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Fish
Habitat Project a Success at "Rhododendron
Meadow"
The fish habitat project at "Rhododendron Meadow" was
successfully completed during the month of August. This Autumn and Winter,
with the return of dwindling stocks of Salmon and Steelhead to Henry
Creek, they will find a much better habitat.
Cascade Geographic Society, working in cooperation with Jeremy Sikes, a
Habitat Biologist with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and
Eric Mauck, a heavy equipment operator from Boring, Oregon, placed 25 logs
into Henry Creek to create spawning and rearing areas, upstream of a
pre-existing bridge. The work was accomplished under a special permit from
the Division of State Lands. The planning for the stream work took many
months and involved fish biologists from state and federal agencies, as
well as from the private sector.
The "key" to accomplishing the project with minimal impact to
the stream environment and the wetlands of "Rhododendron
Meadow," was an expensive piece of heavy equipment called a
"Spider Trackhoe." Resembling something from outer space with
its four spider-like arms, this unique computerizes equipment can go where
most cannot without destroying the environment.
Funding for the Henry Creek fish habitat project came from the following
partnerships: Oregon Wildlife Heritage Foundation, Oregon Department of
Fish and Wildlife, Portland General Electric, All Terrain Excavating, and
the Portland Water Bureau, in addition to private citizens. Habitat
projects like these are critical to help save the endangered Salmon and
Steelhead in the Sandy River Basin.
An environmental science class from Barlow High School will begin
monitoring the recently completed fish habitat project in Henry Creek,
beginning in October. They will return sometime in the Spring to evaluate
the changes associated with the placement of logs in the stream and to
assess any improvements in the spawning and rearing areas utilized by
Salmon and Steelhead.
Plans are already underway to do even more habitat enhancement work next
year. This would entail placing logs below the bridge in Henry Creek. Like
this Summer’s work, the goal of the project will be to enhance the
stream habitat for anadromous fish.
Another project would be to enhance an important back-channel of Henry
Creek. Considered ideal for spawning and for fish to escape the
high-waters of Winter and Spring, such work will make "Rhododendron
Meadow" and its related streams even more important for its habitat.
Two culverts on Little Brook Lane, which access
"Rhododendron Meadow," and another upstream, are also being
looked at for replacement by bridges or small arched culverts. In
addition, a tributary of Henry Creek that was literally buried prior to
the Cascade Geographic Society taking over the 14.5 acres, will be
reopened and restored.
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TWO
POTENTIALLY RARE PLANTS DISCOVERED by botanist
at "Rhododendron Meadow"
A botanist, recently retired after 25 years from the Bureau of Land
Management, has discovered two potentially rare plants in
"Rhododendron Meadow." Beginning next Spring, study and
monitoring of the plants will be conducted so that they can be preserved.
Retired botanist, Larry Scoffield, who has been
volunteering his time with Cascade Geographic Society at
"Rhododendron Meadow," has been making some unique finds. His
work has included identifying sensitive wetland plants and identifying
plants used by Native Americans for food and medicines, in addition to
identifying ceremonial plants.
One of the plants Larry discovered was not even supposed to grow in the
Mount Hood Area. And the other one, he has never seen before in his
career. So, the areas associated with these two plants are being
protected, and next Spring he will begin his study on these two species,
as well as continuing on with evaluating the plant species all through
Rhododendron Meadow.
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Interpretative
Kiosk Planned for Rhododendron Meadow
The resources of Rhododendron Meadow are important, and range from
historical and cultural to fish and wildlife and other natural resources.
As part of the Cascade Geographic Society’s Sanctuary Lands Program,
they are being preserved as heritage treasures for future generations.
Assisting in the preservation of these heritage resources are the efforts
to restore and maintain the natural landscape at Rhododendron Meadow. The
most recent activity was the stream enhancement work in Henry Creek that
took place in August. And, more such projects are sure to follow. Planning
for an interpretative kiosk is currently underway for Rhododendron Meadow
that will identify the heritage resources -- like rare plants and those
utilized in the ethnobotony of Native Americans, sections of the Oregon
Trail, wetlands and wildlife habitat, streams, anadromous fish like
Salmon, Steelhead, and Sea-Run Trout, and other resources. In addition,
the restoration work taking place will be included in the kiosk.
Partners for the interpretative kiosk for Rhododendron Meadow currently
include the following: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon
Wildlife Heritage Foundation, Chief Johnny Jackson of the Cascade-Klickitat tribe, Carol Logan representing the Clackamas tribe,
Michael P. Jones and Nita Kreuzer of Rhododendron. If you would like to
make any contributions to the interpretative kiosk for Rhododendron
Meadow, either as an individual, family, business, or organization, or
want more information on the project, contact the Cascade
Geographic Society at P.O. Box 398, Rhododendron, Oregon 97049; or
call: (503) 622-4798. All donations are tax deductible and any donation of
$250 or over will insure the donor their name will be on a placque that
will be placed and maintained on the facility.
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How
You and your Family or organization can keep wildlife from
being killed on roads
You and your class or organization can assist the Cascade Geographic
Society from keeping wildlife from being killed on roads in the Mount Hood
Area by sponsoring a Wild Animal Warning Reflector. These unique devices
are placed along roads in wildlife migration corridors and are beneficial
to the animals during the high-kill periods, which is between dusk and
dawn. When the light of the on-coming traffic passes this section of road
that has the "relector" mounted on a 3-foot post, Deer, Elk,
Bear, Cougar, Bobcat, Coyote, Raccoons, and other wild animals will wait
until the vehicle(s) pass. The cost is only $20 a reflector. This is a
great class project. Every reflector makes a difference. This is a great
and critical fund-raising project! For additional information how you can
help, please call (503) 622-4798. Or, write: Save Our Wildlife, P.O. Box
398, Rhododendron, OR. 97049.
