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ground and nearly all of the ivy from the trees in the park. This extraordinary feat has been accomplished by a combination of volunteers, contractors, and parks staff. One of the goals of the Hendricks Park Forest Management Plan, adopted in 2000, was to "eradicate English ivy from Hendricks Park by 2010." "At the time, of the approximately 55 forested acres in the park, about 45 of them were heavily infested with ivy, and only three acres had no ivy at all," says management plan coordinator John Moriarty. "Many people thought that goal was more of a pipedream than an attainable reality." But, work began in earnest in 2002, and, over the course of the last several years, the project has gained significant momentum. Walama Restoration Project just completed its third season removing ivy in the park. These contractors, skilled in habitat restoration efforts, have removed ivy while protecting existing native plants and the natural debris on the forest floor that replenishes soil nutrients. In addition, volunteers from the Friends of Hendricks Park, University of Oregon and the community at large have participated in ongoing volunteer work parties to remove ivy and learn about its impact on the forest ecosystem. Education of the public, especially neighbors, is critical in the successful management of ivy and other invasive plants. In an effort to showcase and gain support for habitat restoration efforts, ivy removal efforts have been focused in more highly visible areas of the park around Fairmount Boulevard. According to Moriarty, the response has been tremendous. Many neighbors have begun removing ivy from their yards and replacing it with native plants. A park neighbor has raised nearly $5,000 to fund the clearing of an additional acre of ivy in the park this winter. Next winter, it is anticipated that less acreage will be cleared as work will concentrate on maintaining the areas cleared of ivy and preventing the invasion of other non - native plants. Future work will be in less accessible areas of the park, increasing the degree of difficulty of removing the ivy from the site. It is now estimated that it may take 12 -14 years to clear the entire park of the bulk of the ivy, though much Tess intensive follow -up will be required because of the efforts taken to curb the reintroduction of invasive species. For more information about the ivy removal efforts at Hendricks Park or the forest management plan, call park gardener Ginny Alfriend at 682 -5324 or Hendricks Park Supervisor Chris Girard at 682 -4824 or visit www.ci.eugene.or.us /parks /hendricks /hpfmp.htm. # ## New Invasive and Native Plant Lists and Policy Released by City Manager Last Week Last week, City Manager Jim Carlson released a policy designed to provide a plant guide for all City employees involved in the landscaping of City- owned or maintained property. The policy identifies plants that should not be planted, plants that are discouraged from being planted, and native plant alternatives that are encouraged to be utilized. The purpose of the policy is to stop the intentional use of non - native, invasive plant species and reintroduce native species in developed land and construction projects around the City.