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<br /> KEVIN Cuss/The Register-Guard
<br /> The first step in preservation is identification.Lorna Baldwin(left)and Tammie Stark of the Eugene Stream Team study a plant off Gimpl Hill Road.
<br /> SAVING THE NATIVES
<br /> , --*,..
<br /> IP', Aiirlasi-
<br /> SEED BY TINY SEED . ,
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<br /> Volunteers go to source to preserve valley's plant life �'"""t`
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<br /> BY Jo$MOSLEY An estimated 1 "
<br /> percent of the Wil- Eugene Stream Team. .
<br /> TThe Register-Guard lamette Valley's native prairie and The city program,funded entirely
<br /> wetland areas remain intact,and a by storm water fees,is intended to
<br /> he sad fact is that the Wil• patchwork of programs and organi- bring the public into efforts to im- , �'`
<br /> lamette Valley's prunella just zations have sprung up in recent prove water quality through various
<br /> isn't what it used to be.Nor years to help preserve and restore means—from native plant preserva-
<br /> its veronica. the indigenous plants that thrived tion and restoration of wetlands that
<br /> The dense sedge doesn't seem all for thousands of years. naturally cleanse the water that
<br /> that dense after a century and a half "If we're active about it,we'll seeps through them,to stencils urg-
<br /> of rapid population increases and de- maintain this beauty for future gen- ing people not to dump waste in or
<br /> velopment,and California oat grass erations,”Brian Dykstra said near storm drains.
<br /> —another native species despite its Wednesday as he volunteered for a "There is a value to people(in- Seeds from this monkey flower
<br /> rather un-Oregon name—has been second time to help collect native specimen will be harvested for
<br /> hit hard as well. plant seeds with a group from the Please turn to NATIVES.Page D5 planting at other sites.
<br /> Natives: Loving the less formal lawn
<br /> Continued from Page Dl from reddish,low-growing
<br /> STREAM TEAM veronica plants—also known
<br /> volved in the program)who are as American speedwell—that
<br /> perhaps changing their behav- Those interested in Stream may eventually be used in a res-
<br /> ior,"Stream Team coordinator Team programs can call toration program at south Eu-
<br /> Lorna Baldwin said."Some are Lorna Baldwin at gene's Tugman Park.
<br /> adding native habitat to their 682-4850,or learn more "I'm just learning about it
<br /> own yards,and some are reduc- on the city's Web site at and getting into it myself,"
<br /> www.cing their use of chemicals. stream/stream.htm
<br /> .htms/pw/ Stark said."But I've been a stream/stream.htm
<br /> gar-
<br /> "That's what we're after,is dener for a long time,and I
<br /> better water quality as it passes grew up in a country setting."
<br /> through Eugene,and all these Other projects that are likely
<br /> activities serve that goal." the environment,"Sugai- to receive plants propagated at
<br /> On Wednesday—as is the Hernandez said."I'd just kind the Stream Team's nursery in-
<br /> case every Wednesday morning of been doing this kind of thing dude a plot of native prairie
<br /> through the late summer—the around my house,and thought habitat that is planned near
<br /> activity was seed collection. I'd see if there were any groups Lamb Cottage at Skinner Butte
<br /> Volunteers gathered and working with it. Park,and the Delta Ponds resto-
<br /> were taken in a city van to pri- "I've learned a lot of stuff— ration program.
<br /> vately owned land southwest of a lot about certain kinds of The West Eugene Wetlands
<br /> Eugene,where they traipsed grasses.I'd never really paid at- program has its own seed-
<br /> through a pasture rich with na- tention to grasses before." gathering operation,staffed by e-R isicf-Guard
<br /> tive species—but also dotted A lesson here for the uniniti- four full-time employees,and
<br /> with blackberries and other in- ated,provided by Baldwin in native plants for some projects -Ow's.Au A 21,206
<br /> vasive plants—to harvest the form of a rhyme:"Sedges are purchased from the handful 9
<br /> seeds from several plants iden- have edges,rushes are round, of nurseries that specialize in
<br /> tified by botanist Ethen Per- and grasses are hollow from the them.
<br /> kins. tip to the ground." But the Stream Team has
<br /> The paid staffers and volun- That's the quick rule of delved into the public outreach
<br /> teers alike quickly assumed the thumb,although field guide realm,not only seeking volun-
<br /> botanical lingo,thick with sci- books were also in evidence teers to help with seed gather-
<br /> ence and Latin,and spread out during the seed-gathering for ing but property owners willing
<br /> to harvest seeds that will later more tricky identification to convert their land to native
<br /> be propagated in the Stream tasks. prairies or wetlands.
<br /> Team's native plant nursery be- "It's a real learning opportu- And going natural isn't al-
<br /> fore being transplanted to resto- nity,and people don't need to ways an easy road to travel.
<br /> ration areas around the city. ' know a lot coming into it,"said "Part of what we're battling
<br /> At 14,Kiyoshi Sugai- Tammie Stark,who is enrolled in these native things is aes-
<br /> Hernandez was by far the in a master's program in envi- thetics,"Baldwin said."A lot of
<br /> youngest of Wednesday's volun- ronment and the community people still prefer the more
<br /> teers,but he fit right into the through Seattle's Antioch Uni- manicured look.This is more
<br /> mix. versity. messy looking,compared to a
<br /> "I really like working with She knelt to gather seeds mowed lawn."
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