On a Mission

If you are a regular reader of this blog, thank you for your loyalty! I don't offer a rewards card, but hopefully the information you get here is useful in some way. Regular readers also know I often make a distinction between native and non-native plants. And a couple of times a year, I harp on the more undesirable invasive plants we come across. Of course, some of the non-natives are ornamental garden plants that are not a problem. On the other hand, invasive and noxious plants can present a real problem for our native plants, animals, and humans.

Today's post covers some local history and touches on the impact of invasives and the resources needed to control or eliminate them. There are a variety of websites and booklets published by the state and county that cover invasives. Many are aimed at the agricultural audience. For the rest of us, see the links below for a couple of useful references.

As most local school children learn in school, in the 1800's families from the east made the difficult journey to the Willamette Valley to obtain farmland and start new lives. And it was a tough, labor-intensive lifestyle that often ended in failure. One of the most popular destinations of the day was the land along the Willamette River. Our indigenous residents had long reaped the benefits of this flat, fertile land.  As "Euro-white" folk arrived, the population of humans and farm animals increased and that was the beginning of an altered landscape, where native plants and animals were eliminated or struggled to survive.

Willamette River today, from Willamette Mission State Park

We know that a Methodist Mission was established along the Willamette River near Salem in 1834 by the Rev. Jason Lee. Its purpose was to convert the native people to Christianity, as well as providing a school, a hospital of sorts, and living quarters. The mission expanded with a blacksmith shop and granary until 1840 when it moved to Salem for better access to supplies and manpower. Then, as fate would have it, the big flood of 1861 wiped out the original mission site. The river course changed after the flood, moving west about 1/4 mile.

     

At left: present day low waterline in summer; at right: Mission Lake (river prior to flood)

The land was later used by farmers for walnut and hazelnut orchards. Eventually the land around the original mission site became Willamette Mission State Park. I could not find a specific date as to when the area became a state park, but it has been a park for decades.

Today, the park's 1,600 acres offer about 8 miles of very flat walking trails, horse trails, camping, disc golf, a large day use area, and several miles of riverfront. From a naturalist-botanical point of view, the land is a mix of natural and cultivated areas, with one large gem: the nation's largest Black Cottonwood tree. On the downside, because of the history of the park and its many uses over the years, it is overrun with non-native, invasive plants. I had an email conversation with the park manager about this and he explained they are "on a mission" to eliminate the non-natives. They have partnered with several non-profit organizations to help. We saw some of those efforts along the flood plain trails, where blackberry, scotch broom, and tansy ragwort have been removed. It's a tough battle though, because every cleared area is an opportunity for new invasives to grow as you can see from the photos below.

Here's a short view of some of the non-native plants. Click photo to enlarge, and mouse-over the photo for names.

     

     

     

     

And last but not least, here's that champion Black Cottonwood that has been growing since 1735, give or take...

     

     

The park history is intertwined with a fascinating cast of characters who were mired in politics of the day. One interesting tidbit: In 1840 Salem, the Canadian born Rev. Jason Lee and other Canadians created the Oregon Institute for "Euro-American," children, now known as Willamette University. See the links below for additional history.

Another curiosity, according to park literature, are the roses that grow around the Jason Lee Mission monument by the lake. Back in 1837 when Rachael Beardsly Beers arrived to the Mission with her blacksmith husband, she planted rose cuttings she brought along. Over the years these roses have become naturalized in the park and can be seen blooming in early summer, in particular near the Mission monument.

OPB Invasives Show

OPB Invasives Quick Guide

Oregon Invasives Hotline Site - for reporting invasives

Garden Smart Oregon - A Guide to Non-Invasive Plants - A PDF of a very useful booklet

Jason Lee History

Oregon Mission History

Willamette Mission State Park Official Site

Water Primrose Info