosystems. funding for accomplishing restoration on species that are more adapted to hotter,
Long-term stewardship is essential to the the ground, and more capacity funding drier conditions like oaks and Ponderosa
health of forests and streamside areas, to support community-based non-profit pines. And on top of that, we also focus
and to building community resilience. organizations like Lomakatsi that can on retention of live and dead legacy
play a key role in building partnerships components that provide important
and regional capacity. ecological habitat viability and also
increase on site carbon storage.
In riparian zones, we can see a decline What ideas and practices can recover and mitigate any further
in vitality of native tree and shrub partner organizations learn damages to the land or the people. As
species that need moisture. They are from tribal and indigenous restoration practitioners, having input
struggling more now than they were 20 organizations? and involvement from tribes is vital,
years ago. There’s definitely a need for and indigenous knowledge layered into
more watering in the first several years Response from Belinda Brown, Lomakatsi restoration plans and strategies makes
when we plant because of the drier soil Tribal Partnerships Director and member for more successful projects.
conditions. Also, invasive blackberries of the Kosealekte Band of the Ajumawi-
taking over spaces where the native trees Atsuge Nation (Pit River Tribe). Unfortunately, right now at the
would be growing, and now the native broader level, tribal engagement is an
seeds will never germinate. We are losing Reach out to tribes. Ask about the fire afterthought because the lands are
tree canopies in riparian systems, which affected land. Involve tribal communities usually county and state managed.
are really important for ecological health in restoration work. If it’s not federal funding going onto
and future large wood recruitment into the ground, the revegetation and
streams that benefit fish habitat. It is a best practice to involve tribes and restoration requirements are quite
tribal communities in decision-making distinct. Our goal is to elevate our Tribal
Native ecosystems are very drought that impacts their ancestral lands. Fires Partnerships Program and the tribal
tolerant. They are adapted to hot, expose cultural sacred sites, gravesites leadership within the organization and
dry conditions, and so in our work and resources, so it’s important to throughout Southern Oregon. Lomakatsi
we promote those native species reach out to the tribes of the area to has representatives of seven tribes
assemblages that are already understand what happened on that land within our organization, from our board
ecologically appropriate and would be in the past that could now be uncovered. to our technical team to our program
most adaptable moving forward. The It is best to hire tribal cultural monitors leadership, to our prescribed fire team
shift from native perennial understory from the local area, as Lomakatsi does and our forestry team. We are happy to
communities to invasive annuals when working in the Almeda Fire area. make connections throughout the region.
(Himalayan blackberry) is a major We also strive to hire tribal community
concern. Additionally, we’re already members to help support work on the We must always recognize that we’re
experiencing a significant loss of oak ground. Hiring cultural monitors and on indigenous Aboriginal lands. We
habitat, which provides important inter-tribal crews helps not only in want to normalize the process of
ecocultural and subsistence lifestyle healing the land, but also in supporting meaningfully engaging with the tribes—
resources for tribal communities. the socioeconomic connection by not just checking the box, but actually
providing jobs, having different tribal collaboratively engaging and taking
members working together, and the time to do that. It’s not often in
providing opportunities for youth and trainings or at meetings we see tribal
young adults to build their skillsets. representation. Whether working to
We communicate with our partners restore forests or riparian areas, we must
in a good way and work together as a promote ecocultural restoration and
team as we continue to plan, respond, tribal involvement in all we do.
In 2020, Solectrac, manufacturer and distributor of zero emission electric
tractors and an innovative B Corp with a mission to disrupt climate change through
sustainable farming solutions, saw an opportunity to support tree planting with BEF
partners as part of a community engagement strategy. Six months later, Solectrac’s
funds are at work supporting Lomakatsi post-fire replanting for Almeda fire recovery.
Coincidentally, a close family member of Solectrac leadership lost their home in
the Almeda fire, making this work that much more poignant and meaningful. “We
reached out initially wanting to amplify our climate goals and were deeply touched
by the work underway in support of rivers, communities, and critically endangered
species. We were touched that plantings will impact people who we know personally
and love dearly” says Christiane Heckeroth, CCO Solectrac.
Lomakatsi crew members install erosion Western redcedar with recent top dieback at
control wattles in the Almeda Fire footprint. Kukutali Preserve State Park and Heritage Site.
