Fall 2009 Wetland Word Newsletter
Photo above: Rose hips along Willow Creek natural area.
Photo by Carrie Karl
Vol. 5 Issue 3
Articles
Western Pond Turtle
Paula Graff, Citizen Science Coordinator
Update on Windy Hovey
WREN President's Column by Mike Shippey
Kaushik Vaidyanathan, A Volunteer Spotlight
National Public Lands Day Success
The Mysterious Life of the Western Pond Turtle
by Megan Foster, WREN
Beginning as far back as the early 1990’s, the Western Pond Turtle has been the subject of much discussion. In 1992 a petition was filed to put the turtle on the endangered species list, spurred by concern over the declination of the species to only 1% of the turtle population relative to that of the 1850s. Since the petition, there has been continual effort to help the Western Pond Turtle to thrive, including habitat restoration.
These small creatures are one of only two turtle species native to Oregon. They face many obstacles in their fight for survival including predation by fish, frogs, birds and small animals like raccoons and coyotes. The small turtles compete for habitat with the non-native red-eared slider turtle, as well as humans and man-made structures. Their nests are often pilfered by predators, they are often hit by cars crossing roads and paths, and people continually mistake them as lost and either take them as pets, or relocate them.
Beginning in the mid 1990’s, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in collaboration with Oregon’s Department of Fish and Wildlife, initiated programs to help with the survival of the Western Pond Turtle. Their approach has been to identify nests and recover the turtles once they have hatched, with the notion that these turtles will be released once they are larger and less likely to be hunted by predators.
The project also enlisted habitat restoration tactics. Logs and other basking platforms have been added to many known turtle nesting areas, including in 2004 the addition of 20 anchored logs in Kirk Pond, located on the north side of Fern Ridge Reservoir.
Once very prevalent on the Pacific coast, pond turtle populations have almost disappeared entirely in Washington. They have declined in California as well as Oregon. The one noticeable place in which the turtles have been making a noticeable comeback has been in the Long Tom Watershed in the Southern Willamette Valley. But there is still not enough data to be certain just how populous they are in this area.
We do know based on sighting calculations that the majority of the pond turtles we are seeing are adults. According to a study conducted by David Vesely of the Oregon Wildlife Institute, this might represent a future decline in the Western Pond Turtle population because the baby turtles or eggs are not surviving to adulthood.
Another problem the pond turtles are facing is habitat and passage barriers. These barriers in streams make it harder for them to travel throughout the West Eugene Wetlands (WEW) and may encourage a loss of genetic variability as well as an inbreeding depression.
Another barrier is water contamination. The Environmental Protection Agency has cited elements like arsenic, copper and e. coli in three different water channels in the WEW. In addition, researchers have found that a large number of creeks in the area have depths less than eight inches throughout various parts of the year. This is too shallow for pond turtles to travel lengthy distances. Although turtles have been known to make far-reaching trips over land to find nesting areas, this is becoming more challenging due to man-made and other land obstacles.
On a positive note, however, there are many conservation opportunities to take place in the future. One plan of action might be to place signs along pedestrian and bike paths citing information about the natural travel patterns of the turtles and explaining how we should leave the turtles alone.
Another plan is to improve and increase nesting habitat, as well as a plan put forth by the BLM to construct new recreation and interpretive facilities at Bertelson Nature Park. Some habitat restoration techniques to protect the Western Pond Turtle is to establish and maintain brush cover and ground level plants and to avoid mechanized land management tactics in known nesting areas.
Although not too much is known about the populations of West Pond Turtles in the west Eugene wetlands at this time, it can be said that they are facing many challenges in their fight for survival. The native turtle species is barely surviving relative to past populations.
Although our wetlands are a beautiful and diverse location, more will need to be done in the future to protect species like the Western Pond Turtle. Remember, if you see a turtle, leave it. Help them make their comeback.
Citizen Science and WREN
by Megan Foster, WREN, with contributions from Paula Graff, newly hired Citizen Science Coordinator
One of WREN’s ultimate goals is to help create and foster land stewards. As a result our next step, beyond the education program, is a citizen science program. It has been in the works for a while but it is finally coming to fruition for our organization. Recently hired Paula Graff will facilitate this program and move it forward. Her position is generously supported by a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
Citizen science is a program in which volunteers or “citizen scientists” do ongoing scientific research. These scientists may not have particular training but are passionate about learning and are inspired to contribute.
Citizen scientists are desirable in the west Eugene wetlands (WEW) because of the need for in-depth monitoring and investigative research in this area.
The new program will potentially start with the study of three plant species that are considered threatened and endangered. These include Bradshaw’s Lomatium, Kincaid’s Lupine and the Willamette Daisy. Another initial project the citizen scientists might have a role in is researching macro-invertebrates.
There is tremendous potential for collaboration and growth with this project. Two target groups Graff would like to explore partnering with are the Environmental Learning Program at the University of Oregon and the Department of Fish and Wildlife at Oregon State University.
“It is my goal to try to get people more invested, interested and involved,” described Graff. She continued to share how exciting it is to be involved with people who love studying and learning more about the wetlands and its inhabitants. “It’s a win, win situation,” she exclaimed. Citizen scientists not only get to learn but they also get to participate in data collection and contribute to scientific research.
Although still in the organization phase, Graff has a lot of thoughts about ways to make this program a long lasting success. Ideas include creating a website to help community members contribute to the monitoring process, as well as, cultivate a significant body of scientifically meaningful data for future use.
Citizen scientists have been a core asset to the development and education of many organizations. Community members can look forward to helping WREN discover the true nature of the West Eugene Wetlands.
For more information about the WREN Citizen Science Program, email Paula Graff at paula@wewetlands.org.
Update on Windy Hovey
Hello WREN supporters and Wetland Word readers,
On September 1, I flew from the WREN nest to spread my wings in the big city. I am now using the experience and inspiration I gained from my volunteering and employment with WREN in my new position as Communications & Development Assistant for the Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership in Portland. LCREP is a nonprofit dedicated to restoration and education along the Lower Columbia from the Bonneville Dam to the Pacific Ocean. They are well known for taking students on educational canoe trips down the Columbia! There are so many amazing people and memories from WREN that will remain in my heart. I am so grateful for every moment.
WREN President's Column
History and Habitat in the Making
by Mike Shippey, WREN President
Photo above sandpiper pond, by Mike Shippey
As a change of pace from my usual forward-looking musings, I would like to present a little history of a locally significant wetland site, Sandpiper Pond (also known as the Martinson site). Located at the intersection of Bertelsen and Stewart Roads, this parcel also lies adjacent to Stewart Pond and the Bertelsen Slough and is about 48 acres in size.
In a previous life (pre-WREN) I worked for the Oregon Department of Transportation Environmental Services office. My role was to provide research, planning, design and coordination on transportation projects with wetland-related issues.
The Martinson parcel was acquired prior to my stint with ODOT as a suitable site for wetland mitigation (development of replacement wetlands) for unavoidable impacts from the Beltline widening and the proposed West Eugene Parkway. At the time of purchase it was a sheep pasture, dominated by non-native grasses on the southern 2/3 portion and a blackberry thicket on the northern 1/3 portion.
I worked closely with CH2MHill (David Mayfield) and Ann Christensen Landscape Design to develop a landscape concept that would do the following: 1) restore the native wet prairie and emergent community on the southern 2/3 piece, 2) provide gravels from the northern 1/3 section for fill on the Beltline project, 3) create a series of wetlands and ponds as mitigation for the highway project and as the reclamation plan for the extraction, and 4) provide suitable nesting and basking habitat for western pond turtles.
What began as a “duck donut” with my involvement evolved to a nested series of 3 ponds of varying depth which, at high water, merge to form one larger pond.
We very carefully managed construction of the site. The southern 2/3 was tilled every 3 weeks or so for one growing season to expose the pasture grass seed to germination, and then turned under to deeply bury the sprouts. This was then seeded pretty heavily with the desired native plants.
The northern 1/3 was excavated very deliberately, with an on-site coordinator to examine the quality of material excavated, making re-usable piles of the best sandy loams, sending gravels and clays to the highway project for fill. The northeast shorelines of the 3 ponds were sub-excavated 2 feet extra and the sandy loam then placed there for suitable aspect and soils for pond turtle nest sites.
Basking logs were placed in the ponds, some were anchored to the bottom (never to be seen again!) and the edges of the pond were planted with a variety of wet-tolerant shrubs (willows, roses, dogwoods, etc). The surrounding marginal upland terrace was seeded with an appropriate native mix and planted with sparse white oak and madrone. It was looking great!
We finished planting in the early winter of 1995, when the winter storms of 1995 – 1996 hit. Remember that? Much of the Willamette Valley was under water, including most of the Martinsen parcel. We had developed an enclosed basin on the northern 1/3 (the ponds) which quickly filled with water and drowned the majority of the plantings.
However, at the same time, the decrepit cottonwood grove east of the ponds couldn’t stand the stress and a huge cottonwood fell into the pond. Apparently this single action led to development of a ring of cottonwoods around all of the ponds (much like a bathtub ring) that quickly became the dominant vegetation at the site, significantly out-performing the planted species.
At this time, the site is maintained by an ODOT / City / BLM partnership and has evolved really nicely. The wet prairie area supports a good diversity of species and is known for its migratory populations of shorebirds and waders. The upland terraces are supporting a strong growth of oaks and madrones, although the blackberries need mowing occasionally. And the ponds are now known for their diversity and abundance of dragonflies and butterflies (several rare species have been netted) and abundance of waterfowl.
I believe we hit upon a disappearing ecotype, where gravelly soils were exposed seasonally, providing an opportunity for cottonwood to establish. I suspect this ecotype was more prevalent prior to construction of upstream dams and reservoirs. However, to my knowledge we have not been successful with nesting pond turtles. Nonetheless, I am very proud to have played a role in the restoration and enhancement of this site, and it continues to regularly surprise and please those of us who visit it.
I hope this has been interesting. The Sandpiper Pond is accessible from Stewart Road, north of the bird-hide at Stewart Pond, and is regularly visited during our Weekly Wetland Wanders. Check it out sometime and let us know if you see something of interest!”
Volunteer Spotlight on Kaushik Vaidyanathan
Kaushik Vaidyanathan is a new volunteer with WREN and has been a tremendous addition to our volunteer team. Kaushik has diverse interests including hiking, spending time outdoors, riding his bicycle, and camping.
"I was looking for an organization where I could volunteer and at the same time learn more about natural history and the outdoors. Since I live in West Eugene and use the Fern Ridge bike path often, the WREN red house has always caught my eye and I would check the bulletin board every once in a while," explains Kaushik.
During the past few months he has assisted WREN with the implementation of Native American Wetland Cultures Day, National Public Lands Day as well as many facets of our education program.
Whether it's a field trip, outreach, service learning, Bethel HomeSource Class, volunteer training or program support, Kaushik has been there. His enthusiasm coupled with his positive and willing attitude have been an incredible asset to the WREN education program and local students.
"It's been a good run so far, I'm working with some great people, learning a lot and having fun in the process!" he says.
WREN staff look forward to seeing Kaushik continue to expand his ability to interpret the West Eugene Wetlands to local students and hopes he'll continue to do like he does now, always with a smile!
National Public Lands Day Success!
National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance the public lands that Americans enjoy. On Saturday, October 4th, nearly 60 community members rolled up their sleeves to help clean-up and enhance the Stewart Pond Natural Area in the West Eugene Wetlands. And when we were all done, we had plenty to show for it! Here is what was accomplished:
- 7 yards of trash and debris removed, including old bicycles, tires, syringes and a grocery cart.
- 400 lbs of irrigation hose were removed from the site.
- Approximately 6000 sq.ft. of shade tarp was removed and stored for later use.
- 7.75 lbs of seed mix was spread where the shade cloth was removed.
- 150 yards of wood chips spread for new trail.
- 95 burritos consumed!
Thank you so much to everyone who came out and made this day so successful. Congratulations to all the partnering agencies who sponsored the event, and individuals who came out from the BLM, City of Eugene Stream Team, WEEDIN, Rachel Carson students, and WREN volunteers.
