Fourth Graders Plant Trees for Coquille Watershed

The Students from Mrs. Jones’s and Mrs. Ekelund’s 4^th grade classes at Coquille Valley Intermediate School took advantage of a break in the weather to have a tree-planting party near Dutch John Pond in Coquille on Thursday, February 11^th. With help from Dennis Graham, President of the Coquille Riverwalk Committee, Jennifer Hampel and Kelly Miles, from the Coquille Watershed Association, the students learned about the importance of riparian planting and habitat restoration in a real-life setting and the correct way to plant a tree. Under the supervision of many parent volunteers, the students were able to pick out their own tree to plant from a variety of native species, including Grand Fir, Douglas Fir, Hemlock, Big Leaf Maple, Cascara, Ash and Cottonwood. The 60 Saplings the students planted were spread along the site of the future Coquille Riverwalk and will provide shade, habitat and beauty for years to come. The students then participated in a presentation from Tom Rumerich of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, where they discussed creek life and fish habitat. They also got some hands-on experience in sampling Dutch John Creek and discovered other living aquatic organisms, such as insects, fish and amphibians.

If you have any questions about restoration work in the Coquille Watershed, please call Kelly Miles at 541-572-2541, or any questions about the Coquille Riverwalk, please call the City of Coquille at 541-396-2115.

Thank you to all who participated!

Published in the Coquille Valley Sentinel February 17, 2010