U.S. Forest Service Climate Change
Vulnerability Assessments
Science Management Partnerships Focused
on Climate Change Adaptation in the
Western United States
The Project
To access all of the climate
The U.S. Forest Service (Pacific Northwest Region, Pacific Northwest Research Station)
change vulnerability
and the Northwest Climate Hub have developed science-management partnerships
assessments, along with to conduct climate change vulnerability assessments and adaptation planning across
a “Library” of climate all of the national forests (and adjacent national parks) in the Pacific Northwest. These
change adaptation vulnerability assessments cover hydrology, fish, vegetation, disturbance, wildlife,
options, go to http://www. recreation, and other ecosystem services. The vulnerability assessments were used
adaptationpartners.org/ as the basis for developing adaptation options for the forests and partners. All of this
information was incorporated into peer-reviewed and published general technical
reports. The Mount Hood and Willamette National Forests plan to use the recently
released assessment for their forests in planning and implementing post-fire restoration.
Lead Scientist
Jessica Halofsky is the director of the USDA Northwest Climate Hub and the Forest
Service Western Wildland Environmental Threat Assessment Center (WWETAC). In
her role, Jessica promotes applied climate change science and adaptation in natural
resources in the Northwest and across the West. Jessica has a background in forest
ecology and fire but has been doing climate change adaptation work in the Northwest
for over a decade. In her previous position, she pioneered one of the first climate
change vulnerability assessment and adaptation projects with Olympic National Forest
and Park. Since that initial project, Jessica has co-led eight other sub-regional to
regional-scale climate change vulnerability assessment and adaptation partnerships
around the western U.S.
The report (in press) “Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation
in the Columbia River Gorge, Mount Hood National Forest,
and Willamette National Forest” finds that:
Jessica Halofsky “The vulnerability assessment shows that the effects of climate change on hydrology in
Director, USDA Northwest the CMWAP [Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Mount Hood National Forest,
Climate Hub and the and Willamette National Forest] assessment area will be significant, primarily because
Forest Service Western decreased snowpack and earlier snowmelt will shift the timing and magnitude of
Wildland Environmental streamflow; peak flows will be higher, and summer low flows will be lower. Projected
Threat Assessment changes in climate and hydrology will affect aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems,
Center (WWETAC)
especially as frequency of extreme climate events (drought, low snowpack) and
ecological disturbances (flooding, wildfire) increase.”
Ecological Forestry Techniques
for Hotter, Drier Times
Rowan Braybrook, Northwest Natural
Resource Group
How do we address past mismanagement In the Pacific Northwest, 150 years creeks and rivers. If climate stressors
while also preparing for the future of logging has disrupted the natural cut short the seral development of
climate? Northwest Natural Resource balance of seral stages (phases of these younger and middle-aged forests,
Group and partners are launching a new ecological development). This has the recovery of the forested landscape
demonstration project to test techniques shifted much of the landscape in the to greater age and complexity will
that can help forests better endure the region to younger, structurally simpler be interrupted and reversed. While
kinds of climatic change that we expect in forests with a narrower spectrum ecosystems have an astonishing ability
the Pacific Northwest. of species. Monoculture forests are to heal themselves, they work on the
more susceptible to drought, insect timeline of nature rather than the
The restoration of several former infestations, and wildfire. These timeline of human climate impacts,
monoculture plantations to older stressors will be exacerbated by and ecological forestry techniques can
forest conditions will create more climate change, making it harder for decrease the time it takes for forests to
complex and diverse habitat, as well as forests to attain older seral stages, attain older seral stages.
higher rates of carbon sequestration. thereby diminishing their contribution
These demonstration sites, managed to biodiversity and degrading their The first technique is an approach to
by partners King County DNRP and exceptional ability to sequester carbon. thinning that leaves 15 to 40 percent
Nisqually Community Forest, will provide fewer trees than conventional forestry
a portfolio of examples for several Older and more complex forests are practice has traditionally recommended.
ecological forestry techniques that aim critical to climate resilience. As forests Commercial and precommercial thinning
to speed tree growth and increase forest age, they contribute more to ecosystem are practices commonly used by forest
resilience to diverse stressors. services, including carbon storage and managers to reduce competition
watershed protection for downstream within a stand; we are demonstrating
.7-Acre Clearing: Aerial Photo 2008: The larger of the two clearings, in 2008 .7-Acre Clearing: Aerial Photo 2019: The larger of the two clearings, in 2019.
