Success! Partnership Cleans Up the Willamette River
Benton SWCD in partnership with Willamette Riverkeeper and a handful of intrepid volunteers met recently between heavy rain events at the Crystal Lake Boat Ramp on the Willamette River in Corvallis for a good old-fashioned garbage pickup. More than two hundred pounds of garbage and a crushed raft were pulled from the river while floating to Michael’s Landing making way for your beautiful float sometime this summer. You’re invited to enjoy a Willamette River float from Corvallis to Albany where you’ll find native plants and birds thriving in the riverside habitat!
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Ludwigia Weed Pull, June 23rd
Please Join Us to Free the Willamette River of Invasive Plants, June 23rd – Register Today
Benton SWCD is joining Willamette Riverkeeper and Oregon Parks & Recreation Department to hand pull aquatic invasive species including Ludwigia (water-primrose), Nymphoides peltata (yellow floating heart), Myriophyllum aquaticum (parrotfeather) and others. This on-water event calls for volunteers to work in tandem canoes provided by Willamette Riverkeeper. You’ll learn a lot about these invasives and how your participation frees up the water way for native aquatic plant and animal species. Please visit this Willamette Riverkeeper website for more details:
When: Thursday, June 23rd, 9:00am – 4:30pm
Where: From Michael’s Landing boat ramp in Corvallis to Hyak Park in Albany
How: Float the river; shuttles provided by Willamette Riverkeeper
What: bring your own PFD, water, lunch, sunscreen and other personal items, such as a mask, to keep you comfortable. Bring your own canoe if you’re inclined. More details can be found on the registration page. Register Here!
Save the Date: If you can’t join us June 23rd, please put July 30th on your calendar for a similar aquatic weed pull. Keep your eyes on our next newsletter for all the details.
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Invasive Noxious Weed Alert!
Benton SWCD is working with grant funds from the Oregon State Weed Board to monitor and treat 22 sites in Benton County. Five of these sites were just discovered in May, and several of the sites from last year need additional treatment because the weed is so persistent. Landscapers, contractors and OSU students are serving as eyes for our staff to identify areas, like the one above, that need treatment.
Oblong spurge is easily pulled by hand especially from soft and moist soil conditions – please pull it from your yard and garden! Wear gloves when pulling because the milky sap can be toxic.
Two new sites where BSWCD will treat oblong spurge:
Vineyard Mountain has oak habitat that could be heavily impacted by the spread of oblong spurge. Infestations in this area likely began after planting by a homeowner and it is now spreading well beyond 1,000 feet into other areas where it was not intentionally planted.
More assessment surveys will continue throughout the summer months.
Southtown, near the Corvallis airport is another infestation that was installed by the homeowner, and then discovered by a landscaper who knew to contact BSWCD after being educated about its impact on native plants and wildlife.
Special Request: if you believe that oblong spurge is in your neighborhood or local area, please email Michael Ahr to discuss the location and, if possible, include a photo so that we can follow-up on potential treatment.
Learn more about Oblong spurge from ODA here.
Thank you!
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