In this news note:

• Trail changes and trail users
• Water Treatment Plant
• Projects and Challenges
• How to help
• Please remember, Powell Butte will be closed to bikes and horses in December, January and February. Possible changes to this system may happen: closed when wet; open when dry. This is targeted to start in January after the Parks department has decided how to implement and communicate the new system. Stay tuned, Thanks!

Thank you to many Powell Butte supporters who wrote letters to the Mayor and Commissioner Saltzman opposing a water treatment plant on Powell Butte. Because of your letters and other opposition to an expensive membrane treatment plant, the decision about a treatment plant has been postponed until January 2004. In part due to our pressure, the Portland Water Bureau will be searching for other treatment plant sites outside the Urban Growth Boundary. But Powell Butte is still on the table for the treatment plant. So we need your continued letters to let our elected officials know your views. If you care about Powell Butte as a nature park, please voice your concerns to Commissioner Dan Saltzman and Mayor Katz.

• Stewardship of Powell Butte: helping to protect a natural area while still supporting the variety of recreation that helps people find solace and fun in a often stressful world.
• Education to help all Powell Butte’s visitors to enjoy and use PB in a way that is not destructive and prevents long term decline.
• Keeping the proposed Water Treatment Plant off Powell Butte.
• We want to formally become a not-for-profit. We think it will be worth it so that contributions will be tax deductible, and we can carry out more fund raising efforts to support Powell Butte. But we need a larger group in order to have enough people to do the meetings and paperwork involved in a not-for-profit application.

• Give labor: Work Party for Maintenance of the Trails 2^nd Saturday of every month (except December), 9:00 a.m. in the Parking lot. Sponsored by Portland United Mountain Pedalers (PUMP), a dedicated group of bicyclists and others who have provided the vast majority of trail maintenance to the butte over the years, with support from Portland Parks and volunteers. Thank you! We appreciate your work.

• Give time: Monthly meeting (meeting times below). We need interested people, neighbors, organizers, writers, people with computers, educators, facilitators, and anyone interested in giving input to the direction of Powell Butte.
• Donations are welcome: Checks payable to Friends of Powell Butte Nature Park, send c/o Mary Walker, Treasurer, 3908 SE 136^th Ave, Portland OR, 97236
• Pick up trash.
• Write Vera and Dan—No water treatment plant at Powell Butte.
• The beautiful benches were built by Andrew Beehler and his scout troop for an Eagle Scout project. Thank you! Another project that is in progress is to build 100' of split rail fence just south of the parking lot.
• Service corps groups have helped with planting and clearing invasive weeds. SOLV Day has brought numerous helpers.

• Call Louise Shorr, Natural Resources Volunteer Coordinator, 503.823.6131.
• Planting on February 14, 2004 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
• Planting on March 14, 2004 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

New Website!

• Mart Hughes, Natural Resources Ecologist Botanist for Portland Parks and Recreation obtained a $10,000 grant from the US Fish and Wildlife Service and Metro for Powell Butte wildlife habitat restoration. Two plantings are scheduled, one for 14 February and one for 14 March 2004. Both are in the wildlife area in the SE meadow area. Plantings are from 9 to 1. Please allow 20 minuets for the walk between the parking lot and the planting area. For information contact Ryan Durocher at the Friends of Trees (503) 282-8846.
• Fire news. Saturday, September a fire occurred along Orchard Loop trail. A total of 37 acres of grassland, blackberries, and hawthorn burned. The fire was generally low intensity burn. The non-native Tall Fescue has resprouted and the meadow is continuing to green up. The non-native English Hawthorn was under-burned. This weed tree is expected to resprout at the base. Currently the Natural Resource Program at Portland Parks & Recreation is making plans to eradicate the hawthorn in the burn area. The approximately 10 acres of Himalayan Blackberry was also burned. Parks has mowed the 5 acres at the top of the butte and will undertake eradication in the burn area. The blackberry is expected to resprout and will require considerable effort to remove. Several small areas were burned at high intensity. These areas have been re-seeded with native grass seed. Additional restoration plantings are also planned. The ravine between Pioneer Orchard and Wild Hawthorn Trails will require some restoration plantings. This location is subject to severe soil erosion. Erosion control logs have been installed. Plantings of riparian shrubs such as rose and spirea are being planned.
• Thanks to our caretakers, Shawn and Barbara Hastings. They make sure things are clean, problems are reported, and people are knowledgeable about their responsibilities to care for the park. It is not an easy job, and we appreciate all you do! Park problems can be reported at 503.674.0475.
• Limited dogs at Powell Butte? Portland Parks is considering a recommendation from a task force that states, in a nutshell, that dogs should not be allowed in natural areas. This includes places such as Powell Butte and Oaks Bottom. The parks department knows there are a lot of intense feelings about this debate. Therefore rather than a blanket "no dogs allowed" rule, options are being considered about time of year when dogs do the most damage (spring nesting season) and other specific limits. Limits would not take effect until the new off leash park areas are opened and public hearings have been held. Stay tuned.

That’s only one of the challenges with the trails. The other significant challenge is the condition of the trails. This has to do with three factors:

• Trails were never really "constructed" in the first place. Powell Butte inherited a system of somewhat random paths through the woods, many of which were not designed to shed water and prevent rutting. (Note reconstruction by PUMP on south side)
• Lack of trail maintenance funds from Portland Parks for fixing. Thanks to Portland’s Yes for Parks Levy! Powell Butte will receive funds.
• Bike and horse winter and spring wet use of the trails creates deep ruts and punctures, which leads to water running/pooling in the holes, which leads to significant widening and deepening of the trails.

Powell Butte trails looked like they would turn into soggy rutted highways as wet-riding continued to widen and deepen trails in the park. A few things have halted the decline and brought hope for trail restoration.

• 3 month winter closure for bikes and horses. This closure is respected by most people, and gave the park a real break. Trails were less hammered. People on foot had more of a sense of solitude and wildlife sightings.
• PUMP has tirelessly contributed 2^nd Saturdays to trail maintenance
• Portland Parks got Mart Hughes as an ecologist and planner. He has coordinated numerous corps groups in planting, invasive weed elimination, illegal trail closure, and habitat restoration.

There’s still much work to be done, but it does seem that the trails are looking a little better. Thanks for everyone’s work, and for keeping bikes and horses out of the Park when the trails are wet and soft.

You probably have noticed trails getting some different surfaces. The goal is distinct surfaces for different users. Users will have more than signs to know whether they’re on the correct trail for their mode of travel. Also gravel will work into the dirt/mud and create a harder surface that will resist rutting and eroding. When bike trails are stable in the winter, there may no longer be a need for winter closure. Perhaps there is another bike surface that would meet these goals. For now, the winter closure is still in effect. We may see some changes to this system this winter. Based on feedback from bicyclists, the new system may include a longer period of intermittent closure based on rain and resulting wet, soft trails. A reminder that for now, Powell Butte will be closed for bikes and horses for three months December, January, and February. Stay tuned for the new plan. Thank you.

Questions? Call Tamra Dickinson. (503) 760-4264

Meetings are the Third Thursday of every month. 7:00 p.m. Caretaker’s house. Upcoming meeting dates are December 18, 2003, January 15, 2004, February 19, 2004.

Upcoming agendas are likely to include:

• Trails and other use items from bikers/equestrians/walkers/dogs. What to do about soft wet trails and impacts from riding while wet.
• Proposed water treatment plant.
• Current happenings and issues – Caretaker’s report
• Portland Parks and Recreation. PB beneficiary of Parks levy money. Restoration and other projects. Local purchase of park lands.
• Other items based on needs and ideas from members.