The canyon fell into the trusting hands of the ‘crew’ this past summer. Their dedication to protecting this headwater forest and the cleanest water source in the City of Portland will leave a lasting impression on this campus.
Don’t let their smiles fool you- Canyon Crew is an assembly of trained killers (seen here performing their victory dance of destruction).
These students gave their blood, sweat and tears (of joy) to the canyon this summer and for that the canyon is forever grateful. The restoration and protection of this natural beauty is something that takes the support of its community to rebuild. Every season (almost every day) we observe changes in our canyon that echo and reflect the college’s commitment to preserving and improving the natural springs that bubble up from the depths- and provide the headwaters to the last free-flowing creek within the city, to the Pacific Ocean.
This summer we spotted our first deer in the canyon, and a thriving population of Osprey competing with river otter for fish within Reed Lake. Seeing these larger species come in and follow on the heels of the rehabilitation of these 28 acres of forest continue to remind us how special and unique Reed Canyon is tucked into this beautiful campus, surrounded by this beautiful city.
This summer Canyon Crew gave focus to improving the safety of our 1.8 miles of trail that serpentines though these woods- all the while ripping and tearing invasives from the comfort of their beautiful settings.
Reed College has decided to forgo the use of pesticides to accomplish our goals of restoration within Reed Canyon which may prove to be more labor intensive- but it’s obvious that this mechanical approach has helped preserve non-target species both plant and amphibian- that we continue to add to our species list for further study.
The Canyon Crew is a special group- They make lasting impressions on the livability of our most special wildlife habitat. Their efforts and are appreciated by all who wander our woods.