- just one year after the cut was made. Much of the clearing has filled in with trees.
a modification of that familiar strategy. Finally, we are taking advantage of
Thinning to lower densities will spread the snow gaps to introduce seed stock You can find more details
available soil moisture among fewer from warmer seed zones, either from about these tips at
trees, increasing the likelihood that each more southerly latitudes or from lower https://www.nnrg.org/
will have enough water to thrive, and elevations. The significance of this climateadaptation/
enabling the forest to continue maturing introduction will extend well beyond the
and providing habitat for species few thousand plants we will install: if
dependent on older forests. successful, these individuals will mature To learn more as this project
to provide a local source of seed stock develops, and be invited to
Mid-elevation forests are being impacted carrying genetic traits that will be better next year’s workshops for
by an upward shift in snow levels, leading adapted to the warmer climate that will these demonstration sites,
to lower summer stream flows as less prevail decades hence. please join our newsletter at
snowpack remains to feed creeks with https://www.nnrg.org/nnrg-
snow melt. At our demonstration sites By helping these developing forests newsletter/
above 3,000 feet, we are installing snow recover from narrowly focused
gaps — 0.5- to 2-acre patch cuts in the management practices and to adapt
forest canopy. This will allow snow to to the hotter, drier summer conditions
accumulate on the ground instead of that are predicted for the area, we’re
being intercepted by tree crowns where seeking to reduce the risk that they will
it will evaporate or melt more quickly. succumb to drought or fire. Using some
The shade and shelter from the wind in of these novel management techniques
these gaps also extends the spring snow- will hopefully address both past
melt season, providing a time-release of mismanagement and future threats for
snow melt that can infuse the soil with more diverse and resilient forests.
moisture and feed headwater streams
later into the year.
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Landowners replant following the
Beachie Creek and Lionshead Fires
North Santiam Watershed Council Partners
with BEF, Arbor Day Foundation and One
Tree Planted to Distribute Native Plants to
Community Members Impacted by the
Fires in 2020
Nearly half of the 500,000 acre North Santiam Watershed was affected by the 2020
2021 North Santiam Beachie Creek and Lionshead fires, destroying over 1500 structures and generating
Watershed Council Fire hazardous materials, hazard trees, erosion of sediment and toxic runoff into
Recovery Planting Sites sensitive waterways.
This map shows the aerial extent of the
Beachie Creek Fire (pink) and the Lionshead
The North Santiam Watershed Council, with the support of numerous groups
Fire (blue). The North Santiam Watershed including Willamette Partnership, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, and city
Council with support from the Arbor Day and county agencies, has distributed straw, seed, and native plants to over 128
Foundation and One Tree Planted has provided landowners.
plants to over 128 landowners in the Santiam
Canyon, shown in green.
2021 North Santiam Watershed Council Fire Recovery Planting Sites
Esri, NASA, NGA,
USGS, State of
Lionshead Fire Perimeter
0 5 10 20 Miles Beachie Creek Fire Perimeter
NSWC_2021 Fire Recovery Planting Sites
Rebecca McCoun, Executive Director
of the North Santiam Watershed Council,
reflects upon how climate change is
impacting recovery efforts:
1 Are you approaching 3 What are some of
planting any differently the bottlenecks you
post-fire and in light of are facing?
climate change?
With COVID getting the various partners
We are informing landowners of our in one room to discuss the vast issues
concerns about the viability of Western that need to be identified and addressed
red cedar and Douglas fir in some areas, has been challenging. With regards to
and are encouraging people to consider on the ground work bottlenecks have
planting ponderosa pine and incense been log trucks, self loaders, trained
cedar, especially for landowners who man power to get the salvage logging
are replanting properties where timber implemented quickly before the
harvest is not the long term focus. burned timber is no longer salvageable.
Availability of seedlings and folks to
plant has also been a bottleneck.
2 What does fire recovery
look like in the North
Santiam basin? 4 As we mourn the
transformation of so
many beloved places
We have been working hard with our are there any small
partners to address immediate post fire reasons for hope? Are
needs, straw, seed, plantings. Removing there ways to approach
hazard trees and salvage logging is recovery that can
taking place before bug infestations can position the basin for
take hold. The local entities are working
healthier forests and
hard to identify the short term, mid term
waterways? Anything
and long term needs. Given the scope
else we can learn?
and scale it will take time.
In addition to post fire recovery we are Having the community working together
working with ODF funds to address fuels to recover has been a huge blessing. We
reduction on areas just outside of the really want to come together and address
Beachie Creek fire parameter. We are restoration using a holistic approach. We
working with partners to educate the are working on this now. How can we
communities on creating defensible replant and restore the landscape so that
space and how to improve forest health it is more resilient. We are trying to bring
through thinning excess fuels and as many voices to the table so that we can
creating fuel breaks. make informed decisions. Where did we
fail in the past and what can we do now to
avoid making the same mistakes?
(Top) Brandon and Rechelle Kirk look at saplings donated by the
NSWC that will be planted in areas impacted by wildfires.
(Middle) A boy poses with a freshly planted Ponderosa pine.
Multiple generations of his family lost their homes during the fires.
(Bottom) Michele Beal Evans picks up some free plants distributed by the
NSWC and Arbor Day Foundation to plant in her land impacted by the fire.Bare-Root Forbs:
What, Why, How
Q&A with Wendy Kral, Ecologist at Scholls
Valley Native Nursery in Forest Grove, OR
What is bare-root planting • lower product cost, supports pollinators, and promotes
and why forbs? • reduced labor for transportation and
soil health by limiting erosion, among
other benefits. Often, the initial
Bare-root planting is the installation installation
planting on a restoration site focuses
of plant material that is not packaged • reduced plastic-input during growing on establishing woody trees and shrubs
with a rooting medium. Unlike a and distribution to provide shade, habitat, and weed
containerized plant that is grown and exclusion. One emerging opportunity
distributed in a pot with soil, a bare-root • Reduced risk of weed, pest and
pathogen dispersal via soil to employ bare-root herbs is on older
plant is grown in a nursery bed or field, restoration projects that have had
harvested, and freed of excess soil prior
Who should be thinking their tree and shrub layers restored.
to distribution. While containerized
about incorporating bare root These sites, typically within 5-10 years
plants are available year-round, bare- of initial planting, have closed canopy
forb planting into their plans?
root material is seasonally available and shaded out many of the weedy
during its most dormant time of year. The herb layer is an important understory herbs that tend to persist
Advantages of bare-root planting over component of any site because it in the early years of establishment.
container planting include: adds a habitat layer at ground-level, These projects are often in riparian
Heracleum lanatum rhizomezones where agencies, watershed District to explore the benefits of • Allium
councils and soil and water conservation introducing an herbaceous layer in • Trillium
districts have focused restoration work non-crop areas of our production
to improve water quality and fish and fields such as irrigation lines, furrows, • Prosartes
wildlife habitat. and headland roads. We have had the • Camassia
opportunity to utilize several stock
In addition to agencies and landowners, types, including seed, plugs, bulbs and • Lilium
restoration field crews interested in year- bare-root material, and the bare-root • Erythronium
round work should get excited about plants have performed at least as well
• Iris (winter)
planting bare-root upland herbs, many as any of the containerized stock types.
of which become dormant during the • Maianthemum
late summer and early fall when weed • Hydrophyllum
Which plant species are
control and tree and shrub planting
most successful with this • Viola
activities are limited by dry conditions.
approach?
This is the perfect time of year to plant • Delphinium
many species of bare-root bulbs and We have been successful growing
rhizomes because dormant upland and transplanting many species of • Achlys
rootstocks are naturally prepared to sit perennial herbs as bare-root stock. Our • Wyethia
inactive in dry soil until the fall rains current crops include over 80 species
• Chamaenerion (winter)
return. These species can be employed from several Willamette Valley plant
to fill critical habitat niches, and at the communities including oak savanna, • Symphiotrichum (winter)
same time fill gaps in the schedules of wet prairie, upland prairie, forested • Heracleum
our hard-working crews on the ground. wetland, riparian forest, and mixed oak/
conifer forests. Our goal is to increase • Asclepias
the traction and availability of bare-root
Where has it or will
herbs within the restoration community
it be successful?
and make herb-layer restoration and
Scholls Valley Native Nursery is enhancement feasible on a landscape
currently working with grant funds from scale. Just a few of the genera that are
Tualatin Soil and Water Conservation suited to bare-root production include:
Bare-root herb beds at Scholls Valley Native Nursery Seed source population for 2021 Asclepias
speciosa cropThe Kalispel Tribe and
Native Plant Nursery
Preserving Wildlife and Supplying Large
Native Tree and Shrub Stock for
Restoration
The Kalispel Tribe By 1874, Congress had stopped The Kalispel Tribe of Indians is rich
establishing treaties with tribes in heritage. It is the tribe’s mission to
The Kalispel Indians were semi-nomadic altogether, leaving the Kalispel Tribe continue strengthening and building
hunters, diggers and fishermen and were with no legal protection. By 1875, the its community while preserving its
often called the “River/Lake paddlers.” Tribal population had shrunk to only 395 cultural and natural heritage. The tribe’s
During the mid to late 19th century, people. From 1880 to 1910, as more white traditions have taught its members
the Kalispel Tribe of Indians worked to settlers moved into Kalispel territory, the cultural pride and to work together
preserve its culture and life in the midst of tribe witnessed its land disappearing, but to continue the advancement of their
increasing white settlement in the area. could do nothing to prevent it. people. The tribe is committed to
promoting a bright future that respects
In 1855, the Upper Kalispel Tribe ceded With most of the land on the reservation traditions, education, nurturing
its lands and moved to the Jocko unsuitable for development, the tribe environments for their children, and
Reservation in Montana at the request of has had to develop innovative ways to successful enterprise.
