UW-REN 2015-2016 North Creek Forest Restoration

Site DescriptionLocated along the western edge of North Creek Forest, our ecological restoration site (Site 5) is downhill of a residential neighborhood in the heart of the City of Bothell. It is a small part of the 64 acre North Creek Forest.

Prior to restoration, the site was dominated by salmonberry and Himalayan blackberry. Dense thickets of these species prevented much else from growing on our site. English ivy and English holly were two other problematic species. Much of the site cannot progress to a later stage of succession due to the presence of these invasive species.

Restoration Needs Promote development

of a native upland mixed conifer/hardwood forest habitat that will support native plants and animals

Improve the ecological functions provided to nearby habitat and the local watershed by planting suitable native species.

Use community involvement and education to help maintain the site and continue assisting the restoration of the forest

Restoration Approaches

Remove invasive species (primarily Himalayan blackberry, English ivy, and English holly)

Spread mulch to improve the soil quality and to suppress invasive species

Install a diverse selection of native species suited to the local environment that will help the site mature

Incorporate community and volunteer efforts to promote long-term management

Invasive species have been successfully removed and suppressed

Anthropogenic debris has been removed Access trails have been created Different habitat structures (birdhouses, bee

houses, etc.) have been installed Stewardship plan to involve community in current

and future management efforts has been completed

Restoration Goals

Prevent/mitigate the re-establishment of invasive species

Monitor planted native species to ensure their survival and growth

Maintain community involvement to promote the continual management of the site

Acknowledgements

Desired Future of Site 5 Tall evergreen climax tree species will be dominant

Site will be structurally and biologically diverse Site will host a variety of wildlife Invasive species will be eliminated and the site

will be mature enough to be self-sustaining and to withstand natural disturbance events

Special thanks to: Friends of North Creek Forest, UW Restoration Ecology Network, Bartlett’s Tree Experts, Boy Scouts of America (Bothell), Fourth Corner Nursery, Soundview, Northwest Arboriculture, Peter Clarke, Enaazty, Batz, The Milkman, Thomas the Goon, and Nick the Destroyer of Worlds

AccomplishmentsRestoration projects in “disturbed” sites such as those done in North Creek Forest rely on the help of volunteers and the community to ensure that these projects progress smoothly. It will take time for the native species to mature and do what they were put there to do. Without continual monitoring, there is a good chance that the same issues Site 5 had prior to restoration will become problems once again (such as the re-invasion of invasive species).

Eric Carpenter, Batzorig Tuvshinjargal, Kai Farmer, Nicholas Vradenberg, Thomas Radon- In partnership with Friends of North Creek Forest -

Before After

Overrun by invasive species. The site cannot progress into a mature native lowland forest

Littered with garbage and debris

Located on a hillside and is vulnerable to soil erosion

Inaccessible by the community for education or recreation

Long-term Management

Fig 1. Map showing the location of the project site (Site 5)

Fig 2. Photo taken during the 2016 Earth Day Work Party (109 Volunteers)

Fig 3. Photo taken before restoration of salmonberry/blackberry thicket

Fig 4. Photo taken after restoration of access trail, cleared invasive species, and planted

native species

Fig 6. Photo of a young volunteer digging mulch to be spread onsite

Fig. 5. Photos of various areas onsite that have been restored. Bottom right photo shows a Mason Bee habitat structure attached to a big-leaf maple tree