Riparian plantings

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife-funded improvements along Vine Creek include enhancing the vegetation adjacent to the creek and in the knolls between the gravel path and the asphalt path.  All this area is important in cleaning stormwater before it enters the waterways and also in providing habitat for a wide range of animals.

The first step in the process will entail removal of some invasive trees, shrubs and other plants, and this occured in late September in 2022. No herbicide was used in this process in order to avoid potential harmful effects of these chemicals on non-target plants. This means that the goal is not removal of all non-native or invasive plants but rather enhancement of biodiversity by increasing the presence of native plants. Cutting back of invasive species will continue in future years but hopefully the need for it will gradually be reduced as the native plants increase in number and spread. 

The images below show the draft plans for these riparian areas.