Water World

In the mornings I run along the forested part of Terwilliger in southwest Portland. About twice a year, people wearing haz-mat suits spray herbicide in the park to kill invasive plants. Within a day or two of the spraying session the sidewalk is littered with the corpses of small animals such as moles and mice.

I have noticed this phenomenon over the last few years but it wasn’t until a recent run that it occurred to me that, in the same area where the sprayers were required to wear protective gear, including face masks, I was clad only in shorts and a t-shirt.

If the chemicals being used are harmful enough to warrant protective clothing and kill rodents, what does this mean for the health of our water supply?

We in the Pacific Northwest enjoy unusually temperate and mild weather, and in a typical year we experience months of rain. As that rain falls on land it seeps into groundwater carrying whatever particulates it comes in contact with along with it.

The likelihood of herbicidal residue being carried to our water supply through the watershed is high.

As I contemplated the mortality rate of rodents I also felt a rush of gratitude for organizations like the Friends of Tryon Creek, who I work for, that strive to do something to combat the problem of water quality degradation.

Piles of ivy pulled by Friends' volunteers

The Friends’ environmental education and stewardship programs are intended to connect people to the natural world by engaging them with hands-on opportunities to explore our relationship to the planet. Surely “We are all connected”, seeing as how we are just as much a part of nature as the tree that blossoms in the spring, the bird that flies south for the winter, and the mole that seeks cover along Terwilliger Boulevard. To truly appreciate that fact means understanding that our actions impact the world around us in an immediate sense, and those same actions can affect us down the road.

I circle back to the issue of water quality. Spraying herbicide impedes weed encroachment – while adding toxic chemicals to our ground water. That reality inspires the Friends to explore ways to keep our watershed healthy, such as inviting volunteers to pull ivy in the park every Saturday (elbow grease is a great alternative to chemicals!) and bringing the Backyard Habitat Certification Program to Lake Oswego. The BHCP gives property owners the tools to provide habitat for wildlife, reduce water usage and the need for chemical applications, and use native plants to reduce the amount of pollution in runoff to waterways and streams.

Tryon Creek in early Summer

With guidance from organizations like the Friends, significant action to improve the health and quality of our environment is within reach. Visit www.tryonfriends.org to learn more.

Hooray for Outdoor Education!

Capitol Hill 2nd Graders learning about pond life

"Kids who play outside are simply more focused, healthier and happier." - Jason Mark, writer for The Earth Island Journal

I have been taking my two children to Tryon Creek since they were babies. I would strap them to my chest, a la Baby Bjorn-style, and traipse along the park's forested paths, breathing in the fresh clean air, admiring the lush green space around me and enjoying some relatively calm and centered moments amid the chaos of daily child rearing.

As my children grew, I took to planting them on Tryon Creek's trails on their own two feet, expecting their curiosity and energy levels to run wild. And, while they didn't seem to mind being in the natural world, they didn't display nearly the interest or appreciation I hoped they would.

Until now.

I have discovered the key: Hands-on experience with outdoor education. A few weeks ago I blogged about No Oregon Child Left Inside.  The purpose of this act is to provide opportunities for children to explore and learn about nature in order to encourage stewardship of the land by nurturing and inspiring an appreciation of the outdoors.

Last month I began taking my kiddies on guided hiking tours of Tryon Creek. The interest those hikes have generated is through the roof! Now my kids ask to visit the park on a near daily basis. They look for things they learned about on past hikes and ask questions about plants and creatures that are new to them (alas, I am no naturalist so I have to leave the answers until the next time we are with a park expert). They have chosen to write about their park visits at school unprompted. Now, that's something new! And, they always express concern when they see a sight along the trail that has been disturbed (joggers, you know not the damage you can do to a rough skinned newt.).

My children's cheeks are rosier then ever, their young legs are strong and sturdy, and they radiate enthusiasm and joy with each and every hike. A heartfelt thanks to outdoor educators!

(Click here to read Jason Mark's take on No Child Left Inside: http://www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/elist/eListRead/no_child_left_inside)