Stevenson shrubs

railgrab · Since 29 Mar 2005 177 Posts Seattle, WA Stoked

The shrubs also help encourage people to keep their kites up top when landing them. No shrubs could mean that people will land their kites wherever they want on the hill, leaving a bigger mess of lines floating in the water. I think they also give kite catchers a "perception" of where the edge is so they don't go down it while looking up.

Jim W · Since 10 Jul 2007 5 Posts New Member

I think they should go do to the fact they are a trip hazzard when you have six kites up above and six bars down below on rocks with the lines being held 3 feet off the ground. My legs are short and its a pain to climb over all the lines on the way down to launch. Of course this could be solved if bars were just rolled up

Rico · Since 13 Mar 2005 1219 Posts Vancouver Photographer

Its tied 12 vs 12. Shocked

boredbrain · Since 16 Feb 2006 352 Posts Hood River Obsessed

GO

Then replace with poison oak, that will keep the crowds down

tinyE · Since 21 Jan 2006 2004 Posts not really an XTreme Poster

keep them, trim them down, and use some ingenious monkeyboy design to surround them so your lines don't get caught in them. Very Happy

Portland Pete · Since 08 Mar 2005 145 Posts HR Stoked

Trim them back

pdxmonkeyboy · Sun Mar 16, 08 11:15 am

I love the fact that people think that if anything is done to make Stevenson a better launch, hordes of people are going to show up. I'm sure the dangler loved the rocky launch..till he broke both ankles.

Anywho, in regards to the bushes, yes, they are false indigo bushes. yes, I think they should go both because they are non-native and I think its kind of stupid to launch and land kites over a bunch of bushes that don't belong here.

In terms of replacement plants, that is a tough one. First, a brief primer on stream and hill side erosion to narrow down what we need the plants to do.

The primary cause of stream bank erosion is undercutting at the toe of the slope which is caused by the sheer stress forces created by water velocities. I don't see this as a problem at the launch site because..

A. The columbia river in the area of stevenson is actually known as the bonneville pool as it is a result of back watering from the damn. Water velocities are low within bonneville pool with resulting low amounts of sheer stress.

B. The launch currently has somewhat of a rock toe and a shallow bench that leads out a good distance from the hillside.

So toe erosion and subsequent slumping is not the issue. The other type of erosion and hill failure is called a rotational slump. This is where large amounts of soil rotate and slide along a fault or on top of a "lubricating layer". The trigger for this is typically super saturation of soils from direct precipitation and subsurface water movement. These slides don't have to be as big as Rock Creek, they can be smaller. Since the area above the launch is completely impervious, subsurface water flows from the hills of Stevenson are captured near the RR tracks, and the surface underneath the launch is primarily riprap, there is little chance that the hillside is going to slump, with or without the false indigo bushes.

So what is the primary concern? In my conversation with Karl a week or so ago, he referenced the winter time east winds and resulting waves as a primary concern. I haven't spent a great deal of time in Stevenson in the winter (you are probably aware that I am a suntanned unicorn) but I am sure that the slope is getting hammered in the winter. So the big concern has to be surface erosion. Depending on where the water level is, the bushes could help to attenuate surface erosion that would be caused by wave action. Their ability to prevent erosion would be largely dependent on the water level. The roots due hold the soil in place but the biggest benefit is their many branches dissipating wave energy.

So what plant would do this, live on that slope, and not snag kite lines? That is a good question. While it is a harsh place, it is not that harsh and false indigo bush isn't exactly the most hardy shrub in the world. I think that most full sun tolerant species would survive there. I have thought about this ALOT, like too much.

All the native woody shrubs are out as they are really "snaggy". Snowberry could work but it is fairly "whispy" and I'm not sure how it would attenuate wave energy. Sword fern could work and it tolerates mowing although it really wouldn't be too happy. Finally I remember bearberry. Once established, bearberry is a hardy everygreen ground cover that establishes a thick mat. It grows about 4-6 inches tall. Many of you may know the plant as kinnikinnick, it is a common ground cover in the PNW. You can read about the plant and find a bunch of links here:

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ARUV

With a little tlc the first year I think it would become established pretty quickly. It loves poor soil and full sun. It doesn't like to be soaking wet but every plant is soaking wet in the winter in this region so it most be somewhat wet tolerant. It is evergreen and dense and would help hold the upper layer of soil in place.

So that would have to be my suggestion. If anyone else knows of something else, please feel free to post it.

Now, back to the unicorns.

pdxmonkeyboy · Sun Mar 16, 08 11:17 am

tonyb · Sun Mar 16, 08 11:33 am

PDXMB: I like the sound of 4 - 6" high bushes for the bank.

So, next subject: Do you have any knowledge of Goose Poop Attenuation? Does the kinnikinnick attract or repel geese? Is there a geese attracting plant we can put at the far west end of the sidewalk along the waterfront to keep them off the grass? I hate goose poop on my kite!

Tony

Tony · Since 28 Aug 2006 940 Posts Portland Opinionated

Leave the shrubs....overtime, your ganna have an erosion problem if you take 'em out and not replace them with something else.
Best thing to do is trim 'em down....or replace the shrubs with something that grows much shorter...
Nonetheless, I agree, the shrubs are a pain in the ass...If you could smoke 'em, than things would be different....But, seems like everytime I've been there, the lines seem to get caught in the shrubs @ one point or another. (not just me.....happens to a lot of people)
But it's never been a problem.....Cause That place is sick...
I think - everyone who kites there, loves the place and is willing to except the shrubs....But making the launch a faster "get in and out" is always a plus..... Wink

Thats a tough one Mark.....

pdxmonkeyboy · Sun Mar 16, 08 12:24 pm

not much of a goose poop guy. The geese certainly wouldn't graze on the bearberry, its pretty leathery. besides, thats what the fairgrounds are for.

Ryan · Since 14 Jul 2005 538 Posts Oregon Addicted

Im with PDXMonkey,

I dont think there will be an erosion problem, if the shrubs were removed, due to the low velocities and class 50 to 100 rip rap already in place.

That being said I would rather look at some GREEN than an ugly rocky shore. I dont know how many of you have found the rock to hold on lines just as much as shrubs.

I say remove and replace. but no bearberry, it takes forever to get established and the success rate is really low unless you have irrigation.

Im not a plant guy but know enough to know there has got to be a better plant than Bearberry.

pdxmonkeyboy · Sun Mar 16, 08 3:19 pm

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

man votes are almost 50/50... what's with this country and close votes!?

Mark · Sun Mar 16, 08 4:21 pm

Thank god Florida is not involved....

guest · Guest

Seems silly to replace kite line catching shrubs with another form of kite line catching shrub. The hillside drops so sharply to the river, anything there would eventually become a nuisance.

This isn't brazil, I say keep the bush but keep it trimmed!

Spike · Since 13 May 2007 1414 Posts Alameda Spelling Expert