Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is doing the project?
A: Bridlemile Creek Stewards (BCS) (who initiated the project with a Community Watershed Stewardship Program grant request which pays for the project), the Portland Bureau of Environmental Services (BES), Portland Parks & Recreation with input from Urban Forestry, and Bridlemile Neighborhood Association (BNA) are the principal organizations involved with the project. But the vast majority of the work is being done by volunteers, Thank You Volunteers!
Q: What's with the ugly fencing?
A: The purpose of the temporary fencing is to protect the plants while they mature, and the volunteer effort and money associated with them. Some of the fencing was recycled, otherwisie we look for the least expensive fencing that will do the job. Unfortunately some of the fencing was repeatedly taken down, forcing us to use heavier and more expensive stakes. We plan to take down the fencing at the earliest possible date.
Q: Why were so many trees cut down?
A: Most of the trees that were cut down were non-native Hawthorne trees. The Hawthornes attract Starlings a non-native bird that helps distribute the Hawthorne tree seeds in a destructive cycle that displaces native plants and birds. The next most common "tree" that was cut down were invasive Holly's which spread rapidly and crowd out other plants. We are planting a number of native trees including: Cedars, Ponderosa Pine, Douglas Fir, Grand Fir, Western Hemlock, Oregon White Oak, and even a native Hawthorne.
Q: What will happen to the creek crossing below the swing set that SW Trail 1 uses?
A: The crossing will be closed (detour via the bridge upstream) from January 2006 (when the area will be planted) until the plants mature and the fencing can be removed. Portland Parks & Recreation and the Southwest Trails Group hope to build a new improved crossing in the future.
Q: Why and how was the area watered?
A: Watering during the first Summer, after our planting in January, helps establish the plants and ensures that our plant survival rate is very high (typically 95%).
Water was obtained from neighboring property, we installed a water flow meter, and paid the owners back for the water used (unless they volunteered to donate the water). We ran each set of sprinklers for one hour on two consecutive days each week during the dry part of the year.
Below are photos of the parts and set used for watering.
Parts used. Photo by Greg Schifsky
Sprinkler duct taped to fence post. Photo by Greg Schifsky
Sprinkler head detail.
Sprinkler tail detail.
Sprinkler distribution detail.
Three separate lines of sprinklers were controlled using the three shutoff valves shown in the picture above. A configuration like this is worth the effort since it is much easier and faster than connecting hose to each line separately for each days watering. Hose from house was connected to the water supply line at bottom left using a hose adapter(not shown). A large 3/4" diameter supply garden hose was used to ensure that an adequate volumne of water flows through the irrigation system, and pressure from the house needs to be high enough to "run" it.
As of November 2006 we are done watering at the AKCR; if you would like to borrow the sprinkler system, which now includes a drip line, please contact Greg Schifsky, 503-246-2714.
Have a question that you would like to see answered here?
A: Please drop us a line.