Can You Dig It?

On October 16, celebrate Orca Recovery Day with us by planting trees and building deer-proof fences to help restore the streamside habitat along Ash Creek!  

Come join us on Orca Recovery Day as we work to establish a canopy of native trees to cool and protect the waters of Ash Creek as it flows on its way through Independence to the Willamette River. Volunteers are needed to help dig holes, plant, and then fence in 28 young trees with posts and netting to keep the deer out and help the trees get a strong start.  As these trees grow, they will soon provide shade to other native plants and shrubs growing below in the understory.  Their shade will also help keep summer water temperatures cooler – which will benefit steelhead, Chinook salmon and other aquatic life, which in turn will help endangered southern resident Orca populations*.

We will be working outdoors and volunteers must be able to dig holes with shovels, pound in posts and carry equipment weighing up to 15 pounds over uneven ground. Please note that all volunteers will be required to follow COVID-19 safety precautions outlined here, including wearing face masks during this event whenever six feet of distance cannot be consistently maintained.**   

**During registration for this event (below), you will be asked to fill out a volunteer liability waiver. If you prefer a paper copy, you will also have the option to print out the form instead of filling it out online.  Thank you!

Orca Recovery Day Tree-Planting Details (please RSVP below!)

Date:  Saturday, October 16
Time:  9:00am - 12:00pm
Place: Gun Club Road, Independence, OR (exact address will be emailed to participants)

Thanks to the City of Independence for providing funds to support this event!

*The Southern Resident orca whales that range from the Salish Sea (Strait of Georgia, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Puget Sound) to Northern California are critically endangered, with only 75 left in the wild according to NOAA. Recovery for the Southern Resident Orcas will take a coordinated and ongoing effort by all who reside in watersheds that provide habitat for the orca's primary food source: Chinook salmon, which are also endangered. Providing clean waterways that support fish health and overall improved water quality will benefit more than just the Southern Resident Orcas; doing so supports the species and honors their significance to many Pacific Northwest Tribes and maintains healthy habitat and water quality for all life we value in the Pacific Northwest.

Prefer to talk to us in person? You can also get volunteer information directly from Outreach Coordinator Suzanne Teller at (503) 837-0237.