Introduction Planting Native Species

Wetland Restoration on OSU Propertyalong Oak Creek

Kelly Clayton, Elise Ferrarese, and Carla StevensOregon State University

Ecological Restoration – FW 545

Reference Site and Monitoring

Weed Eradication and Site Prep

ReferencesAllen, J., A. Salamack, and P. Schoonmaker. 1999. Restoring the Willamette Basin: Issues and Challenges. Institute for the Northwest.Antineau, C.J. 1998. Biology and management of reed canarygrass, and implications for ecological restoration. Washington State Department of Transportation, Seattle, Washington.Benton County Natural Areas and Parks Department. 2007. Jackson-Frazier Wetland

Management Plan. www.co.benton.or.us/parks/facilities/jackson_plan_idx.phpDavid Evans and Associates Inc. 2005. Wetland delineation report: 35th Street at Jefferson Way site. Portland, Oregon. Falk, D.A., Palmer, M.A., and J.B.

Zedler editors. 2006. Foundations of Restoration Ecology. Society for Ecological Restoration International. Island Press, WA.

Kim, K.D., Ewing, K., and D. Giblin. 2006. Controlling Phalaris arundinacea (reed canarygrass) with live willow stakes: A density-dependent response. Ecological Engineering 27: 219-227.Mockler, A., Casey, L., Bowles, M., Gillen, N., and J. Hansen. 1998. Results of monitoring King County wetland and stream mitigations. King County Department of Development and Environmental Services. Renton, WA.Ruiz-Jaen, M., and T.M. Mitchell. 2005. Restoration success: How is it being measured? Restoration Ecology 13(3): 569-577.Schwindt, R. A. 2006. Plant Community Dynamics in Remnant and Restored Willamette Valley Wetland Prairies. Master’s thesis, Oregon State University.SER (Society for Ecological Restoration). 2004. The SER International Primer on Ecological Restoration. Society for Ecological Restoration International, Tucson, Arizona.

Fig. 1. Project site near Oak Creek with Concord silt loam and Bashaw clay soils.

Fig. 2. Project site invaded by non-natives

Fig. 11. West Eugene wet prairie and riparian forest

Fig. 12. Jackson-Frazier wet prairie wetland (Denise W. Ross Photography)

reed canarygrass Phalaris arundinacea catchweed bedstraw Galium aparine American vetch Vicia americana American speedwell Veronica americana wild carrot Daucus carota tall fescue Festuca arundinacea teasel Dipsacus fullonum Nootka rose Rosa nutkana meadow foxtail Alopecurus pratensis Oregon ash Fraxinus latifolia Oregon white oak Quercus garryana

This project area is located on the Oregon State University campus in Corvallis, Oregon. The property is located south of the EPA building on SW 35th Street (T11S R5W Sec 33). Historically this was an emergent marsh with direct hydrologic connection to Oak Creek. As Oak Creek degraded and water levels dropped, the hydrologic connectivity was severed. This caused the inundation levels and timing of saturation to be altered. The wetland, with a

different hydrologic regime, created a change in the available resources. The drop in the water table exposed bare, wet soil and allowed reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea) to become established. Over time Phalaris outcompeted the native wetland vegetation, and the site is currently a near-monoculture of Phalaris. Our goals for this site include eradication of Phalaris, reestablishment of native plant assemblages, and restoration of ecological processes.

Fig. 4. Cutting Salix poles for planting

Actions and Timeline

Year 1 – Spring - Mow, disc/plow (twice), create microtopography, and

install piezometersYear 1 – Summer - Apply Rodeo herbicideYear 1 – Fall - Apply Rodeo herbicideYear 2 – Spring - Analyze reemergence of reed canarygrass. If still prevalent, repeat the treatments and schedule of year 1 - If reed canarygrass is patchy, mow the standing vegetation and then cover

the entire site with black plastic (securing it with rocks or stakes)

Table 1. Species currently on project site

Fig. 3. Phalaris

Fig. 5. Planted pole

Early Spring Year 3: Pacific willow (Salix lasiandra) will be planted

• Pole cuttings will be taken from donor trees along Oak Creek and at reference site• Poles will be 2” in diameter and 6’ long• Branches will be trimmed off poles, except at the “sprouting” end• Holes will be created using a hand power auger• Poles are planted to the depth of the lowest recorded water table (from piezometer data)• Protective netting is placed around each newly planted willow pole

Fig. 6. Bank of planted willows

Willows:

- Create shade for the site and prevent reed canarygrass from growing- Act as nurse crop for understory plants by improving temperature and soil moisture

(Kim et al 2006)

Statistical Design• Before After Control Impact Paired Series (BACIPS)• Data collection: 2 years before treatment and 2 years post treatment at year 5 at our site and reference sites

Mid Spring of year 3: Perennial grasses will be planted

• Tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia caespitosa) • California oatgrass (Danthonia californica) • Meadow barley (Hordeum brachyantherum)

Mid Spring of year 4: Sedges, rushes and forbs will be planted

• Dense sedge (Carex densa) • Slough sedge (Carex obnupta)• Creeping spike-rush (Eleocharis macrostachya)• Camas (Camassia quamash) • Oregon saxifrage (Saxifraga oregano) • Fragrant popcorn flower (Plagiobothrys figuratus) • Western Buttercup (Ranunculus occidentalis)

Reference Sites (Best Available)

Jackson-Frazier Wetlands• Established as a Benton County Park• Located in northeast Corvallis north of Lancaster Street 60 hectares• One of the larger intact wetlands in the Willamette Valley • 60 hectares• Bashaw clay

West Eugene Wetlands• Operated by BLM, City of Eugene, and Nature Conservancy• Located in west Eugene area• Includes majority of remaining wetland prairie habitat in the Willamette Valley • 2,800 acres• Bashaw clay

Fig 10.CamasFig 9.Buttercup

MonitoringMeasures of Success• Plant biomass• Species diversity (abundance and richness)

• plants, invertebrates• Ecological processes

• water capture rates• Nitrogen cycling

Fig 8.sedge Fig 7.Tufted hairgrass