Summer work just finished up at Meldrum Bar with the support of one of the Nature in Neighborhoods Restoration and Enhancement grants from Metro. The project is helping restore 3.5 acres of riparian forest. The Metro Council awarded nine projects a total of $145,000 to improve fish and wildlife habitat and support stewardship opportunities for people in local communities around the region. The grant partners, Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership and Wilderness International, had a busy summer completing a native habitat demonstration project at the park with the help of a youth crew and community volunteers. In August and September, 82 volunteers worked a total of 223 hours at this natural area park in Gladstone clearing acres of invasive plants and planting native trees. Restoration activities, including invasive removal and native plantings, were performed by elementary school children, teachers and parent-volunteers through service learning field trips. The project also included two Community Conservation Days where community volunteers were able to lend a hand.
Also as part of this project, eight at-risk youth were provided college and career training through a partnership with the Clackamas County Juvenile Work Readiness Training Program and Clackamas Community College. These teens were mentored in restoration techniques and given general job skills training to use into their future.
"This is the kind of partnership that makes our region great," said Metro Council President Carlotta Collette. "This project brought together volunteers from the community to participate in habitat restoration and stewardship of this natural area and provided support to individuals from within our community. Meldrum Bar has been enhanced for all members of the region to enjoy and appreciate now and into the future."