PROJECT REPORT
OREGON / WASHINGTON 2023 - LOWER COLUMBIA COMMUNITY PLANTING
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT Dear friend, Thanks to your support, a total of 132,300 trees were planted to restore 86 hectares of land in Oregon and Washington. Planting trees in areas that have been degraded or deforested helps the environment by accelerating and assuring the re-establishment of healthy forests. Through reforestation, the canopy is restored, ecosystems are made whole, and biodiversity can thrive. None of this would be possible without you. On behalf of everyone at One Tree Planted, thank you! What follows is a report outlining the project you supported in Oregon and Washington. I hope you enjoy reading it and truly feel the impact you have made.
OVERVIEW
The objective of the Oregon / Washington 2023 - Lower Columbia Community Restoration project was to address and rehabilitate areas with poor riparian health and lack of riparian cover on the lower Columbia River near Portland, OR and Vancouver, WA — and many of its tributary streams. This project aims to restore the rivers’ ecological functions and improve its health by planting trees that will aid in filtering pollution, preventing erosion, reducing flooding, and creating habitat for wildlife.
TREES PLANTED 132,300
TREE SPECIES PLANTED 35
FAMILIES BENEFITED 1
HECTARES REFORESTED 86
WOMEN INVOLVED 500 JOBS SUPPORTED 12 VOLUNTEERS INVOLVED 1,006
ACRES REFORESTED 212 WILDLIFE SPECIES BENEFITED 250+ PEOPLE BENEFITED FROM TRAINING 1,006
TREE SPECIES PLANTED A mix of 35 native tree and shrub species were planted across 212 acres for this project — with the top species planted being Pacific Willow, Sitka Willow and Spiraea. This diversity of plants, including both understory shrubs and overstory trees, will help create a more healthy and self-sustaining ecosystem over time. Primarily located along riparian buffer zones and adjacent wetlands, the planted trees will go a long way toward nurturing the Columbia River and improving its water quality. Likewise, some of the plants established along the water — in particular, black cottonwood trees — will sequester millions of pounds of carbon dioxide during their life cycle.
SPECIES PLANTED THROUGH THIS PROJECT Vine Maple (Acer circinatum) Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea) Tall Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium) Osoberry (Oemleria cerasiformis) Pacific Ninebark (Physocarpus capitatus) Choke Cherry (Prunus virginiana) Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) Oregon White Oak (Quercus garryana) Cascara (Frangula purshiana) Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus) Blue Elderberry (Sambucus cerulea) Red Elderberry (Sambucus racemosa) Douglas Spirea (Spiraea douglasii) Snowberry (Symphoricarpos) Bigleaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum) White Alder (Alnus rhombifolia) Red Alder (Alnus rubra) Incense Cedar (Calocedrus decurrens)
Black Hawthorn (Crataegus douglasii) Ocean Spray (Holodiscus) Black Twinberry (Lonicera involucrata) Western Crabapple (Malus fusca) Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa) Black Cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa) Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) Black oak (Quercus velutina) Nootka Rose (Rosa nutkana) Swamp Rose (Rosa palustris) Meadowsweets (Spiraea) Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata) California Bay (Umbellularia californica) Columbia River Willow (Salix sessilifolia) Inland Hooker's Willow (Salix hookeriana) Pacific Willow (Salix lucida) Sitka Willow (Salix sitchensis)
TREE SPECIES
IDENTIFICATION & USE There are over 350 species of willow worldwide, 38 of which are native to Washington. Pacific Willow, also known as Salix lasiandra, is a deciduous large shrub or small tree that occurs naturally along stream banks from British Columbia southward to Southern California and New Mexico. This species typically grows from 20-60 feet tall and has a slender trunk with black bark. It is most identifiable by its long, linear leaves, which grow up to 10x longer than wide, are highly glossy, and have an underside of soft white-ish hairs. For further distinction, the species has two or more tiny nodules at the base of each leaf blade. Willows serve a variety of uses, from serving as habitat for small mammals and birds to providing twigs and branches for beavers to build dams, and shading the water, which cools water temperatures and improves salmon habitat. Willows also produce salicin, which is closely related to acetylsalicyclic acid, commonly known as aspirin. Various preparations from willows are used to treat ailments such as stomach aches, sore throats and fevers. Sitka Willow, also known as Salix sitchensis, is highly valued for stabilizing the banks of low velocity streams, improving wildlife habitat, and renovating riparian areas. This species is characterized by large shrubs or small trees that grow from 6 to 25 feet tall, and bark that is gray to dark brown and smooth. It is also called silky willow because of satiny hairs on the undersides of its leaves. These leaves are alternate, narrowly ovate, two to five inches long, and usually sharp-pointed. Also unique to this species, some leaves have a pear-shaped outline. Sitka willow is most easily recognized by how light reflects differently underneath the leaf. No other species has hairs that do this. Sitka Willow serve important functions in ecosystems, from providing buds that are eaten by birds, to leaves foraged by deer and elk, and the myriad riparian benefits willow species offer. Willows are often a dominant stream bank plant, as they prevent erosion by stabilizing the banks, and provide nesting habitat for birds and mammals. Willow leaves provide a food source for aquatic bacteria, and decaying leaves serve as nutrients for the aquatic food chain.
WE'RE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL TO ONE TREE PLANTED AND THEIR DONORS WHO ARE MAKING THE STEIGERWALD RECONNECTION PROJECT'S PLANTING EFFORTS POSSIBLE. YOUR SUPPORT IS CRITICAL TO THE FUTURE OF THIS NATURAL REFUGE AREA. WITH YOUR HELP, WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS TURNING THIS SITE INTO A THRIVING ECOSYSTEM THAT WILL BENEFIT BOTH THE WILDLIFE AND THE GREATER COMMUNITY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON THIS JOURNEY TO CREATE A HEALTHIER, MORE RESILIENT ENVIRONMENT.
YOUR IMPACT ON THE MAP The Oregon / Washington 2023 - Lower Columbia Community Restoration project supported the planting of 132,300 native tree and shrub species across 212 acres along the lower Columbia River for the purpose of improving riparian health and increasing riparian cover. By reforesting these sites, this project’s impact will be felt largely throughout Portland and Vancouver, through increased quality of recreational opportunities, improved water quality, economic values and habitat restoration.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE IMPACT Of all the thousands of acres of forested and wetland habitat lost since 1888, most have been along stream banks. Over time, thousands of riparian acres have been cleared for agriculture, development, recreation, and other land uses. These riparian areas once provided large wood to streams; leaf litter and organic matter; shade; habitat for birds, beavers, and other wildlife; and a host of other ecological benefits. Today, many streams lack large wood, are disconnected from their floodplain, have elevated water temperatures, provide little habitat complexity, and are dominated by reed canarygrass or other invasive species. Shorelines along many other streams are heavily developed for a variety of residential and industrial uses, and many receive large inputs of polluted stormwater from parking lots and other nearby development. This project worked to address poor riparian health and lack of riparian cover on the lower Columbia River and many of its tributary streams located just outside Vancouver, WA and Portland, OR. The Columbia River is the largest river system in the Pacific Northwest, stemming from Columbia Lake in British Columbia, and flowing 1,253 miles to the Pacific Ocean. The lower Columbia River is arguably the most important reach of the entire Columbia River, nurturing fish and wildlife in the transition from fresh water to salt water, passing through major cities and towns, flowing through wildlife refuges, supporting numerous ports and a shipping channel, and providing a diverse range of recreation opportunities. Planting trees is by far the best method for restoring riparian areas, and this planting will serve as an example of that as it matures, stabilizing a diverse ecosystem of flora and fauna, including species of conservation concern such as salmon. Thanks to donors like you, One Tree Planted has helped our planting partners achieve monumental change in improving riparian health and cover along the lower Columbia River, and revitalizing its ability to support wildlife, provide opportunities for recreation, regulate the water cycle, and prevent erosion and pollution from entering the river. By reforesting these sites, this project has played a pivotal role in improving wildlife habitat of vulnerable species, enhancing public engagement and support of environmental restoration work, and reestablishing the rivers’ invaluable ecological functions.
DOCUMENTING YOUR IMPACT Through authentic and informative storytelling, we help donors relate to the people who plant their trees and to the impact they're making for the planet. We share photos, videos, and updates from our global projects across our social media, website, and other media to create a personal connection to the incredible work happening on the ground.
