Chehalem Valley Watershed Project erects wildlife signage and birdhouses on trails

New interpretive signs and bird, bat, and butterfly houses have popped up along trails at Chehalem Glenn Golf Course. These are the contributions of Chehalem Valley Watershed Project (CVWP), a group of students from Newberg High School (NHS) who are learning about the environment through hands-on research, restoration work, and outreach events.

As part of this project which focused on CPRD property, students surveyed several miles of riparian habitat along Chehalem Creek in Ewing Young Park and Spring Brook in Chehalem Glenn Golf Course, identifying spots where wildlife habitat could use a boost. They built bird, bat, and butterfly boxes, planted native plants, and performed stream restoration. The students also designed and implemented interpretive signage along trails, highlighting various birds which live in the area.

 Student ambassador Quentin Comus spearheaded this project as a NHS senior.

"The goal of this project was to establish seasonal wildlife habitat for endangered, threatened, and concerned species on Chehalem Park and Recreation District parkland and to educate the public about these species," says Quentin Comus. 

The project, which was a gift to CPRD, cost approximately $30,000 in labor, materials, supplies, tools, and services, provided by CVWP in partnership with the Newberg Noon Rotary Club, NHS Interact Club, and Mountain View Middle School. Most of the work took place over the 2018-2019 school year. The group is able to receive tax-deductible grants and in-kind donations, through a unique partnership with Newberg Public Schools and the Newberg Education Foundation.

"With assistance from outdoor professionals and community donors, we identify, design, and implement environmental conservation projects in the Newberg-Dundee area," says Comus. 

The partnership includes, at its core, CPRD Board member Pete Siderius, who serves as executive director of CVWP, and served as horticulture teacher to Comus.