Camp Long Vegetation Management Plan

This Vegetation Management Plan has been written to serve as a guide in the adaptive management and enhancement of Camp Long Park. The primary purpose of this vegetation management plan is to inform and direct the actions of organizations and individuals that have assumed the great responsibility of maintaining the unique character of this park.

PLAN SUMMARY

Objectives

• To integrate vegetation management activities with ongoing environmental education programs.
• To enhance soil and water quality.
• To maintain and enhance the native character of Camp Long Park.
• To integrate the historic vision of Camp Long with sustainable long-term management.

Assessment of Existing Vegetation

Investigations found a majority of the forest is stalled in successional status (33 of 55 acres), there is some healthy successional forest (4.5 acres) and early successional forest (3.2 acres), some lawn (3.6 acres) and small amounts of wetland (0.7 acres). A large area, the camping area, (5.5 acres) is impacted by heavy human traffic.

• Canopy Composition: Most overstory is mixed red alder (25%) and bigleaf maple (35%). Horsechestnut, an invasive canopy tree, represents 10% of total trees in sample plots. Small pockets of Pacific madrone exist around cabins and forest edges. Western red cedar, Pacific dogwood, and willow occur sporadically. Southeast of the "parade ground" non-native poplars dominate (30%), and are spreading aggressively.
• Understory Composition: Prevalent natives, varying by plot, include sword fern (16-52%), hazelnut (11-17%), and nettle (4-45%); dominant invasives are English ivy
  (3-21%), Himalayan blackberry (9-45%), and English holly (1-11%). Invasive species were found in 100% of plots; on average invasives cover 33% of vegetated ground area sampled.
• Species Diversity: 46 native and 39 invasive plant species were found. Most natives are shade tolerant, while most existing invasive species occupy open, disturbed sites.

Management Recommendations

• Monitor for colonization by shade tolerant invasive plant species.
• Plant late succession, native conifer species (Douglas fir, cedar, hemlock, grand fir), introduce shade tolerant native plant species.
• Work with Golf Course grounds managers for zones spanning both properties.
• Develop small meadow in non-forested area.
• Change mowing cycle to once in late fall, annually or alternate years.
• Enhance wildlife habitat.
• Apply coarse woody mulch to high use areas.
• Create clearly-defined paths to direct park visitors.
• Create snags and retain downed woody debris in conjunction with professional hazard tree assessment and mitigation implementation.

Environmental Education Recommendations

• Provide interpretive signage to accompany management practices
• Introduce wildlife attractants and signage
• Expand educational programs
• Extend and intensify stewardship outreach

> View the Vegetation Management Plan (PDF 2M)

*Note: To view a PDF, you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader. Download it for free at www.adobe.com.