Presenter: Alyssa Dawson
Co-Presenters: Brady Cox, Cassidy DeBlois, AJ Nichols, Katrina Henderson, Joe Nickless, Nathan Wolk
Faculty Mentor: Peg Boulay
Presentation Type: Poster 8
Primary Research Area: Science
Major: Environmental Studies
Healthy riparian zones are important to the ecological function of aquatic areas. They support water quality and a variety of flora and fauna. Restoration of degraded riparian zones are central to rebuilding these ecosystems. In 2014-2015, through a partnership between the University of Oregon Environmental Leadership Program (ELP) and Whitewater Ranch, students implemented a 0.25 acre pilot riparian restoration project along Goose Creek, a tributary of the McKenzie River, with the goals of improving fish and pollinator habitat. During winter term 2016, our team continued to conduct riparian restoration along Goose Creek by planting more native plants and creating a pollinator hedgerow. In order to evaluate the success of the restoration work, we will continue monitoring conducted by past ELP teams. This will be done by monitoring the survival, growth, and vigor of previous plantings, measuring stream temperatures, conducting photo points, and surveying pollinator and macroinvertebrate populations. So far we have found that survival was better than we expected and growth and vigor are looking very promising. In addition to monitoring, we will also begin the next step in our long-term restoration plans by performing baseline monitoring of vegetation in the next phase of Goose Creek restoration. With these efforts, we hope to move closer towards our eventual goal of improving the general health of the riparian habitat at Goose Creek, so it may serve its ecological functions.