Happy #OregonInvasiveWeedAwarenessWeek This week, our Restoration Manager Vanessa and new Restoration Associate Jake were on site at Willamette Mission State Park to check in on this year’s plantings and invasive treatments and to make plans for this summer’s restoration efforts. The park’s floodplain forests are thriving after years of installing over 700,000 native plants throughout the park. Mission Lake—once overrun by invasive Ludwigia (Water Primrose)—is showing incredible recovery. Years of dedicated removal work have boosted biodiversity and improved water quality, creating better habitat for native fish and wildlife. Check out the before-and-after photos to see the progress that’s been made. This July, we’re excited to welcome Back2Youth to Willamette Mission for a Paddle & Pull lake day, where youth will learn about invasive species and help keep Mission Lake healthy for wildlife and paddlers alike. (Pictured below: Our new restoration associate, Jake Hastings, couldn’t wait till then, and had to get his hands dirty by pulling a bit of the lingering Ludwigia near the dock!) WRK will be hosting several Paddle & Pull events this summer, giving volunteers an opportunity to get on the water and help protect the Willamette by hand-pulling invasive species. Registration coming soon! Check out our event calendar for more info: https://willamette-riverkeeper.org/event-calendar (fb)

(fb)