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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Guide Weather Subscribe Contact Us November 6, 2004 City: Oops By Emily Morris Tidings Correspondent City of Ashland employees were clearing brush across the railroad tracks on Eighth Street, when they went too far and cleared a popular spot under a few creek side willows. A backhoe rests Friday after being used mistakenly on a section of creek off Eighth Street, damaging a well-known grove of trees. Submitted photo City workers were directed to remove the brush, mainly blackberries from around Mountain Creek along the railroad tracks, said City Associate Engineer Pieter Smeenk. There was some miscommunication, and the workers cleared where they should not have, he said. Over the years there have been problems with Mountain Creek's water flow; Mountain Creek Estates, a development in that floodplain, floods when the creek overflows - prompting calls from the Mountain Creek Estates homeowners association, Smeenk said. Because of the creek's tendency to flood, a development being built along the creek is doing similar work along their portion. After continuing along the railroad tracks, the creek turns and passes under some large willow trees; before yesterday their long, low branches made a convenient seat for relaxing in the shade and listening to birds. The city did not intend to clear that spot but miscommunication caused the workers to clear about a 100 feet further along than they should have, Smeenk said. During the work of dredging the ditch the workers exposed the roots of two willow trees, Smeenk said. City planners said they were unaware of what had occurred until a resident, Lance Pugh, saw the backhoes excavating the ditch and asked about a permit. Pugh said he was concerned the willow branches had been cut to make room for the cab of their tallest backhoe, and thought a city-approved project should have used less damaging equipment. John McLaughlin, director of community development, said he was unaware of the project until Pugh brought it to his attention. The city immediately stopped work and tried to correct the problem, he said. When it became clear the roots of two large willows had been exposed, the city sought to protect the roots by laying culverts in the ditch to aid water flow, and then filled earth in around the roots and culverts, McLaughlin said. McLaughlin said the situation will be used to inform city workers about the processes involved with tree removal in a natural area, such as obtaining a permit. The city will need to procure a full stream restoration permit, and the culverts will be removed to restore a natural creek flow, Smeenk said. There was an unsuccessful movement by the Lomakatsi Project in 2001 to designate the spot an 'ancient willows natural area;' Ashland residents craving a little nature have gone down there for years. The area is known as a campground for homeless in the area, and recently there have been complaints about the amount of trash people left from their campsites. The city said a problem existed with drainage, and it had nothing to due with the transient population. DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Slippers Isotoner Slippers Dsw Shoes Ceramic Piggy Banks Fanny Mae Eloans Calenders 2005 Calender 2005 Accelerate Weight Loss Programs Citibank Student Loans Acs Loan Matchmaking & Dating Scripts Adventure Travel Conference Calls - $50/Month Security Systems student loan consolidation helzberg diamonds Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams