Snow Creek East Uncas

 Snow Creek Planting and Alder Thinning

 

 Today we are working on a recently acquired Jefferson Land Trust property located on Snow Creek  near East Uncas Road. The parcel includes both sides of the Snow Creek and abuts to Highway 101.  The project involved the crew coming out in January and thinning the Alder stand that occupies most of the outer eastern side of the site near highway 101.  This area was mostly Alders blackberry and reed canary grass.

Robbie opening up the alder stand to make room and open the canopy to plant shrubs and conifers.  At some sites there may already be trees but we are looking to diversify the shrubs and kick start coniferous forest. 

Muddy planters at lunch break.

Our plants generally come bare root in big paper bags from the nursery.  This is what we prefer, as opposed to potted stock that is cumbersome to move around and could be laden with weeds.  Here you see Elijah and Rick loading some western red cedar from the tree bags to their planting bags  When we use planting bags one person can carry 100 trees easily throughout the site. 

 

Kori planting a western red cedar.

When we have completed the planting we will put tree protector tubes over the plants in the grassy and blackberry infested areas.  These will protect the trees from voles, mice, deer, and our brush cutters.

 

 



Leland Creek Willow Staking

Leland Creek Willows

A view of our flooded job site @ Leland Creek

 



The crew has been working on a big project for Jefferson County Public Health.  We are installing over 13,000 willow stakes along Leland Creek.  The willow stakes are being installed along sections of the creek that are dominated by reed canary grass.  The intention is that the willows will flourish and begin to shade out the canary grass and provide shade over the creek as well.  The creek is ominously known for vast stretches of canary grass and beaver dams.  This scenario has caused the creek to back up and flood above the top of the creek banks for a significant portion  of the year.

Corp members Elijah Roulst and Kori Riggle laying out fence line

 

When the willows are installed a 4 foot high fence is then constructed around each to prevent beaver from gnawing the stakes down.  Generally the willow enclosures are 60 feet long and extend 30 feet back from the creek.

Building fences in this bog-like area is challenging.  But it is not a challenge beyond this crews abilities.  Above you can see Kori Riggle leveling an area to make the fence line level.  This will ensure that the the bottom of the fence is tight excluding the beaver from the willows while the stakes are growing into trees.

A rare sunny day at the job site.  The crew has had all working conditions at this job site.  Snow, freezing weather, sun, and currently rain, rain, rain.  Most of the site is submerged under water.  There will be some rooted plant stock installed in some of the areas that are not saturated.  We return to that Job next week and hope to get the willow planting wrapped up.