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Restoring Northwest Native Plants
 Throughout the Pacific Northwest, development and intensive land use practices have degraded urban streams, open spaces and natural areas. At the same time, imported plant species are spreading rapidly and displacing what remains of our natural Northwest landscape. Environmental Services is working to restore native vegetation in Portland's watersheds.
Through the Watershed Revegetation Program, Environmental Services forms partnerships with public and private landowners to restore degraded stream bank and upland areas. This restoration work improves water quality, controls erosion, reduces stormwater pollution, aids in long-term salmon recovery, and enhances wildlife habitat.
Restoring native plants is also good for business. Restoration projects can beautify and enhance your property, improve your neighborhood, and benefit the environment.
A Growing Program
Environmental Services started restoring streamside and upland areas in the Columbia Slough watershed in 1996. Today the program covers the entire Portland area, and its accomplishments are growing.
 What Projects Qualify?
The Watershed Revegetation Program is a completely voluntary partnership with Environmental Services. Property owners pay from 50 to 100 percent of the project expenses. Environmental Services provides native plants, contract labor, materials, and technical assistance. Projects include upland plantings, riparian zone grading and planting, and wetland construction.
Why Revegetate?
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Cost effectiveness - Using professional forestry contractors and reforestation techniques, 78% of project funds are spent on the planting and maintenance. A large scale program increases wholesale purchasing power for labor, plants, and materials.
- Maintenance and monitoring - Projects are maintained and monitored for five years. Maintenance includes weeding, mulching, inter-planting, and watering.
- Partnership - The program combines the efforts of many agencies, businesses, and individuals to restore riparian areas and watersheds.
- Experience - Our staff has over 40 years of combined experience with native plants and reforestation.
- Local labor and materials - Local contract nurseries and farm-forest contractors provide over 95 percent of the project labor and plant materials.
- Plant diversity - The program produces and uses seed and plant materials of 37 grass species, 15 shrub species, and 13 tree species, and the list grows each year.
For More Information
Contact James Allison at 503-823-2365.
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