community
march22
2011
9
UNWC Celebrates Successful Projects
By Scott Laird
one of the final crossings on the Crown-
funding and/or technical support of the curriculum,” explains Peyton. Of

Maggie Peyton, Director of Zellerbach Trail. Of special mention Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, special mention for this project forward
the Upper Nehalem Watershed Council for assuring the both projects were USDI–Fish and Wildlife Service, is Aaron Miller – VRCS, Ken Cox –
(UNWC), has a lot to be happy about completed on time and on budget is National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Superintendent, Jesse Jones – citizen
these days.
the staff of the Columbia County Road Department of Environmental Quality, and BLM – Kurt Heckeroth – North

Last year, the UNWC
Coast Native Plant Cooperative.
completed two major salmon

Peyton is very familiar with the
passage projects on the East
PCC Landscape Technology Program;
Fork of the Nehalem River.
she is a graduate of the program herself.
One of the projects was the
Peyton was also part of the Youth
installation of a new stream
Conservation Corps program when she
crossing on Elk Creek that
was a teenager; today, she sits on the
runs under the Scappoose-
State Advisory Board for the program.
Vernonia Highway; many of
The UNWC has, over 14 years,
us remember the construction
provided hands-on learning experiences
there last summer. That
to youth corps crews on their projects,
project has proven to be a
including students from the newly
huge success. “We had many
formed Vernonia Rural Education
salmon go through there this
Corps, an Oregon youth conservation
fall,” says Peyton. “We had a
Corps program through Vernonia High
crew member hike miles up Elk
School, which she helped develop.
Creek and they saw spawning
“This is all very exciting for me
Coho the whole way!”
personally because it’s coming around

The other major
full circle,” says Peyton. Of special
The new bridge on the McKee Mainline, another Project the UNWC helped complete last year.
passage project that was
mention in the Vernonia School District
completed just upstream of the highway Department: Tristan Wood- Engineer, Bureau of Land Management and for assuring the VREC development is
crossing was the installation of a bridge Glen Crinklaw- Parks Director, Dave Oregon Department of Fish and – Rachel Wilcoxen – teacher and Beth
on the McKee Mainline crossing. “That Hill- Road Master, and Columbia Wildlife. Local contractors involved Kintz – crew leader.
is an example of being persistent and County Commissioner Tony Hyde; in the projects included Lower
consistent, no matter what happens,” Weyerhaeuser Company personnel: Columbia Engineering, TFT,
says Peyton. According to Peyton, Scott Marlega and Steve McNulty; Eric Hepler Inc. and C&C.
that project had gotten bogged down and ODFW and USDI FWS personnel:
Another
exciting
numerous times over several years Michele Long and Amy Horstman.
project that Peyton is involved
between the many entities involved
UNWC crews also worked in is the development of a
and had required several extensions on several ongoing stream restoration partnership with the new
of the grants that were funding the projects throughout the region last year Vernonia Rural Sustainability
project. “We finished that project two that included tree planting and large Center (VRSC) which will
days before the final deadline,” says woody debris placements. None of the be built on the new Vernonia
Peyton. The installation of the bridge, restoration work recently accomplished School Campus. Peyton
completed on December 29 th , completes would have been possible without the says plans right now include
moving the UNWC office into
the VRSC building. UNWC
also has submitted a grant
application that would help
develop a greenhouse and
native plant nursery on the
school campus; Peyton says
a partnership with Portland Coho Salmon were seen spawning above the
newly installed Elk Creek culvert this past year.
Community College’s Rock
Creek Landscape Technology
Program is being created to naturescape
Peyton is gearing up for another
the campus with native plants. “The season of work projects, starting this
nursery will supply all our native plant spring. Let’s hope this year is as
needs for riparian restoration projects successful as last year.
and will be integrated into the school
The twenty-four foot wide Elk Creek culvert allows fish to pass under the Scappoose-
Vernonia Highway.
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