Thousands of Scotch broom seedlings (Cytisus scoparius) are invading Olympia, specifically at a hillside forest near Cooper Crest Park. Working to defend the forest is the Olympia Coalition for Ecosystems Preservation (OlyEcosystems) which is inviting volunteers this Saturday, July 1, to eradicate these invasive shrubs.
The land was logged last June, then acquired by OlyEcosystems. Clearing the land of trees made room for the invading plants. See related stories.
Scotch broom is a perennial shrub native to Northern Africa and parts of Europe. It is considered an invasive weed in Washington State as it can propagate at an aggressive rate, displacing native grasses and plants that would be more beneficial to the local ecosystem.
The US Forest Service states that the shrub was introduced to British Columbia’s Vancouver Island in 1850 as an ornamental plant but has since been recognized as a problem. The shrub is currently considered a Class B noxious weed by the state’s Noxious Weed Control Board, meaning that though the shrub is limited to portions of the state, it may become widespread without mandatory control. Washington State Department of Agriculture also includes the shrub on the state’s quarantine list, meaning the sale or distribution of the plant is prohibited in the state.
The site of the activity is a forest wetland, located along 20th Avenue and Cooper Point Road, which is an area part of the Green Cove Creek watershed. The forest was recently cleared after logging activities carried out by Silvimantle LLC in June 2022. The company had intended to develop the area and had already cleared more than 20 acres of the forest when they decided to sell the land to OlyEcosystems following public protests against the logging activity.
OlyEcosystems is now working to restore the forest to its former state, especially as the forest is a critical area for aquifer recharge and helps stabilize the hillside to prevent landslides.
The activity runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Participants are instructed to bring work gloves, but water and snacks would be provided.
Those looking to volunteer may inquire OlyEcosystems through its Facebook page.
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AugieH
Too bad Scotch broom hasn't been/can't be identified as the source of a beneficial food supplement or cure for cancer.
Wednesday, June 28, 2023 Report this
burneggroll
Why isn't the company that logged the site ( Silvimantle LLC) liable for clean up?
Wednesday, June 28, 2023 Report this
OlyEcosystems
OlyEcosystems here! Our conservation organization bought this property after it was logged last summer. Last year we removed tons of trash, mitigated the degraded logging road and slash piles that were left behind, installed erosion control measures, and built trails that link up to the City of Olympia's Cooper Crest Open Space trails. The City has purchased a conservation easement for this property as of this month, ensuring its conserved status in perpetuity. With community support, our next order of business is controlling the opportunistic noxious weeds that often follow clearcutting -- scotch broom, tansy ragwort, woodland ragwort, and others. Come pull weeds with us or support our work financially. We are an entirely volunteer run Board and organization. You can find us on Facebook or Instagram @olyecosystems. We will be starting early this Saturday at 9am.
Thursday, June 29, 2023 Report this
WayTooOld
Thank you, OlyEcosystems!
Saturday, July 1, 2023 Report this