Promoting Native Pollinators at Whitewater Ranch
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Date
2021
Authors
Huber, Angelina
Galli, Delilah
Thompson, Jennifer
Franke, Isabella
Parish Mueller, Eloise
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
Promoting Pollinators Team is a subdivision of the Environmental Leadership Program at the University of Oregon. This year, we are working on a continuation of the long-term “Riparian Restoration” project with a greater emphasis on increasing native pollinators while reducing commercial hive dependency. Our purpose and mission is to improve the pollinator count and restore pollinator habitat and riparian ecosystem health along Goose Creek at Whitewater Ranch, home to the largest organic blueberry farm in the Mckenzie River Valley. For 2021, we will continue tracking local pollinators, replanting native plants, controlling invasive plant species, monitoring water temperatures, and surveying the general health and quality of wildlife species at Goose Creek. These aspects will serve to accurately compare the project site to survey reports of 2019 and identify changes in trends seen in previous years. Due to the Holiday Farm fires in September of 2020, the ecology of Whitewater Ranch and surrounding lands have drastically changed. It is difficult to predict the number of native pollinators active and the conditions of restored riparian habitat due to these unprecedented circumstances. The team anticipates changing trends in pollinator counts and environmental quality which could influence the application of further restoration projects in the future. Whitewater Ranch will benefit from this project with increased numbers of native pollinators that will decrease reliance on commercial pollinators and increase the health of crops and indigenous plant species.
Description
1 page.
Keywords
Pollinators, Restoration, Wildlife, Riparian, Monitoring