For More Information Contact:
Lance Robertson, 984-4716
Eugene Water & Electric Board

Nov. 24, 2008

Students to plant EWEB bird gardens this week

Students of the Lane Metro Youth Corps will be planting some “bird gardens” this week near the Eugene Water & Electric Board’s Walterville hydroelectric power facility.

The students built the stone “bird gardens” in May and are returning this week to place native plants in the raised beds. The demonstration garden will showcase a variety of native species that are low maintenance, once established, and create habitat that is important for birds and other wildlife.

The students will begin work around 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday (Nov. 25) and should be completed with the initial planting by 3 p.m. The garden plantings are following a design by Tulsi Wallace, a Eugene consultant who is coordinating the project for EWEB. The students will do other work on the project on Wednesday, as well.

The demonstration garden, located along Camp Creek Road at Mile Post 7, is part of the larger Lower McKenzie Bird Gardens & Trail Pilot Project, which includes installing mile markers and interpretive signs, as well as creating a native flower “seed bank.”

Lane Community College students have designed mile markers and interpretative signage about native plants that will be installed along the Leaburg and Walterville power canals, as part of the Oregon Bird Trail System connecting the hydroelectric facility to the Cascade and Willamette Valley bird trails. The power canals, Walterville Pond and other areas around EWEB’s Leaburg-Walterville Hydroelectric Project have been recognized as premier bird watching locations.

Note to editors and reporters: The planting will take place Tuesday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m., and from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Pull into the small parking area near the Walterville Tailrace at Mile Post 7 on Camp Creek Road. Tulsi Wallace will be available for interviews at the site.