Winter/Spring 2012 Projects

Six teams are currently working to make our community a better place! Check out what they are doing now.

Environmental Education Projects            Conservation Science in Action Projects

The Pacific Northwest is home to some magnificent old-growth forests. Unfortunately, many local children have never had the opportunity to explore this enchanting ecosystem first-hand.  In response, this team is developing and facilitating a unique fieldtrip experience -- one that gives middle-schoolers an opportunity to climb into the canopy and explore the understory to learn about useful plants. Their mission is to inspire curiosity about our many local native plants used for food, medicines and materials. In winter term, they developed interdisciplinary hands-on lessons that engage children in learning about native plants and their human uses. In spring, they are visiting classrooms in April and leading full-day field trips every Thursday and Friday in the month of May. This team is working in partnership with the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest and the Pacific Tree Climbing Institute. Visit their website to learn more. 

Restoration of streamside vegetation improves water quality and benefits fish, wildlife and people! In partnership with the McKenzie Watershed Council, the Stream Stewardship team is getting involved in several stages of stream restoration and monitoring. The students have responsibility for the restoration activities at one site, where they are removing invasive vegetation, planting native trees, maintaining plantings, establishing monitoring plots, and collecting baseline data. They are summarizing their efforts in a report that provides recommendations for future management. At another site, they are using surveying methods to characterize stream channel conditions. They are comparing their data to previously collected data to evaluate the impacts of large wood placement on fish habitat. The students’ restoration work improves water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, and scenic values. Their monitoring data helps the Council understand the effects, limitations and successes of restoration projects. Visit their website to learn more.

Cedar!  Salal!  Salmonberries!  Working in partnership with Mt. Pisgah Arboretum, this team is developing interpretive signs and a fieldtrip for fifth graders centered on plant/people relationships. Their mission is to inspire curiosity about our many local native plants used for food, medicines and materials.  In winter term, they developed interdisciplinary hands-on lessons that  engage children in learning about native plants and their human uses.  In spring term, they are facilitating their field trip at Mt. Pisgah, as well as facilitating an “Art in Nature” workshop at the Wildflower Festival in mid-May. Visit their website to learn more.

Less than 1% of the Willamette Valley’s wet prairies remain today. Wet prairies are important for water quality, flood abatement, and wildlife habitat. Numerous efforts have been launched in the Willamette Valley to protect and enhance remaining wet prairies, while restoring additional areas. However, restored wetland prairies typically have much lower plant diversity than remnant native prairies. One possible reason is the lack of small-scale diversity in the soil surface elevation (topography), as some restoration sites are former agricultural fields that had been previously leveled. In partnership with the Institute for Applied Ecology, Lane Council of Governments and City of Eugene, the Restoration Research team is measuring the variation in topography, water levels, and vegetation at 6 sites. Using their information as well as previously collected data, they are examining how variation in soil height correlates with native plant diversity. The students’ results will build upon past research in the West Eugene Wetlands, answer lingering questions about effective prairie restoration methods, and inform future restoration efforts. Visit their website to learn more.