Community-Based Habitat Restoration at Pony Creek

Spring 2013

The Pony Creek project took another big step forward in 2013, with the work of the spring Master Watershed Stewards class. In addition to all the work they do at the site, they produced a colorful, professional brochure describing the history of the project and suggesting ways the community can continue to be involved.

History of the Pony Creek Project

Since 2006 CAAS has been working to revitalize Pony Creek, along with our partners, North Bend High School, US BLM, South Coast Business Employment Corporation (SCBEC), and Coos Watershed Association, for the benefit of birds and our community. In 2010, National Audubon Society and Toyota Motor Company granted us $2,500 through their "TogetherGreen" Volunteer Days program to further our work, and we have expanded restoration to the banks of the creek along Pony Creek Road.

In September 2010, the SCBEC work crew, led by Ken Sagar and Wade Creamer, did the hard work of clearing blackberry brambles along the east bank of Pony Creek. Then in October, members of CAAS, along with representatives from Coos Watershed, did an in-class presentation to North Bend High School students before taking them out to the site. CAAS and about 40 North Bend High School students and their teachers on their community service learning day prepared the site for planting.

Out in the field the students cleared roots, dug holes, and removed trash to prepare for planting.

February 2011: Fourteen people turned out to help with the Pony Creek tree planting along the newly prepared shoreline. SCBEC cut a trail through the briars, and fresh faces came out to help put in 71 conifers (shore pine and fir) and 20 willows. Our local 3B’s Nursery special-ordered some of the trees that were planted and sold them to us at cost.

Below, willow sticks are planted for bank stabilization. If this test plot does well this spring/summer, we will plant more willow sticks in

February 2012.

Check out the photo gallery below for more pictures of our efforts at Pony Creek.