Nonnative plants, including spotted knapweed, toadflax, ribbon grass, and yellow iris, have become a persistent problem in the Metolius Basin. Friends of the Metolius sponsors volunteer efforts to eliminate knapweed by pulling in affected areas and is teaming with private homeowners and the Forest Service to test methods for dealing with the growing problem of ribbon grass in the Metolius River. Over the last two growing seasons small trials have been conducted using three different approaches to eliminating these pests: hand pulling, solarizing with black plastic, and herbicide spraying. Each approach has problems.

As the pictures below suggest hand pulling ribbon grass is a labor intensive job and, given the size of the area to be treated in the basin, costly and tough in terms of the disposal of this persistent plant.

Before	Friends and Sierra Club volunteers along with Forest Service employees worked this small site for about two hours.
About three quarters of the grass pulled	After

Solarizing with black plastic presents a couple of problems.

• There is a very negative visual appeal. Large expanses of plants would need to be covered for approximately two years to effectively do the job.
• The approach is not selective. All plants and other life that is covered is destroyed.

Treatment with herbicides is controversial. The product that was used in the Fall of 2008 in a joint Jefferson County and Friends project on private property along Lake Creek to manage yellow iris can be used in a relatively selective fashion by spraying large infestations and painting foliage in smaller stands. Most importantly it is systemic and breaks down quickly on contact with water posing little threat to aquatic life.

All propertiy owners along the affected areas of Lake Creek and ditches coming off the creek agreed to pariticpate in the project. Spraying was completed on September 30, 2008.

	June 26, 2008 June 30, 2009 Pre and post treatment of yellow iris along irrigation ditch

The largest populations of iris were almost entirely on the man made ditches and ponds along Cherokee, Knickerbocker, and Tamarack Lanes.  It is apparent that the dense populations were cultivated before their tendency to clog waterways was recognized. The change in the sprayed areas is dramatic as you can see in the pictures above.  

A survey of all affected water courses (about seven miles) has been conducted to check the effectiveness of the treatment. Follow-up spraying will be performed in the Fall of 2009 on plants that were missed or survived

Thanks are due all affected property owners for recognizing the significance of the problem and agreeing to a controversial treatment to protect the Metolius.

Friends of the Metolius joined with Friends of the Forest once again this fall in sponsoring a volunteer day in the Metolius basin. Approximately 40 volunteers and organizing crew participated in this enjoyable and productive activity. Following a brief introduction and safety talk volunteers went to work on one of three projects throughout the basin:
				The Head of the Metolius - Volunteers worked to improve the visitor experience to the site refurbishing several picnic tables near the parking area, fixing the fence along the path, and restoring signs posted along the route. Jack Creek - A footbridge that had fallen into disrepair was refurbished and the rest room at the head of the trail was painted. Suttle Lake Trail - Several sections of the trail along the west side of the lake were shored up Trail tread and water bars were restored and new logs placed to protect against erosion

Click to see a close-up of the sign.

The Civilian Conservation Corp was active in the Metolius Basin during the 1930s building trails, Forest Service campgrounds, and several picnic shelters. The shelters were reroofed in the 1980s, but by 2006 were in a general state of disrepair. In a joint venture with the Camp Sherman Historical Society, the Camp Sherman Community Association and the Forest Service, Friends of the Metolius has committed money and volunteer labor to restoring the fire places and stoves in the shelters and to rebuilding much of the shelter at Pioneer Ford Campground.

Pioneer Ford Picnic Shelter

March, 2006

September, 2006

Friends of the Metolius has undertaken this demonstration project out of concern for the old-growth ponderosa pine forests of the area as well as the overall forest health and fire protection within the Metolius Basin. When completed, visitors to the project area will observe:
• Eight small plots ranging 3 to 10 acres in size for a total of about 50 acres treated
• Highly visible sites along Forest Road 1420 from the Four Corners junction at Camp Sherman Road 1216 & 1419 to Allingham junction Road 1217
• Differing treatments including both commercial & non-commercial thinning, burning and mowing, as well as a "turn of the century forest" plot
• Information about the project that include signs, tours and literature
• Several untreated "before action" areas for comparison
  
  

• National Environmental Policy Act
• Metolius Conservation Area standards and guidelines for the Metolius Heritage Area
• Metolius Wild and Scenic River management standards

Implementation of the project began in the fall season of 2001 through the spring of 2002 and will continue as prescribed treatments are implemented.

Friends of the Metolius is funding over 60% of the project and therefore donations and partners are needed. Please consider joining the Friends in this and other important endeavors if you are not already a member

The 10 Year Review was initiated with an analysis of three specific program elements:

• Forest Health and Sustainability
• Treatment of Roads
• Dispersed Camping

Each of these areas have been long-standing concerns for observers of the Metolius Basin.

The density of young tree growth and the incidence of white fir suggests a problem with forest health. Informal camping along Jack, Lake and Canyon Creeks has impacted stream banks and nearby areas. Road densities are still way above the mileages set in the Forest Plan.

These conditions were reported to representatives of Senators Wyden and Smith on August 9, 2000 during a Friends sponsored forest tour. A month later, on September 9, a repeat of the tour was conducted for Deschutes National Forest Supervisor Leslie Weldon and Sisters District Ranger Bill Anthony.