The Urban Forestry Restoration Project, administered by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources Urban and Community Forestry Program (DNR), has provided Kent with an opportunity to improve the health of trees and forested sites in several urban settings around the city.
From May 6 through May 23, a Washington Conservation Corps team is removing invasive English ivy, Himalayan blackberry and scotch broom from the Lake Meridian outlet and at Earthworks, Clark Lake, Tudor Square and West Fenwick parks.
These non-native plants prevent forested areas from providing the community the full benefits and services of healthy forests by competing for water and nutrients. Many invasive plants that grow in dense thickets also can harbor rats and other vermin, creating a public safety hazard as well.
Once the unwelcome plants are gone, native vegetation can be planted in its place.
“We appreciate that DNR has made this opportunity available to communities,” said Quientin Poil, city arborist and Park Operations West supervisor. “We were happy to take advantage of it. Restoration work, particularly in sensitive areas around streams and lakes, is labor intensive, since it all must be done by hand.”
To learn more about how you can help keep our parks and natural areas healthy in the future, visit www.greenkent.org or contact Victoria Andrews at 253-856-5113, vandrews@kentwa.gov.
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