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Scappoose Oak Habitat Restoration & Education    

The Scappoose Oak Habitat Restoration & Education project is a collaborative effort led by Columbia SWCD to restore and enhance critical Oregon white oak habitat in Columbia County. The restoration efforts will improve habitat quality, increase biodiversity, and provide educational opportunities for the community.

Location: This project is located near the Scappoose Airport on a property owned by the Port of Columbia County, at the northern tip of the Willamette Valley ecoregion and is part of the Multnomah Channel Bottomlands.

Partners: Port of Columbia County, Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), US Fish &
Wildlife Service, Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), and volunteers

Funding: The Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB)

Awarded Amount: $88,715.00

Start Date: October 2024
 

The Scappoose Oak Habitat Restoration & Education project, led by Columbia SWCD, aims to restore and enhance critical Oregon white oak habitat in Columbia County. With only 5-6% of historical oak woodlands remaining in the Willamette Valley and Coastal ecoregions, the preservation and restoration of these areas are crucial for supporting wildlife such as Acorn woodpeckers, White-breasted nuthatches, and Western Gray Squirrels. Columbia County has limited opportunities for oak restoration projects and public education on healthy oak ecosystems, making this effort especially valuable. The project, located on public land managed by the Port of Columbia County, seeks to improve habitat quality, increase biodiversity, and provide educational opportunities.

The restoration focuses on 25.6 acres of oak habitat, including two oak woodland sites and an adjacent field that will be converted into an oak savannah. These areas are currently overcrowded and overrun with non-native English hawthorn, which stifles oak growth and prevents native understory species from thriving. The understory is also severely impacted by invasive species such as Garlic mustard, Himalayan blackberries, Shiny geranium, and Poison hemlock. To address these issues, Columbia SWCD will work with agency partners and volunteers to remove invasive plants, thin overcrowded trees, and replant native understory vegetation. Habitat enhancements will include installing bird and bat boxes, while public engagement efforts will involve volunteer work parties, interpretive signage, and educational workshops.

The restoration work will support biodiversity, increase climate resilience by promoting drought- and fire-resistant oak trees, and foster community involvement through hands-on restoration activities. Long-term stewardship efforts will ensure the site serves as a valuable educational resource for oak habitat conservation. Community members are encouraged to participate in restoration events, wildlife monitoring, and educational activities, with updates available through Columbia SWCD.

This project is slated for completion in the Fall of 2029.

A group of green trees with some brown leaves on a sunny day, set against a clear blue sky with dry, golden grass in the foreground.
Photo taken before project
A forest path with scattered leaves and small red flags on the ground.
Photo taken before project
A grassy field bordered by a row of trees under a clear blue sky.
Photo taken before project
Tall, sprawling trees with dense green leaves under a blue sky in a forest setting.
Photo taken before project
A person in a green shirt stands near trees on a grassy field under a clear blue sky.
Photo taken before project
A person operating a machine with gas canisters on a forest trail under a sunny sky.
Resource Conservationist, Crystalyn, using Pyroweeder.
A pathway with grass and bare trees, under a partly cloudy sky.
Photo taken before project
A forest scene with tall, leafless trees, dense green foliage, and a ground covered in fallen leaves and patches of grass.
Photo taken before project
A wooded trail with sunlight filtering through trees, marked by small red flags along the path.
Photo taken before project
A sunny rural landscape with a grassy field, a metal fence, trees, and a house in the background under a clear blue sky.
Photo taken before project
Looking up at tall trees with green leaves against a clear blue sky.
Photo taken before project
A grassy field with trees and bushes in the background under a cloudy sky.
Photo taken before project
Dried leaves, a small mushroom, moss, and green plant sprouts scattered on the forest floor.
Photo taken before project
Two people in yellow uniforms and helmets clearing brush in a grassy area with trees in the background.
ODF removing Hawthorn
People in outdoor fire safety gear with tools, standing on dry grass near trees and a building.
ODF removing Hawthorn
Overgrown barn near dense trees, surrounded by a field and bushes.
Photo taken before project
A grassy field with dense bushes and tall trees under a partly cloudy sky.
Photo taken before project
A field with dry grass, surrounded by dense trees and shrubs on a cloudy day.
Photo taken before project
An upside-down image of a leafy tree next to a path with grass and bushes, under a bright sky.
Photo taken before project
Green leaves and dry brown leaves on the forest floor.
Photo of Garlic mustard, taken at the volunteer work party on 10/9/24
A group of green trees with some brown leaves on a sunny day, set against a clear blue sky with dry, golden grass in the foreground.
A forest path with scattered leaves and small red flags on the ground.
A grassy field bordered by a row of trees under a clear blue sky.
Tall, sprawling trees with dense green leaves under a blue sky in a forest setting.
A person in a green shirt stands near trees on a grassy field under a clear blue sky.
A person operating a machine with gas canisters on a forest trail under a sunny sky.
A pathway with grass and bare trees, under a partly cloudy sky.
A forest scene with tall, leafless trees, dense green foliage, and a ground covered in fallen leaves and patches of grass.
A wooded trail with sunlight filtering through trees, marked by small red flags along the path.
A sunny rural landscape with a grassy field, a metal fence, trees, and a house in the background under a clear blue sky.
Looking up at tall trees with green leaves against a clear blue sky.
A grassy field with trees and bushes in the background under a cloudy sky.
Dried leaves, a small mushroom, moss, and green plant sprouts scattered on the forest floor.
Two people in yellow uniforms and helmets clearing brush in a grassy area with trees in the background.
People in outdoor fire safety gear with tools, standing on dry grass near trees and a building.
Overgrown barn near dense trees, surrounded by a field and bushes.
A grassy field with dense bushes and tall trees under a partly cloudy sky.
A field with dry grass, surrounded by dense trees and shrubs on a cloudy day.
An upside-down image of a leafy tree next to a path with grass and bushes, under a bright sky.
Green leaves and dry brown leaves on the forest floor.
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