This protocol was implemented to monitor and observe the individual plants that have been planted over the course of this restoration project. Our monitoring looked at whether plants were dead or alive, how tall they were, whether or not they had been damaged (typically by wildlife), and the level of competition with other shrubs and invasive grasses. With the data we’ve collected, and by referencing data from previous years, we can track trends in survival, growth, and damage. Along with previously monitored plantings, we continued to plant certain species in strategic locations along the creek from the toe to the upland areas. The data we’ve collected on individual plants can then be used to help make decisions about which types of plants to plant for next year’s team along Goose Creek. Not only will these plants help restore the riparian area along Goose Creek, it will also provide adequate shade for local macroinvertebrates, reduce the amount of invasive reed canary grass, and to sustain local pollinators from spring to late summer.
Results:
The pie chart on top shows the breakdown of what types of damage were the most common. From this we found that well over half of the damage was the result of wildlife. The 2nd chart shows the breakdown of how well plants grew based on how much damage from wildlife they had suffered. Generally speaking the plants with high wildlife damage grew less than ones which had either low or medium damage.
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