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Contribute to CGS for the 1999 Tax Year
There is still time to assist your 1999 taxes by donating to Cascade
Geographic Society, whether it is a cash contribution, history or nature
books, historical photographs, maps, journals, diaries, and other documents,
artifacts, hand or power tools, etc. We are an all-volunteer organization
that can use your help and you can benefit from a tax-deduction. So before
you throw something out, give us a call at (503) 6 The Cascade Geographic
Society is an educational organization. The group operates a "Sanctuary
Lands Program" (that protects fish and wildlife habitats, cultural and
historical resources), operates "Stage Stop Road Interpretative
Center" in the Village of Welches, restores fish and wildlife habitats,
works with inner-city youth through our "Project Discovery"
program, has preserved many miles along the Oregon Trail, protects cultural
and historical sites, is working towards preserving Portland Underground
(the Shanghai Tunnels), sponsors a number of festivals, special events, and
a long list of tours throughout the year. The work of
the Cascade Geographic Society is saving today’s heritage resources for
our and future generations. Won’t you assist with a contribution today?
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Christmas in underground Portland -- December [TBA 2000]
The history of Portland’s "Shanghai Tunnels" has been exposed to
the Portland Metropolitan Area and beyond, thanks to four special reports by
KGW Channel 8 and KOIN TV 6 News. By working with the Cascade Geographic
Society, these well aired broadcasts helped to open up a whole new world to
viewers who had not yet heard about the rumors of men being shanghaied and
sold to sea captains for an average of $50 per man.
From 1850 to the beginning of World War II, shanghaiing, as it was known,
ran rampart as greed and corruption controlled the politicians, the police,
Avenue, and from what’s now Union Station south to Lair Hill Park (on the
west side of the Ross Island Bridge) and beyond, unsuspecting sailors,
loggers, cowboys, and other working stiffs, found themselves on board ship
bound for the Orient.
If you and your family would like to see Portland’s shanghai tunnels for
yourself, you can. The Cascade Geographic Society has scheduled their
"Christmas In Underground Portland", a thank you tour for members,
on [TBA 2000], December [TBA 2000]. Members need to be in good standing and
need to reserve a place by calling Michael P. Jones at (503) 622-4798.
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SANCTUARY LANDS PROGRAM NEEDS YOUR HELP
Cascade Geographic Society has secured several acres that consist of a
meadow, wetlands, and streams, in order to benefit fish and wildlife on
Mount Hood by protecting it forever. The acreage also has a section of the
Oregon Trail and Native American cultural sites. This acreage was threatened
by both logging and development and would have destroyed Salmon habitat and
critical seasonal range for wildlife, not to mention historical and cultural
sites. This acreage is now part of our "Sanctuary Lands Program",
which means that it will be protected forever. We are now in the process of
raising money to help pay for this land; any amount contributed, no matter
how small, will be gladly accepted. Individuals who contribute amounts of
$100 or larger, will have their names placed on a plaque that will be
located at the "sanctuary". This would be a good classroom project
as well as a tax-deductible contribution, not to mention some
"hands-on" restoration work. For more information, call: (503)
622-4798; or write us at: Sanctuary Lands Program, P.O. Box 398,
Rhododendron, Oregon. 97049.
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HOW YOU AND YOUR FAMILY OR ORGANIZATION CAN KEEP
WILDLIFE FROM BEING KILLED ON OUR ROADS
You and your family 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 dear, 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, Oregon. 97049.
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HISTORIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL TOURS
We customize our tours to meet your needs. From grade schoolers to elders,
individuals to large groups, of all physical abilities, especially
challenged learners, talented and gifted, we welcome all who are interested
in learning more about cultural and natural history of our beautiful Mount
Hood Region. From Oregon Trail excursions, trips down the Barlow Trail, the
wonder of the Old-Growth Forests, to the special and sacred lands of Ancient
Peoples, we offer over 35 tours you won’t want to miss. Send a SASE for a
list of tours and prices. Group rates are available, with discounts for
schools. Just one hour from downtown Portland, these tours are an ideal
opportunity for a day trip you won’t forget. Enjoy the magic and splendor
of the Mountain and its rich history. Be sure to reserve your space for our
ever-popular tour of Mt. Hood’s Oregon Trail, featuring pioneer graves and
campsites, historic trail ruts and little-known routes, stream crossings,
and the infamous Big Laurel Hill, where pioneers were forced to lower their
wagons down the steep cliffs with ropes.
