Volunteers dug, raked and cut their way through blackberry bushes Sunday afternoon near the Autzen Footbridge in a river restoration project organized by OSPIRG and the Eugene Stream Team.
The event was part of a continuing restoration project to improve the habitat along the banks of the Willamette River by removing non-native blackberry bushes and planting native trees and shrubs. The same site was cleared by volunteers about six months ago.
Eugene Stream Team member Lauri Mullen described the removal of blackberry bushes as a “constant battle,” but “each time it does get a little easier.”
Wind and rain confined the volunteers to a treeless spot where there was no danger of falling branches.
The new trees and shrubs will help create shade that will stop the blackberry bushes from growing back, shade the river and create better a habitat for salmon, Mullen said.
Mullen was happy with the number of volunteers who turned out, “especially on a windy, rainy day.”
Sunday’s project was the first time that Lane Community College and University chapters of the Oregon Student Public Interest Research Group worked together on the restoration, said Molly Campbell, program coordinator of the Lane chapter of OSPIRG.
Besides the restoration project, both the Lane and University chapters have done river walks to pick up garbage along the Willamette. The University chapter held its clean-up at the beginning of the year, and Lane had its own three weeks ago. Volunteers collected about 300 pounds of trash, Lane OSPIRG chapter member Sam Fowles said.
OSPIRG volunteer David Kurushima said the restoration also helps “bring more awareness to the river.”
Six miles of the Willamette River have been designated as a Superfund site because of industrial pollutants in the river. Part of OSPIRG’s mission is “applying pressure to the new governor” to make sure the river is cleaned up as promised, Kurushima said.
Lane OSPIRG chapter member Mollie Parris said she hopes the project will help build a relationship with the Eugene Stream Team and “show them that we are responsible.”