— from Emma Thoron, Kayleigh Horton & Maggie Toombs, with Mary Gropp
This past week the OIYCC worked tirelessly for the San Juan County Land Bank under the direction of Orcas Preserve Steward, Ruthie Dougherty. On Wednesday we were at the Deer Harbor Preserve, just north of the Marina. Our main goals while working there were to tame any growth overhanging the trails, to clear and re-gravel the main trail, and to weed around the restoration plantings, to stimulate their growth. All while enjoying ourselves!
The Preserve has a small parking lot, great beach access, and amazing picnic areas, but please keep your dog on a leash so as not to trample plants and chase wildlife away.
On Thursday we met at the south parking lot of the Turtleback Preserve, and hiked up to one of the Garry Oak restoration areas to cut back the invasive blackberries. Ruthie talked to us about the value of the Garry Oak Savanah, and why and how the SJ Land Bank is working so hard to try to restore this ecosystem.
The San Juans are at the northern edge of the Garry Oak range and are important for birds and insects specifically associated with the savannah. The Land Bank started the restoration by cutting down a lot of Douglas fir trees, which compete with the Oak for sun and water. Now invasive shrubs like the blackberry have to be controlled, which is where we came in.
After we hauled three big piles of blackberry clipping up to the road, Ruthie asked us to become life-long Turtleback stewards, to remind people to keep dogs leashed and to stay on the trails.
We took a quick hike up to the top to enjoy the amazing view, before ending our day.