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ENVIRONMENTAL & OREGON TRAIL PROJECTS
Last year, over 350 volunteers from Portland Metropolitan Area schools,
organizations, and families 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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155th ANNIVERSARY OF THE BARLOW TRAIL - THE OREGON TRAIL’S
MOST INFAMOUS ROUTE OVER OREGON’S MOUNT HOOD
The Spring of 2000 marks the 154th Anniversary of the first attempted wagon
crossing/road over Mt. Hood. Known as the Barlow Trail, this was the final
overland link of the Oregon Trail that allowed "overland"
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. Today, with the expertise of
an interpreter with the Cascade Geographic Society, experience this unique
and colorful history 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, study Old-Growth Forests,
wetlands, Wild Rivers, Salmon and wildlife habitats, ethnobotany,
environmental issues, and more, all located alongside this spectacular
historic trail. Just give us a call at (503) 622-4798 for further
information and details. We’ll work with you to develop just the right
experience for you, your family, or organization.
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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 E 5ast U.S. Highway 26, Welches, Oregon. Also,
includes the ÒOregon State Chile ChampionshipÓ (on Oct. 2nd) and the
ÒMount Hood Barbecue Cook-OffÓ (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 ~ ÒOregon Trail Heritage EveningÓ ~ 6 to 9
p.m., and (Sunday) December 12th ~ ÒOregon Trail Heritage TourÓ ~ 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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WIN
A 5-DAY SEASIDE CONDO and assist "RHODODENDRON
MEADOW" Thanks to teachers Mark and
Trudy Reese of Vancouver, Washington, you can spend five special days and
four nights at a beautiful condo at Seaside on the Oregon Coast. The cost
per chance? Only $2 for a raffle ticket! And, all money raised will go
towards retiring the debt at Rhododendron Meadow. This Seaside condo
sleeps three and includes a microwave, coffee pot, refrigerator, and cable
TV. The vacation residence is available Sunday through Thursday, from
mid-September, 1999 through mid-May, 2000. This is a perfect deal if you
want to get away from it all, relax, and explore the beautiful Oregon
Coast with this great inexpensive vacation. Walk in the footsteps of
Native Americans and follow in the wake of Lewis and Clark and the
maritime fur traders. Raffle tickets may be purchased for only $2, with no
limit to the chances. The drawing will be held on August 1st -- for which
you do not have to be present to win. The winner will be notified by
telephone and mail immediately afterwards and announced in the next
Cascade Geographic Society Newsletter. All money raised through the
"Seaside Condo Raffle" will go to retire the debt for the
purchase of Rhododendron Meadow, which is part of the Cascade Geographic
Society's Sanctuary Lands Program.
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WORK
CONTINUES on PORTLAND'S INFAMOUS "UNDERGROUND"
Progress continues beneath the streets of Portland in restoring the
infamous "Shanghai Tunnels". In one area beneath the Old Town,
rubble has been cleared away and artifacts organized. In addition, Cascade
Geographic Society member Terry McAllister has installed special lighting
to illuminate the "underground"; he has also constructed a
replica of a "deadfall" trapdoor. The Cascade Geographic Society
is planning a special member's tour sometime during the Summer. All
members are eligible to venture "underground" even if they have
attended previous tours. Stay informed through the next Newsletter. Contact
Us
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HENRY
CREEK CULVERT FIXED JUST IN TIME FOR WINDER STEELHEAD MIGRATION:
Henry Creek is a major fish-bearing stream in the Mount Hood Area that is
critical for the threatened and endangered Salmon and Steelhead. The
stream passes through the Cascade Geographic Society's Rhododendron
Meadow, a sanctuary for fish and wildlife, as well as historical and
cultural resources. However, many years ago, a culvert that replaced a
bridge on East Henry Creek Loop blocked the majority of upstream passage
for fish. The once natural stair-stepping streambed now had a waterfall
that was impossible for most fish to jump into. And, those that did manage
such a leap were usually washed back down through the slick-bottomed
culvert due to the velocity of the water. For over thirty-five years, fish
passage was impeded by the culvert with no one knowing just what to do.
