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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 12, 2010)
18 community october12 2010 Got Water? Rain Falling On Cedars By Jessica Jensen Jones Four Vernonia area landowners with notable landmarks will soon become stewardship partners with the Upper Nehalem Watershed Council. These two properties, both familiar to Vernonia residents for their offerings of space, recreation and health opportunities to local residents and visitors, are prime examples of landowners willing to learn and apply their capacity of natural restoration practices for preserving habitat and protecting water. On Rock Creek, Larry and Britt Steele of Cedar Ridge (Keasey Road) and on the east fork Nehalem, Deb and Charlie Steffen of Cedar Mist (Scappoose-Vernonia Road) enthusiastically agreed to UNWC’s financial and labor assistance with stream bank restoration,involving tree planting, invasive species removal and the planting of some native brush and ground cover. In addition to the tree planting, Cedar Mist will also participate in a bank stabilization project. Both of these properties have a healthy mixture of coniferous and deciduous trees of varying ages, but have tens to hundreds of feet of unprotected riparian areas in between healthy stands. It is in these areas where UNWC gets to work. Work on the Cedar Ridge property began in early September, with Portland Community College leadership students and UNWC staff removing invasive species to make room for and cut what I call “riparian rings”, two - three ft diameter circles where trees will be planted. An area nearly a quarter of a mile along the creek was transformed within hours, as the area was prepped for plantings of cedar, dogwood, alder and other species this winter. UNWC had done a bank stabilization process many years ago at Cedar Ridge, as well as planting cedar trees. Volunteers and staff located nearly two dozen of UNWC’s trees as well as numerous other cedars that were naturally occurring volunteers. The trees were tallest where they hadn’t been choked out by reed canary grass and the invasive Himalayan blackberry. Volunteers and staff used machetes to take down the plants and hazel, grub and adze hoes to dig out roots and pull up sod around these cedars to allow them to continue to grow. The Cedar Mist property will be prepped and planted this fall. The property is a multi-use site, with grazing, gardens, stands of trees and recent logging co-existing. Plantings of cedar, dogwood and more will happen at several sites along the river. The Steffens have graciously agreed to move WOEC Approves Rate Increase continued from front page the Co-op is reimbursed for 75% of recovery expenses, those three events still cost the Co-op over $1 million and sufficient reserves need to be available to deal with any upcoming natural disasters. Farmer referenced a survey of members who indicated they would be willing to pay up to $3 more each month to pay for the new headquarters facility. According to Farmer, a statistically valid survey includes responses from 4-5% of those who received the survey. Farmer indicated that WOEC received responses from 12% of their members and that 81% of those who responded said they would pay up to $3 for the new building. That $3 makes up 2% of the 4% total increase. Groundbreaking on the new building was scheduled to take place on October 8, 2010. Farmer stated that the BPA rate increase is being passed on to members in the form of a 1.5% rate The perfect recipe for a new kitchen. Just add a U.S. Bank Home Equity Line of Credit. Anonymous Donor in a llama access gate a number of feet back from the river, which will guide the animals not along the creek side, which has deteriorated the bank, but up onto the property into a safer zone. This area will be stabilized with alder tree plantings directly into the bank as well as alder and other species on top of it. UNWC commends the Steffens for their willingness, assistance and cooperation with this project. This beautiful property of close to nine acres is currently for sale. In closing this month, I’d like to thank flighwright design and UNWC executive director, Maggie Peyton for collaborating to bring us all a new logo that captures the spirit and promise of the UNWC to the waters of the Nehalem Valley. Questions? Want to be a stewardship partner? Please call 503.989.7244 or email me at jesseconsults@gmail.com. increase. The other .5% of the 4% increase goes to cover the increased costs of doing business. Farmer noted that his main job is to “...keep the lights on.” Among the associated costs to reduce outages are regular tree trimming crews, and projects to run more power lines underground, similar to the undergrounding of the Timber-Elsie transmission line that was completed last year. Farmer also noted that WOEC is building a new substation that is out of the flood plain. Farmer pointed out that he expects to see an increase in legal fees this year due to a debate over who should be serving a power line currently serviced by WOEC. According to Farmer, there is the potential of a lawsuit over this issue. In an attempt to reduce costs, Farmer noted that all WOEC staff recently approved a voluntary wage freeze for one year. According to Farmer, pole inspections have been halted this year. 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