Team Up For Watershed Health

Vegetation Monitoring Program

Overview

Join SOLV in monitoring our Team Up for Watershed Health Program's stream restoration sites. This program currently works on many restoration sites in the Portland metro area and engages volunteers in activities such as native tree and shrub planting, invasive plant removal, mulching, watering, and more (see our Team Up page)! Every spring, volunteers have the opportunity to be involved in our Vegetation Monitoring program. Volunteers attend a training (June) and then collect the data at our sites in June and July.

Program Basics

1. Monitoring our sites is an extremely important part of restoration work. It allows us to measure the success of our projects, identify work that needs to be done, learn from our mistakes and ensure the sustainability of our project sites.
2. We have developed a protocol that combines vegetation plot monitoring and photo-point monitoring which will be conducted once a year (sometimes more often).
3. You will receive a 3 hour in-field training covering vegetation plot monitoring.
4. In return for this free training and continued guidance and support, SOLV is asking for 6 hours of service in June and July monitoring sites. This will most likely involve monitoring two sites (about 3 hrs each) with a SOLV staff member. We have many sites that need to be monitored so you are of course welcome to do more!
5. This is a great opportunity to become more involved with SOLV and increase your knowledge of watershed health!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do I need experience with this type of work?
   Absolutely not. You will learn everything you need to know in the training sessions. While we will cover some basic techniques for identifying native plants, all of the plants you will be monitoring will be labeled. You will also learn how to use a compass. Everything else is easy!
2. Could this monitoring protocol be used at other sites?
   Yes! This protocol is a great tool to use at any riparian restoration sites. At the most basic level, it measures plant survival, growth and health. If you are working on a restoration project outside of SOLV, you are encouraged to apply the monitoring techniques you learn at this training to that site as well.
3. Would this protocol be appropriate for students?
   Yes! Students involved with our Green Team Program sometimes monitor the sites where they have been working. It is an excellent service learning opportunity for them. If we have a class that is interested in monitoring a site that you have been working on, we may ask you to serve as the monitoring leader as you work with them to complete the data collection.
4. What if I don’t feel comfortable monitoring a site by myself?
   Don’t worry. Volunteers will be paired with a SOLV staff member.
5. Why are you only monitoring once a year?
   The vegetation monitoring will happen once a year in June/July. That is why we are asking that you also volunteer at a volunteer planting event once a year. We want you to stay involved and see the link between the actual restoration work and the monitoring. We have determined that collecting data once a year is sufficient to gather the information we are looking for. If you have a strong desire to monitor again in the winter, and the skill to do it without staff assistance, we may be able to match you up with a site where that information would be beneficial.
6. How will I get the equipment to monitor my site?
   We have complete monitoring kits with all of the equipment you will need to monitor your site.
7. What kind of continued support will SOLV provide?
   The Team Up staff is always available to answer questions you may have. We may also be able to point you in the right direction if you have questions we cannot answer. You are always welcome to take the training course over again next year. If you are interested in getting more involved with SOLV’s Team Up for Watershed Health program, we also offer a Stream Team Captain Program. After receiving training about watershed health and the basics of leading a volunteer event, Stream Team Captains help lead our volunteer restoration projects throughout the year.

Call Rhyan at 503-844-9571 or email rhyan@solv.org.