Landslide Restoration and Closing Reflections: RRNW 2016

The closing presentation from the 2016 RRNW short course follows landslide restoration, pioneer planting and monitoring, community restoration work, and reflections on our relationship with the natural world.

12:33 · 68 slides · Historical presentation · No recorded narration

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About this presentation

Source: River Restoration Northwest closing presentation, 2016. Slides by David Polster; individual image and diagram credits remain in the presentation. This video includes the complete supplied deck. It is an archive slideshow, not a recording of the spoken conference session.

Dates, costs and examples reflect the original presentation. Treatment suitability depends on current site conditions and requirements.

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  1. Johnson’s Landing Landslide

  2. Landslide path

  3. Working with local community members, October 18, 2012

  4. Upper Landslide Area

  5. Middle Landslide Area

  6. Lower Landslide Area

  7. Balsam Poplar, the only tree left standing in the slide path

  8. Another Balsam Poplar still standing in the slide path

  9. Extended access in transport zone is hazardous.
    Aerial seeding the raw soils with Sitka Alder is recommended.

  10. The upper transport zone was seeded with alder in the fall of 2012

  11. Loosen soils solutions = establish pioneering species so root systems knit the soil together
    Remember Balsam Poplar

  12. The deposition zone was staked with 2,290 Balsam Poplar cuttings, April 8, 2013

  13. 10 monitoring plots, each 1/100th ha in size, were established, April 12, 2013

  14. Over 97.6% of the cuttings were growing, August 3, 2013

  15. Fence established to keep out hungry deer and elk

  16. September 16, 2013

  17. May 16, 2014
    Balsam Poplar from live staking

  18. May 5, 2015

  19. May 15, 2014
    Sitka Alder seelings from aerial seeding

  20. September 12, 2014
    Alder seedling from helicopter spread seed

  21. May 5, 2015

  22. September 4, 2015 Johnson’s Landing Landslide Inspection

  23. This is the upper landslide area

  24. The live staking is doing well in some areas.

  25. Although there is growth on most stakes, the amount of growth varies

  26. Some Red-osier Dogwood are doing well, and the willow stake is great.

  27. The seeded Sitka Alder is growing well

  28. This Aspen seedling is doing very well.

  29. Balsam Poplar seedlings occur all over the slide.

  30. Balsam Poplar and Western Red Cedar will create the deciduous over conifer successional pattern that dominates in Canada

  31. Crew from the Cowichan Valley Naturalists helps remove invasive species from Eagle Heights

  32. Probably the most pristine Garry Oak Ecosystem in Canada

  33. It has not been invaded by agronomic grasses

  34. Native Garry oak grasses allow a diversity of species to occur.

  35. What is the motivation of these folks?

  36. In addition to ecological and socio-economic values that are critical to restoration, personal and cultural values are essential, and I would say,

  37. …the social values and…

  38. …the spiritual values.

  39. What role do spiritual values play in the restoration of difficult sites?

  40. I believe that we are connected with everything

  41. …and that this connection is what is meant by the “Spiritual” part of our world. I believe that there is this spiritual part in every person (thing) and from this belief stems the view that we can all connect directly with this spiritual part of the Universe.

  42. When we work to restore damaged sites we connect with the spirit of the site/organisms/ecosystems.

  43. Sometimes when I am in an old forest...

  44. ...beside a babbling brook...

  45. ...in a quiet wetland...

  46. ...in the alpine...

  47. ...or in a Garry Oak ecosystem in spring...

  48. ...I get a sense of this spiritual part of our world.
    By working to restore ecosystems that have been damaged, I connect with this spiritual aspect.

  49. Natural processes provide solutions to even the toughest restoration problems

  50. Of course there are many other elements of restoration, but…

  51. … if you get the pioneering species, find and follow the natural solutions and build in the social and spiritual values, restoring difficult sites is relatively straightforward.

  52. Remember…
    Whatever you do… Have Fun!

  53. Natural processes can provide solutions to even the toughest restoration problems.
    Questions ???

  54. Landslide Restoration, Saanich Shoreline
    September 23, 2015

  55. Gazebo perched on the edge.
    September 23, 2015

  56. Ivy covered stump of large Douglas-fir
    September 23, 2015

  57. Quadra Sediments slide
    September 23, 2015

  58. January 16, 2016
    Ivy removal, getting started with very wet soils

  59. Slumped over the weekend.
    January 18, 2016

  60. January 16, 2016
    Rotten stump slid to the bottom of the slope.

  61. January 18, 2016
    Now forms a barrier at the base of the slope.

  62. January 19, 2016
    Live pole drain installed at top to manage seepage

  63. January 20, 2016
    Fixing the slope

  64. January 20, 2016

  65. January 20, 2016
    Designed to have live pole drain installed once slope is stable.

  66. We continue to climb the slope.
    January 23, 2016

  67. Soil bioengineering is hard work.
    January 23, 2016

  68. January 29, 2016

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