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ENVIRONMENTAL
& OREGON TRAIL PROJECTS IN NEED OF VOLUNTEERS
Last school year, over 350 volunteers from Portland Metropolitan Area
schools assisted in restoring the natural environment and sections of the
Oregon Trail but much work is left. If you want to contribute some
volunteer time to benefit fish and wildlife, we could surely utilize you.
Many things have contributed to the poor conditions of our Northwest, and
we still have fish and wildlife habitats in need of enhancement or
restoration. Help Salmon and wildlife species by lending Cascade
Geographic Society a hand. Project sites range from the Columbia and
Willamette Rivers to Mt. Hood. Give Nita
Kreuzer, Volunteer Coordinator, a call at (503) 658-6233 [evenings].
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CASCADE
GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY WEBSITE UP AND RUNNING
The website for the Cascade Geographic Society is up and running, thanks
to the work of Brian Lehmann of Beaver Creek. The site includes
information about the organization, its projects, tours, classes,
festivals, events, and more. Still in the development phase, you can keep
updated on the organization’s work. You can locate us on the Internet
at: https://members.tripod.com/cgs-mthood
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Shanghai
tunnel tour scheduled for October 25th
If you haven’t visited Portland’s infamous shanghai tunnels the past
three months, then you haven’t really been there at all. Thanks to
volunteers, there have been one heck of a lot of changes that has taken
place in the Underground -- a Victorian-style lighting system, a major
clean-up of contemporary garbage, the removal of unused overhead pipe,
etc. The results have been tremendous. A members tour of Portland’s
infamous Shanghai Tunnels will take place on Monday, Oct. 25th, during the
evening hours. This is a "thank you" for the support that people
have given us. Participants must pre-register in
order to find out about the location of the Underground Tour and must be a
member of Friends of the Cascade Geographic Society in good standing. Call
(503) 622-4798 for information and reservations.
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1999
Mount Hood Festivals & Events
Mount Hood Salmon & Mushroom Festival
(Saturday) Oct. 2nd & (Sunday) Oct. 3rd ~ Noon to 5 p.m. at Mt. Hood
Village, 65000 East U.S. Highway 26, Welches, Oregon. Also,
includes the "Oregon State Chile Championship" (on Oct. 2nd) and the
"Mount Hood Barbecue Cook-Off" (on Oct. 3rd).
Pioneer Harvest Feast [Reservations required!]
(Sunday) Nov. 7th ~ 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Mt. Hood Village, 65000 East U.S.
Highway 26, Welches, Oregon.
Mount Hood Public Lands Clean-Up
(Saturday) Nov. 13th ~ 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Mt. Hood Village, 65000 East
U.S. Highway 26, Welches, Oregon.
Christmas Along The Barlow Trail
(Saturday) December 11th ~ "Oregon Trail Heritage Evening" ~ 6 to 9
p.m., and (Sunday) December 12th ~ "Oregon Trail Heritage Tour" ~ 11
a.m. to 2 p.m. at Mt. Hood Village, 65000 East U.S. Highway 26, Welches,
Oregon.
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154th
ANNIVERSARY OF Mount Hood’s Oregon TRAIL
The Autumn of 1999 marks the 154th Anniversary of the first toll road over
the Cascade Mountain Range. Known as the Barlow Trail, this was the final
overland link of the Oregon Trail that allowed emigrant travelers a
cheaper but far more dangerous alternative to rafting their covered wagons
down the Columbia River. In 1845, the wagon parties of Samuel Kimbrough
Barlow, Joel Palmer, and William Rector joined together and attempted to
make the first crossing of the 11,235-foot Mount Hood by widening an
Ancient Indian trail. From mid-September through December, they battled
their way through the thick timber of the Mountain’s southern flank, and
failed. They had to cache their "Prairie Schooners" and most of
their possessions in a crudely-made log cabin, and hiked out. They didn’t
reach Oregon City until Christmas Day. The following year Barlow received
a charter from the Provisional Government of Oregon and started a toll
road which required, amongst other things, lowering their wagons down the
steep cliffs of Big Laurel Hill with ropes.
In the pioneer spirit, the Cascade Geographic Society will continue to
provide ways for the public to experience this unique and colorful
history, either by working like it has through schools, or by providing
tours for interested individuals or groups. We believe that by providing
different opportunities to experience Mount Hood’s Oregon Trail -- by
visiting emigrant campsites, graves, tollgates, wagon ruts and swales, and
even the infamous Big Laurel Hill (the worst section of the 2,000-plus
mile Oregon Trail). Or, by studying Old-Growth Forests, wetlands, Wild
Rivers, Salmon and wildlife habitats, ethnobotany, environmental issues,
and more, all which are located alongside this historic trail, the reasons
for preserving this heritage resource will continue to be reinforced.
The Cascade Geographic Society also is appreciative to the Barlow family
with their colorful and very important history. Their support over the
years has meant a great deal to our work. They have been an inspiration to
keep moving ahead, whether for the preservation of Rhododendron Meadow and
its resources, preserving the history of the Oregon Trail, working towards
the preservation of Native American sites, or restoring and enhancing fish
and wildlife habitats. With the passage of 154 years
since Samuel Kimbrough Barlow attempted to cross the southern flank of
Mount Hood with a party of wagons, it is time to count our blessings for
the segments and sites related to the Oregon Trail that we have left, and
see to it that they will be around for future generations.
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