the U.S. Government. The Lower Kalispel create opportunity for tribal members.
Tribe, ancestors of today’s Kalispel The tribe’s pioneering spirit, combined The Kalispel Tribe lives in harmony
members, refused to give up ancestral with sheer determination, resiliency, with nature and is a national leader
lands and continued to work toward an and community cohesiveness, has in preserving wildlife habitat and
agreement that would allow the Tribe to allowed the tribe to overcome many fish hatcheries. The Kalispel Natural
remain on its homeland. difficult circumstances. Resource Department (KNRD) seeks
The native plant nursery currently uses 10-15 gallon
pots to grow their native stock before planting.to protect and enhance all natural
resources and the health of the entire
The native plant nursery currently has
space for about 10,000 trees in 10-15 What Will
ecosystem. KNRD is responsible for
managing the historic properties,
gallon pots. Welcomed advice and
technical outreach for information on the
Nature Do?
fisheries, wildlife, water, and other nursery stock was done in connection Call to Artists
natural resources of the Kalispel Tribe of with the local WSU extension office
Indian’s reservation in Usk, Washington, foresters and professors. As we expand Exhibition Dates:
and other ceded lands in the lower Clark the nursery’s capacity, we will continue to
Fork and Pend Oreille. engage with our community partners.
September 30-
November 13, 2021
Climate change is an important
The Kalispel Native
consideration in all restoration projects. Deadline for Submissions:
Plant Nursery
Functional riparian areas and wetland July 1, 2021
The Kalispel native plant nursery was ecosystems help to make the landscape
established in 2012 to grow larger native more resilient to climate change. This This call is to artists of all media
tree and shrub stock for planting in nursery gives the KNRD team access to and levels of experience, who are
Kalispel restoration sites. The nursery good quality stock that will survive in the interested in the communication of
grows mainly riparian and wetland extreme conditions we face in the Pend the science of climate change through
species with the goal of planting them in Oreille basin. We are fortunate to have the arts. Submissions will be accepted
the native soils, which are poor glacial this resource and we plan to continue online only. If you have any difficulty
lakebed sediment. This growing practice improving our operational efficiencies with the submission process, please
is a way of reducing transplant shock. and stock quality. contact hester@theartscenter.net, or
541-754-1551, Ext 658.
As a unique approach, we use a
‘bathtub’ watering design to avoid Background:
leaf rot from surface watering and to Do you have questions
help roots train downward as opposed In the fall of 2021, The Arts Center will
to surface. It is cheaper and easier to or want more information host the exhibit What Will Nature Do?
operate than a drip system. We are open on the Kalispel Tribe’s a collaboration with guest curator Dr.
to any information or advice that could Dominique Bachelet. Dr. Bachelet is
Native Plant Nursery? a senior climate change scientist and
help us succeed, but so far our methods
seem to be working as is. Contact Mike Lithgow: associate professor in Oregon State
mlithgow@kalispeltribe.com University, as well as an artist and a
509-370-8794 member of The Arts Center’s Exhibition
Committee.
Dr. Bachelet has curated a roster of
climate change scientists from all over
the country. Prior to the deadline for
submissions, artists will participate
in the scientists’ presentations and
discussions on the positive and
hopeful aspects of their research to
inspire their artwork created for the
exhibit. It is an exciting opportunity to
distance ourselves from the standard
doom and gloom messages and gather
a deeper insight into the complexities
and opportunities of climate change.
