Document text
Photo by Jim Craven Linda Chesney, a coordinator of Ashland's environmental stewardship program, pounds an iron stake into the ground at North Mountain Park. The stake marks a reference point that will be used for photographing the process of re-creating wetland areas at the park. Wetlands will keep part of park wild Ashland tries to undo abuse in North Mountain By DANI DODGE ASHLAND -- After years of abusive mining and farming, natural wetlands are being restored in North Mountain Park. Classes scheduled at Ashland park Although the North Mountain Park is not complete, the parks department is already putting on classes there. Fees are noted. Water-wise landscaping lesson -- 10 a.m. Saturday. Learn how to conserve water and keep your yard looking good. Constructing a backyard pond -- 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 14. Participants learn to install their own ponds as they help build a pond in the amphibian and reptile garden. Storytelling: "Tres Pasos al Paraiso" -- 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 11. Stories in English and Spanish. ($2) Senior Activity Day -- 10 a.m. to noon, Friday, Aug. 20. Doty & Coyote: Stories from the Native West -- 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 20. ($2) Rocks and Mystery Minerals -- 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 11. A hands-on class for rock hounds. Register in advance at 488-5340. ($2). Restoration Celebration -- 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 12. Celebrate the changes in the natural area. Fall equinox stargazing -- 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 23. ($2) For more information, or to volunteer at the park, call 488-5340. "We are attempted to preserve some sense of wildness both for the people who visit, as well as the wildlife," said Linda Chesney, a coordinator of the city's environmental stewardship program. "It's really hard for us to know how exactly how it was pre-disturbance, but we are trying to create ponds that function in a way to create more habitat diversity." The Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission purchased the 37.5-acre park adjacent to Bear Creek at the edge of Ashland's urban growth boundary in 1993 with proceeds from the city's food and beverage tax. Originally, the plan was to construct ballfields throughout the park. But some Ashland residents questioned the impact on the area's wildlife and wetlands. Over two years, the commission held meetings discussing alternative uses for the land. In April 1996, the commission agreed to designate 14 acres of the park as a natural area. An environmental stewardship program -- in cooperation with Ashland schools -- was developed to maintain the area and develop educational programs. "The ballfield area was really important of course, but we wanted to set aside those 14 acres as a natural area for restoration, preservation, and education," said parks commission Chairwoman JoAnne Eggers. "It's a real statement about who we are as a community and how we relate to natural systems." Eggers, one of the citizens who instigated the early re-examination of the park, said she's thrilled to see the wetlands being restored. "It's been pretty hammered over the years -- gravel extraction and grazing -- but a lot of native trees were left, and the creek still flows through there," she noted. But the road back to nature isn't all natural. It takes bulldozers, too. Within the next two weeks, heavy equipment will rumble into the area where once there was gravel mining -- scraping away soil and sharp edges on ponds -- in an attempt to re-create more naturally formed wetlands. As the bulldozers roll, they will also take away some of the nonnative plants that have taken up residence. The city, along with students from Ashland schools, will replant the park with native vegetation. The major portion of the restoration work is being paid for through grants, Chesney said. The overall development of the entire park -- both the ballfields and natural area -- will cost more than $1 million, said Ken Mickelsen, the parks and recreation director. The master plan for the natural part of the project includes enhancement of the two ponds on the property as well as improvements to the fish habitat in Bear Creek. The big earth moving will occur this summer, with planting and revegetation continuing through next spring. When it's completed next year, interpretive trails will wind through the park. This week, Chesney was setting steel rods in the ground and painting them fluorescent orange. Over the years, the development of the area will be documented through photography from those points. "Doing stream restoration work is not rocket science," she pointed out. "You never really know what will happen, but we can learn from watching it." She said it's her personal dream that the work they do will bring back the Chinook salmon. "The people who used to live there said there used to be large runs of fish," she said. "Conditions are improving and it would be wonderful for people to come and see them spawning right here in North Mountain Park." As she looked out over the ponds, complete with deer browsing only 100 feet away, Chesney sighed. "I hope that this will really achieve a greater sense of stewardship -- that each of us in our own way impacts the environment we live in," Chesney said, "and empowers people to realize they can do something positive to heal some of those things that need healing." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA