RESTORATION SITES
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Gotter Prairie Natural Area
Gotter Prairie is a 170 acre natural area located at the confluence of the Tualatin River and McFee Creek in Scholls, Oregon. Gotter Prairie is an uncommon, wet prairie habitat and a home to rare Pacific Northwest species. Chorus frog, Pacific salamander; Red-osier dogwood, Gary oak; White-breasted nuthatch and Yellow-breasted Chat are just a few of the species living at Gotter Prairie.
This property first came under agricultural cultivation as recently as the 1930s and several relatives of the original homesteaders still reside along the creek. A historic mill operated at this site back at one time and Native Americans are said to have camped on the upland area alongside the creek. The property was owned by the Gotter Family from the 1930’s until 1994. Sam Gotter and his wife are “very excited to see Metro purchasing land” and to see the restoration of the floodplain and will be glad to see the area become a bird and animal sanctuary. Gotter Prairie was Metro’s first purchase along the Tualatin River, part of Metro’s Greenspaces Acquisition Program.
Gotter Prairie is public land held by Metro Parks and Greenspaces. Gotter Prairie is one of the many amazing natural areas acquired by Metro with monies from a public bond measure passed in 1995.
Tualatin Riverkeepers have been very successful leveraging funds for restoration at Gotter Prairie and encouraging community involvement on the site.
Brown Natural Area
The Brown Natural Area is an 11 acre Metro owned green space. It is the largest remaining intact riparian and upland conifer forest in Tigard. The Brown Natural area is adjacent to Fanno Creek and Bonita Park.
The site hosts an amazing diversity of wildlife. Students exploring the site have spotted mink, red tail hawk, ensatina salamander and various other animal tracks and sign.
Bonita Park
Bonita Park is a city park that hosts an amazing diversity of plant species. Fanno Creek runs adjacent to the park. There are remnant meadows of camas, a culturally significant plant used by native people as a food source. The diversity and the camas is what initially drew the attention of Sue Bielke, Wildlife Biologist and Tigard resident to the sight. She has been an advocate of the park for many years. She has worked with the City of Tigard to ensure the protection of the native plant communities. In 2005 & 2006, Tualatin Riverkeepers worked in partnership with the City of Tigard and volunteer Sue Bielke to restore a portion of the riparian corridor along Fanno Creek and plant a camas meadow, extending the range of those that existed naturally on the site.
RESOURCES FOR LANDOWNERS
Conservation Incentive Programs
The Tualatin Soil and Water Conservation District administers a variety of conservation incentive programs for private land owners. Visittheir web site for specific requirements.
Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife also provides incentives for landowners to protect habitat or riparian areas. Click here for ODFW Programs.
OWEB Small Grant
Riverfront property owners and Tualatin Riverkeepers members Neil and Ardis Schroeder received a small grant from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB)to restore their property along the Tualatin River for clean water and wildlife habitat.
Prior to the start of their project, the Schroeder's property was infested with weeds such as Himalayan blackberry, which at its highest reached 30 feet. To access the river from their home, they had to walk on road on the adjacent neighbor's property.
The Schroeder's hired Ash Creek Forest Management to design and implement the restoration project. In March, a group of volunteers from Tualatin Riverkeepers as well as the Schroeder's and their friends planted native trees and shrubs to complete the project.
You too can help restore the Tualatin River watershed by hosting a restoration project on your property. Information and applications for OWEB small grants are available on their website.Contact Monica Smiley at 503-590-5813 or monica@tualatinriverkeepers.org for more information on additional conservation incentive programs for private land owners.
Restoration Tool Bank
Tualatin Riverkeepers' Restoration Tool Bank is available for habitat restoration projects in the Tualatin watershed. The trailer includes everything you need to host a successful habitat restoration project except the volunteer. Tool Bank inventory includes: shovels, gloves, maddocks, tent canopy, registration table, water jug etc. Tualatin Riverkeepers are available to haul the Tool Bank to and from project sites. The Tool Bank is available free of charge to: Friends Groups and Scout Troops. Agencies are welcome to use the tool bank for a modest fee. Contact Vicki Julis at 503-620-7507 or vicki@tualatinriverkeepers.org
Buy Plants
We recommend Bosky Dell Native Nurseryin West Linn for their diversity of plants and for the knowledge and willingness of staff to help develop restoration plans for customers. Before you go to Boskey Dell, you should:
Take an inventory of the trees on your property.
Take photos of the space you want to restore.
Bring this information as well the answers to the following questions:
1. Is the site wet or dry?
2. Is it in the sun or shade?
Support Tualatin Riverkeepers
Help us restore riparian and wetland habitats in the Tualatin Valley. Make your secure online donation to Tualatin Riverkeepers through Network for Good.