By John Bottelli Special Projects Manager Spokane County Parks, Recreation & Gold
In June of 2008 the Friends of the Little Spokane River Valley got together with neighbors and staff from Spokane County Parks for a volunteer tree planting and restoration project at the Haynes Estate Conservation Area.
Over 30 volunteers rolled up their sleeves for a long hotday in the sun to plant native trees and shrubs along a winding gravel path that had been prepared for the event by contractors hired by County Parks. The design for the restoration project was completed by Sherry Pratt Van Voorhis Landscape Architects and was culled from input from the Friends and other neighbors of the popular conservation area.
Trees, shrubs and groundcover plants obtained from Greenacres Nursury included (common names) Serviceberry, Chokecherry, Wolly Yarrow, Ocean Spray, Creeping Oregon Grape, Lewis Mock Orange,Mallow Ninebark, Staghorn Sumac, Common Snowberry, Bearberry. In the spring of 2009 Sheep Fescue, Hard Fescue and Prairie Junegrass will also be planted from seed.
In all more than 1,000 plants were put in the ground at the volunteer event and Parks staff followed up with the installation of temporary irrigation that will be utilized for 2-3 years until the plants are well-established.
It is estimated that the hard work of the volunteers on this project saved the County Conservation Futures program over $50,000 at this single event! Ultimately what had been a wide road-cut through the conservation area was transformed into a meandering path that is part of the larger FLSRV trail system.
More information on the Inland Northwest Land Trust www.inlandnwlandtrust.org web site here: Stewardship Notes
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