Finally, Michael P. Jones, the curator of Cascade Geographic Society,
decided to do something about the problem. He and other volunteers
installed several logs below the culvert and created a jump pool. This
allows anadromous fish, such as Coho and Chinook Salmon, and Steelhead, to
get upstream to critical spawning habitats. The Great Winter Flood of
1996, however, washed some of the jump-pool components away. Divers Ken
Lyttle of Milwaukie, and Dick Zschoche of Portland, however, came to the
rescue. They donned their wetsuits, dove into the cold water of Henry
Creek, and spent several hours doing the necessary repairs to allow fish
to once again negotiate the culvert. The Henry Creek Fish Passage Project
survived the raging waters of the 1997 Winter Flood, but not the one in
1998. With upstream passage now impeded for the Winter Steelhead who were
supposed to begin their upstream migration, once again, Ken and Dick
arrived on the scene. The water was even colder, but neither one
hesitated. They dove in and began a long and tiring ordeal to help the
fish maneuver the difficult culvert in order to get upstream. Ken and Dick
were assisted by other volunteers who secured the necessary emergency
permits, supplies, etc. These included: Michael P. Jones, Herb Forbes, and
Jim Jones, as well as two individuals with the Oregon Department of Fish
and Wildlife -- Al Martin, a habitat biologist, and Dick Caldwell, the
Salmon Trout Enhancement biologist. The Cascade Geographic Society
undertakes fish projects on an on-going basis. If you would like to
volunteer your labor, or contribute tools and supplies, please give us a
call at (503) 622-4798.
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HENRY
CREEK CULVERT MAY TURN INTO A COVERED BRIDGE: The culvert on Henry Creek,
located in the Village of Rhododendron, is officially an orphan. Installed
on East Henry Creek Avenue after a wooden bridge was removed, it has been
a major source of headaches to biologists and fish conservationists, not
to mention to the Salmon and Steelhead whose migration passage it blocked
and interfered with for some forty years. However, none of the agencies
who supposedly installed it are claiming responsibility. Neither the
Clackamas County Road Department, which plows Henry Creek Avenue during
the Winter snows, nor the U.S. Forest Service, who administers adjacent
land for the public, claim to have any knowledge for installing it or
maintaining it. Due to the listing of several Salmon and Steelhead
species, as governmental entities they are required to maintain passage
for fish. However, nearly a decade ago the Cascade
Geographic Society did respond to the fish passage problems associated
with the culvert, and installed and maintained a project to facilitate
fish passage. In addition, the organization has conducted enhancement for
downstream migration at this same location.
Recently the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife identified culverts in
the Sandy River Basin that were considered problems for anadromous fish.
And, although the Henry Creek Culvert Fish Passage Project is currently
functioning, the agency has given it a "priority" status. Future
major flooding could cause problems and require additional repairs.
With no governmental entity claiming any ownership or maintenance
responsibility for the Henry Creek culvert, there is a strong likelihood
of funding being available to improve on fish passage at this site. Money
could be used for conducting some additional engineering to help improve
on the Cascade Geographic Society's Henry Creek Culvert Fish Passage
Project, as well as for some in-stream modifications.
However, just before we went to press, the future of the Henry Creek
culvert took an interesting twist. After careful study of Henry Creek, it
was determined that the best things for fish and wildlife was to pull out
the culvert and replace it with a bridge. Anything that we were to do to
enhance the culvert would accommodate adult anadromous fish only, but not
juveniles, which means that the stream would still be blocked to young
endangered Steelhead and Salmon. In addition, the culvert would also
continue blocking the migration of wildlife in and out of Rhododendron
Meadow and to other habitat, which would not be the case with a bridge.
So the plan now is to have Clackamas County construct a bridge over Henry
Creek, but not your run-of-the-mill bridge; a covered one! Cascade
Geographic Society would work as a partner and, if need be, secure any
extra funds through a federal Community Development grant. The return of a
covered bridge would be historically correct for the Mount Hood Area,
which lost all of its covered bridges many decades ago.