PHOTOS FROM YOUR PROJECT
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SUPPORTING THIS IMPORTANT WORK TO HELP ENHANCE AND RESTORE OUR RIVERS AND FLOODPLAINS IN THE LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER WATERSHED. YOUR CONTRIBUTION IS REALLY HELPING US TO LEVERAGE OUR RESOURCES TO HAVE A GREATER IMPACT ON THE FISH, WILDLIFE, AND COMMUNITIES WE ARE WORKING TO SERVE.
BIODIVERSITY BENEFITS Hundreds of species of fish and wildlife were positively impacted by this project. It is difficult to estimate a specific number of species, though one of the planting sites was the Steigerwald Wildlife Refuge, where over 250 species of mammals, birds, amphibians, fish and reptiles are known to cohabitate. The refuge and all its creatures will benefit from the diverse planting efforts across multiple different habitats. A few key species targeted through our project include Chinook salmon, coho salmon, Lamprey, Bald Eagle, Osprey, Great Blue Heron, and Beaver.
COLUMBIA RIVER FACTS AND STATS: Irrigates more than 6,000,000 acres of agricultural land Lower Columbia River and its tributaries have more than 30 dams and dozens of smaller flow control structures for hydropower, flood control, irrigation and transportation Fuels 40% of all US hydropower High Priority Animals: Larch Mountain salamander (Plethodon larselli) - State Sensitive Lower Columbia River Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) - State Endangered & Federally Threatened Lower Columbia River Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) - Federally Threatened Lower Columbia River Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss irideus) - Federally Threatened
COMMUNITY
BENEFITS
Given the sites' relatively urban locations within the cities – and their popularity as recreational sites – stakeholder engagement was an especially critical aspect of the project. To spearhead this, the project engaged over 1,000 youth from schools in both NW Oregon and SW Washington to plant trees during school field trips to the river. Included in these field trips were lessons about the watershed, native plant identification, plant uses, proper planting techniques and the benefits of ecological habitat restoration. Providing volunteers with training, including how to properly plant live stakes and bare root plants, created a sense of empowerment and connection with the land, which boosted morale and commitment to the project’s success. One private landowner benefited from the project as well, as their property’s riparian stream bank was revegetated. This helped improve ecosystem services such as bank stabilization, stream shading, and improved water quality. The project also increases the landowner’s property value and provided a vegetation privacy buffer along the creek from adjacent public lands. The economic wellbeing of the Pacific Northwest is directly tied of the health of the rivers, and the work done along the Steigerwald Wildlife Refuge serves as a perfect example of that. 70% of the money spent to restore floodplain habitat at the refuge stayed in Clark County, WA and more than 90% was spent within a 50mile radius of the project site. What’s more, the refuge’s expanded recreation offerings are expected to draw over 100,000 visitors to the refuge each year, a surefire boon to local businesses. All in all, engaging local communities during the planting process helped spread awareness and appreciation for the new plantings, educate the community on the habitat benefits of riparian restoration for diverse species of fish and wildlife, and create long term buy-in. And the impact of this project has already been felt far and wide: not only has it enhanced access to nature for a range of visitors, but it increased the quality and diversity of recreation opportunities, and strengthened public interest and engagement in large-scale habitat restoration efforts.
U.N. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS THIS PROJECT CONTRIBUTED TO THE FOLLOWING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS:
WHAT ARE SDGS? Sustainable development entails seeking out solutions that not only boost the economic outcomes of developing and poorer nations, but also work to limit (or eliminate) our impact on the planet. Trees are one such solution. From creating jobs and reducing hunger to improving gender equality, cleaning air and water, absorbing carbon, protecting life on land and water, and more, planting trees can address all 17 sustainable development goals.
“Thank you for supporting this important riparian restoration project. By restoring this landscape in the lower Columbia River and many of its tributary streams, you are not only supporting the wildlife that inhabit this special ecosystem, you are also making an impact for the local community and the many visitors that come to enjoy these natural areas.”
Meghan Danny
Global Projects Support Specialist
Brittney Burke
Director of Projects North America