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Support Native Forest Restoration

Friends of Paramount is dedicated to enhancing the ecological and community value of Paramount Open Space, a conservation area owned by the City of Shoreline. Our goal is to improve the ecological value of the area through forest restoration including the removal of invasive species and management for native plants best suited to the site. Beyond improved aesthetics and ecological function gained from forest restoration activities, we also wish to increase value by engaging with the community, improving trails, and providing opportunities for environmental education.

We hope you are able to get outside and enjoy Paramount Open Space!

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Restoration

What We Do

Removal

During the removal phase the majority of invasive plants are removed. It is critical to remove as much of the root stock as possible since many invasive species aggressively resprout from remaining material. Manual labor is used for initial removal and we heavily depend on volunteers during monthly work parties to accomplish much of this work. The two most pervasive species at Paramount are English ivy and Himalayan blackberry. Other common invasive species include sycamore maple, English laurel, and English holly.

Planting

The planting phase can occur in several ways. The most rewarding, of course, is planting, because there is an immediate visual impact. Spreading seed should be considered as an alternative because planting is expensive, time consuming, and mortality rates can be high. Seeding can be a cheaper and more effective approach as long as species are adapted to site conditions. The easiest way to establish new plants is to let existing plants re-seed. All three techniques have been used at this location.

Maintenance

Often the most time consuming part of restoration is the maintenance phase. Frequent site visits are needed to keep invasive species in check. Not only will plants that were initially removed sprout again, but other invasive species will try and fill the void left by initial removal. At Paramount Open Space, creeping buttercup and bindweed are the two biggest culprits. Left unattended weedy invasive species can recolonize areas that were cleared within a few months quickly undoing the hard work accomplished by volunteers.

Ecological restoration is important because invasive species will slowly take over our forests dramatically changing their character, reducing habitat for wildlife, and diminishing biological diversity. In short, the soaring evergreen forests so iconic to the Pacific Northwest will slowly convert to shrub and become vine-dominated like the slopes along Intertstate 5.

The top row shows how forested areas–native species–in Paramount Open Space park will thrive with active forest restoration while the bottom row shows forest development of invasive species in the absence of restoration techniques.

Restoring native forests is no easy task. In 2018 it took 402 volunteer hours to initiate restoration on 1 acre, or about 10% of the park.

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