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HENRY
CREEK CULVERT FIX ALLOWED MIGRATION OF STEELHEAD: The Cascade
Geographic Society's Henry Creek Culvert Fish Migration Project that was
damaged in the Winter 1999 flood waters and blocked fish migration, was
fortunately repaired just in time. In February, with endangered Winter
Steelhead ready to head upstream to spawn, long-time Cascade Geographic
Society member Ken Lyttle of Milwaukie, and Dick Zschoche of Portland,
saved the day. Dressed in wetsuits and scuba gear, they entered the cold
water of Henry Creek and repaired the "log weir" that Society
members had built over a decade earlier to help fish negotiate an
improperly placed culvert.
Fish surveys along Henry Creek, Little Henry Creek, and Meadow Creek
showed that Winter Steelhead had indeed benefited from the repairs. Pairs
of these anadromous fish spawned in these streams during the months of
March and April. A good many of these laid their eggs in streams within
the boundaries of Rhododendron Meadow,
a sanctuary land owned by Cascade Geographic Society.
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VOLUNTEER
WORK AIDS FISH & WILDLIFE & THEIR HABITATS,
& THE OREGON TRAIL: Work by volunteers aided
fish and wildlife and their habitats on Mount Hood and Burlington Bottom
in 1998. An estimated 1000 volunteer hours removed Scotchbroom and
Himalayan blackberries, enhanced and restored fish and wildlife habitats,
not to mention removing illegal trash dumps. For the
year 1999, the Cascade Geographic Society is hoping to match or surpass
this number of volunteer hours. Like the year 1998, needed would be adults
and students of most any age.
The "targeted" work sites on Mount Hood include areas along the
Salmon and Sandy Rivers, and Henry and Little Henry Creeks. Several major
areas that will be tackled will be an Oregon Trail segment in the Village
of Welches, and three segments in the Village of Wildwood. In
Rhododendron, Scotchbroom along the Zig Zag River in "Pioneer
Meadow", the former Zig Zag Campground, and at "Indian Camp
Natural Area". Elsewhere, the Cascade
Geographic Society will also lend a hand. Work sites include Deep Creek
Canyon near the Clackamas River, and Burlington Bottom near Sauvie Island.
Volunteers are the "lifeblood" of this organization. Whether
it's opening up sections of the Oregon Trail, restoring fish and wildlife
habitats, cleaning up Portland's Shanghai Tunnels, assisting in the
building of living history exhibits at the "Oregon Country
Settlement", working at "Stage Stop Road Interpretative Center,
or assisting at Cascade Geographic Society's Festivals, the work is
important. If you, your family and friends,
co-workers, or organization, would like to assist in restoration efforts,
please give the Cascade Geographic Society a call. Fish and wildlife will
indeed benefit, not to mention our historic sites. Contact
Us
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SCHOOL
GROUPS' EFFORTS ASSIST BARLOW TRAIL AND FISH AND WILDLIFE HABITATS:
The unselfish work of school groups have assisted greatly
in the preservation of the Barlow Trail and fish and wildlife habitats on
Mount Hood this past year. Thanks to Sabin School of Portland, Hollydale
School and Lynch Meadows of Gresham, Scotchbroom and blackberries have
vanished from the natural landscape. This enables not only the native
vegetation to return, but also reveals sections and sites related to the
Oregon Trail on Mount Hood.
The results of the school's efforts became very clear within a relatively
short time. Along the Zig Zag River where Scotchbroom came in about 15
years ago, Nita Kreuzer's fifth grade class from Sabin School not only
removed a good portion of this invader from the north bank, but they also
cleaned up a major trash dump downstream, as well as took on blackberries
and Scotchbroom that had begun to cover the slopes of Owl Mountain on the
Salmon River. Hollydale School and Lynch Meadows made progress on the
"jungle" of Scotchbroom on the Sandy River at the mouth of the
Salmon River where Oregon Trail travelers were forced to "ford"
an often times flood-swollen stream.
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CGS
MEMBERS CAN TOUR SHANGHAI TUNNELS MORE THAN ONE TIME: If
you are a member in "good standing" with the Cascade Geographic
Society, you may tour Portland's Shanghai Tunnels as many times as you
like, as long as there are scheduled tours and there is room. If you
toured them in past years, you wouldn't recognize them due to the efforts
of volunteers. Contact Us.
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