Backyard Habitat: Behind the Scenes in Lake Oswego

 

On September 29^th a television crew from KATU paid a visit to Andrew Karl’s Lake Oswego home. Their mission: To learn more about the Backyard Habitat Certification Program.

Backyard Habitat was originally launched in Portland, Oregon by the Columbia Land Trust and the Audubon Society. The program focuses on the removal of aggressive weeds, naturescaping with native plants, stormwater management and wildlife stewardship. It proved to be very successful, and on August 1^st the Friends of Tryon Creek joined the partnership to extend the program to Lake Oswego.

Over sixty Lake Oswego homeowners have signed up. To receive the certification, there are a number of steps that must be taken, such as planting native species and managing stormwater runoff. Heidi Brill, the Friends' Backyard Habitat Program Coordinator, says that "the program is based on four main concepts: removal of aggressive invasive species, naturescaping with native plants, wildlife stewardship, and stormwater management. Many homeowners in Lake Oswego have been waiting for the program to expand outside of Portland. These homeowners have been following the program in Portland and have had as much as several years to develop their home landscapes in accordance with our Program guidelines. Many of the homes that I visited in the first two months were in the category of 'patiently waiting while making positive change.' With the program in Lake Oswego, now the word has spread and talk of the program has infiltrated into garden club meetings, HOA meetings, and friendly neighborhood conversation. Neighbors are seeing signs in their areas and this is stimulating conversation to promote healthful communities. Homeowners that are new to the concept of naturescaping are interested in the program because of its benefits (not only to our environment, but to our pocketbooks as well). To witness the changing view in our home landscapes from labor-centric to nature-centric is an extremely positive change-- reducing the use of fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, reducing the need for summer irrigation, reducing erosion and allowing rainwater to naturally infiltrate and replenish groundwater systems and encouraging diversity of species."

Friends of Tryon Creek's Education Director Matthew Collins with Backyard Habitat Program Coordinator Heidi Brill

Mr. Karl's yard includes native species like this Twinberry Honeysuckle (Lonicera involucrata). It is an important nectar source for hummingbirds, bees and butterflies, and the dark "twin" berries surrounded by showy bracts provide important forage for birds and critters. The berries were once used for dye, and the plant had a variety of medicinal purposes that were utilized by local native populations.

A rainwater catchment system in Mr. Karl's backyard utilizes re-purposed 55 gallon drums. They fill quickly under normal winter conditions in the Willamette Valley, and so must be equipped with an overflow mechanism, or you must have room for additional capacity. A rainwater catchment system paired with a raingarden is a very effective way to manage stormwater on site. A statistic: a 1/2 inch rainfall on a roof of 1000 square feet will yield 300 gallons.

Mr. Collins and Ms. Brill get interviewed about Backyard Habitat by KATU's Amanda Faught