December 27, 2013
Trip to the upper Rickreall Creek watershed – Lucas Hunt, members of the Rickreall Watershed, Polk Soil & Water Conservation, County Commissioner Craig Pope and others traveled to restricted areas of the watershed to visit log structure placement sites where stream habitat is being improved. After only a month, new gravel deposits can be seen beneath the newly placed logs, creating salmon spawning beds. While we were there two more large trees were felled by workmen. The group also visited the fish trap used during the transport of coho salmon around the impassible Mercer Dam. This entire conservation project, started in 2010, has shown good success by improving fish stocks in upper Rickreall Creek.
This was a chilly but inspirational trip and allowed community leaders to view a success story for conservation, with still more work to be done.
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December 14, 2013
Native vegetation planting day – with Polk Soil & Water Conservation Division, Dallas Parks & Recreation, Rickreall Watershed Council, and Friends of Dilbert Hunt Arboretum.
The group planted over 300 native trees in less than two hours along the Phase 4 section of Rickreall Creek Trail and mapped out plans for invasive plant removal. Clearly seen on the trucks of trees along this section were signs of recent efforts to eliminate English ivy that chokes native trees.
Rickreall Creek Roots and Shoots salutes this local partnership group for terrific work in restoring natural stream-side habitat.
November 26, 2013
Phase 4 Rickreall Trail section – My morning walk
Entry and photos by Vicki Fields
On this cold, crisp morning (33 degrees F) I packed my photo gear and headed out for a walk on the latest stretch of Rickreall Creek Trail. As soon as I was on the trail and headed east from the Aquatic Center, a bold Eastern fox squirrel became very upset at my invasion of his/her territory. I could see leaf nests high in the bare canopy. But fear I would raid the winter nut supply was probably the more serious threat to this nervous neighbor.
Even though it was only a bit above freezing, there were a few other walkers on the trail, most of them accompanied by their smaller furry family members. Little Marley was smartly dressed in a leopard-skin and denim jacket and liked having his picture taken.
Winter is a grey time of year in the Willamette Valley but if you look closely bits of color can be found peaking up between the dry leaves. A tiny wildflower and small red berries stood bravely against the morning frost.
The Phase 4 stretch of Rickreall Trail is nicely designed and wonderful to explore. I look forward to seeing it in all the different seasons. I have only recently moved to Dallas and am so impressed that the City and its partnering agencies have made Rickreall Creek a priority.
The project still needs all our help, however. I saw signs of this on my walk. Litter, debri,and invasive plants still need to be removed to improve the ecosystem and make the stream-side trail a place of health and beauty. This is our waterway, it literally runs through us. Rickreall Creek Roots & Shoots is committed to helping in this effort by conducting projects with citizens, young and old, that enhance the environment for animals and people. 
If you would like to write an entry for our Field Journal, explore Rickreall Creek and tell us about what you saw and experienced. Write a story, create a poem, draw a picture! Send me an e.mail with what you have written and attach any photos or pictures taken of you art work and I would be happy to include them on our Website.
– Vicki Fields, vfields11@wou.edu
Rickreall Creek Roots & Shoots 