By Susanne Wright. Oct. 5, 2017. And just like that. After weeks of constant angst and smoke, a sweeping rain tamed the Eagle Creek fire. In its wake, many have expressed a strong desire to help reforest our beloved scenic Gorge. Eagerness to give back is understandable, but the U.S. Forest Service is asking the public to stay out of the burned areas of the Gorge, not just for now, but for weeks after the fire stops burning.
“Hillsides will remain unstable and dangerous,” says U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Shandra Terry. “We understand their enthusiasm and energy in wanting to get back to their favorite trails and favorite places in the Gorge, but we want to observe safety first.” There are still plenty of natural areas to enjoy in the Gorge. Friends of the Columbia Gorge has posted a long list of alternative areas that are open to the public this fall.
Bachelor button- pretty but invasive in the Gorge. Many “native” wildflower seed packets contain species that may be native to North America or help pollinators in your yard, but are not native to the local area. These can out compete true natives, especially in disturbed areas. Photo by Drew Merritt.
Equally important as protecting the public is preventing the introduction of non-native species to the Gorge. There is concern that people in their enthusiasm for helping the forest recover may purchase seeds or trees and plant them on their own, outside of coordinated re-planting efforts. Many people do not understand the difference between native and non-native species. Friends of the Columbia Gorge Conservation Director, Michael Lang says, “There’s a possibility they could be introducing non-native species to the Gorge. They could be doing more damage than actually restoring ecosystems in the Gorge.”
It is critical the public heed Mr. Lang’s warning. Unknowingly introducing a non-native species into the Columbia River Gorge could be more catastrophic than the fire itself. Once invader species get a foothold, they can almost never be eradicated. Non-natives often threaten the re-growth of trees, impact wildlife, and increase fire danger.
What is a non-native species? EnviroGorge science and environmental writer, Valerie Brown, explains in, Weeds: The Slow Moving Wildfire, “Non-native plants are more than mere weeds. They’re often called ‘noxious’ — generally defined as highly destructive, invasive, and difficult to control by chemical or physical means. Some are poisonous. Noxious weeds are enthusiastic colonizers of disturbed ground, prolific seed producers, highly adaptable to different conditions, and fast growers.”
English ivy, a destructive non-native invasive plant.
An example of the rampaging power of a non-native plant is English ivy in Portland’s 5,000-acre Forest Park. “If we don’t get serious, we won’t have a Forest Park in 60 years,” Michelle Bussard, executive director of the Forest Park Conservancy said in an article in The Oregonian. “What will take its place will be an ecological dead zone.”
To prevent similar forest degradation in the Gorge we must act and plant responsibly. There has been talk, by some, of planting trees and sprinkling wildflower seeds along favorite Gorge trails as a gesture of support. Please note that generic packaged wildflower seeds should not be planted in native forests. Andrew Merritt, co-owner of Humble Roots Nursery explains, “The threat of folks introducing non-native and noxious species to burned areas is real. Firefighters spend what can be critical time cleaning and making sure their equipment is free and clear of any material that could be transporting seeds before entering the area to prevent the introduction of noxious species. It seems a shame that this effort could be undone by people thinking they are helping by spreading wildflower seed they have purchased, even if it is labeled ‘native.'”
Merritt points out that some common Gorge wildflowers are an insidious non-native species. “Almost all conventional wildflower seed packets we have encountered have contained species such as cornflower, aka bachelor buttons, a horribly invasive species. And many ‘native’ wildflower seed packets contain species that may be native to North America, but are not native to our area. Some of which can easily out-compete our true natives, especially in disturbed areas.”
Lodgepole pine cones need the heat of a fire to open and the seedlings use the carbon-rich soil to grow.
Purchasing trees from local nurseries to transplant in the Gorge is equally ill-advised. Most ornamental trees, shrubs, and flowers are not native to our area. Reforestation of native forest habitats is a science and we must rely on professionals to tender the uniquely balanced Gorge habitat. Andrew Merritt agrees, “In areas of intense burns where the soil is sterilized as well as areas disturbed by the fire-fighting effort, some seeding may be needed, but should only be done by experts and professionals to ensure that non-native and noxious species are not introduced and native seed appropriate to the ecology and range of the site is used.”
The Burned Area Emergency Response Team has recently identified only 15 percent of the Eagle Creek Fire area as high severity burn; 30 percent had moderate burn severity and 55 percent low or very low severity. In areas of low burn severity, much of the organic surface matter (leaves, needles) are not fully burned and roots are generally intact.
Mother Nature, in her perfection, often provides a perfect reseeding solution that requires no help from humans. Merritt tells us, “In most cases after a burn, the seed bank that has been dormant in the soil, sometimes for decades, will be triggered either by the fire itself or the new exposure to sunlight and will naturally begin revegetating the area so no seeding will be necessary.”
Native Oregon Grape planted in a Hood River yard supports the birds with its berries and bees with its flowers.
Planting seeds or trees in the Gorge by the public is a direct threat to its health, but there are still many ways to make a difference. Merritt says, “If folks do want to help, we certainly encourage them to volunteer with groups and agencies that are working with experts on the restoration effort. And in general we would say that the place people can make one of the biggest differences is in their own backyard, by increasing the biodiversity they support at home.”
So how can we lend support to our cherished Gorge? It is best to volunteer with trusted organizations whose missions are to protect and steward the Columbia River Gorge. There are many groups that actively seek volunteers, not only for post-fire restoration but restoring native habitats to increase resiliency: Friends of the Columbia Gorge, Trailkeepers of Oregon, Columbia Land Trust, Columbia Riverkeeper, Nature Conservancy, Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership, Oregon Natural Desert Association, and depending on where you live, there are likely many local stewardship groups that need help that we didn’t list, such as the Underwood Conservation District, Indian Creek Stewards.
Lastly, Michael Lang reminds us, “As bad as this is we have to remember the Gorge is a resilient place, it has seen many cataclysms before, and the Gorge will recover. It is still beautiful and still an icon of the Northwest.”
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