For more information
and to register,
please visit https://
theartscenter.net/call-
to-artists-what-will-
nature-do-deadline-
july-1-2021/
Aerial photo of the Kalispel native plant nursery, which has space for about 10,000 trees.Treeline Webinar Historical Western
Series Presents Redcedar Decline
An excerpt from
Western Redcedar: Cultural skwadi’lic, Board Feet,
and Ecological Reflections, Dieback and the Cedar Tree
Concerns and Community Science by Kurt W. Russo, PhD, Se’Si’Le
[In the late 1700’s] forested lands in Oregon and
Washington included over 23 million acres of trees
that were at least 125 years old, including vast stands
of Douglas fir, western hemlock, mountain hemlock,
When: Tue, April 20, 2021, 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM PDT western red cedar, and sitka spruce (Booth, 1994). The
bioregion of western Oregon and western Washington
What: Panelists will discuss cultural and ecological was a montage of spruce, cedar, hemlock, and fir. This
dimensions of Western redcedar and how community temperate rainforest supported one of the most
science can help document dieback. densely populated nonagricultural populations of
American Indians in the pre-contact world of North
Western redcedar (Thuja plicata) is an iconic PNW tree species with America. It remained the world’s largest temperate
tremendous importance. Observations of widespread dieback in recent rainforest through the dawn of the twentieth
years has elevated community concern over this cultural keystone species. century…
This talk provides information about cultural and ecological dimensions
and how community science is being leveraged to better document and Despite the arrival of increasing numbers of settlers
understand dieback. and the rapid growth of the timber industry, at the
dawn of the twentieth century only a relatively
• Historical context of Western redcedar (10 minutes) - Gary Morishima, small portion of the forested lands west of the
Technical Advisor for Natural Resources to the President of the Quinault Cascades in Washington State had been cut or
Indian Nation settled for agriculture. In 1852 the first timber mill
• Cultural significance of western redcedar (15 minutes) - Will Bill Jr., was established on Puget Sound. Within ten years,
Muckleshoot Indian Tribe the mill was shipping 9 million board feet annually
to foreign and domestic markets. In 1855, Lummi
• Western redcedar ecology (15 minutes) - Connie Harrington, USFS Olympia
Indians were among the signatories to the Treaty
• Western redcedar dieback and community science (15 minutes) - of Point Elliott, and the present-day reservation
Joey Hulbert, Washington State University was established in 1857. Fifteen years later, in 1872,
• Questions and Discussion (15 minutes) a German arbitrator (Kaiser Wilhelmawarded the
remainder of the aboriginal territory in the San Juan
Islands to the United States. By that time the Pacific
Northwest land rush was in full bloom. As recently as
Register for event for free on eventbrite: 1936, when the Pacific Northwest was the Nation’s
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/western- leading lumber-producing region, old-growth forests
redcedar-cultural-and-ecological- of all types still made up 73% of all commercial forests
reflections-and-dieback-concerns- in eastern Oregon and Washington (Committee on
tickets-148359267563 Environmental Issues in Pacific Northwest Forest
Management, 2000.
By 1980, 838 billion board feet of timber had been
removed from the forests of western Oregon and
Washington, by which time old-growth forests
accounted for 13 percent of forest land cover on
public and private forest land in this bioregion (Booth,
1994). By the year 2000 only 6 percent of western
Oregon and western Washington’s old-growth
forests remained, primarily in fragmented islands of
habitat on public lands (Booth, 1994). The rapid and
radical transformation of this bioregion has severely
disrupted the ecology for 1,500 species of invertebrates
associated with old-growth forests and 118 vertebrate
species whose primary habitat is in mature and old-
The beautiful and iconic Western redcedar (Thuja plicata) at Alsea growth forest systems. (Booth, 1994) It also had a direct
Falls, OR. Cedar are experiencing dieback in the PNW. and deleterious impact on the traditional practices of
the Lummi Indians.Welcome to Our Newest
Regional Lead Partner
Nesika Wilmut/Willamette RIver Network
Nesika means “us,” “our” in Chinuk Wawa, the trade language spoken by Native peoples
and traders around the Pacific Northwest and along the Willamette River.
Wilamut is the original name of the river and speaks to place, rooted in history and
culture. The name represents how language and place, people and river, are one. We
are grateful for you and your work Nesika Wilamut!
Register now!
May 20, 12:30-1:30
Join us to learn more about
Phytophthora and what
small-scale restoration
nurseries can do to minimize
risk of spread.
https://www.eventbrite.
com/e/phytophthora-you-
probably-cant-spell-it-and-
you-definitely-dont-want-it-
tickets-151389013615
Do you have an idea for a future newsletter article
or interview, or a suggestion for how we might
improve? Please reach out to kira@b-e-f.org.
This work is supported by a Coordination and Collaboration grant
from the Climate Resilience FundYou can also read
