Parks Open Space Storm Cleanup

The City owns almost 400 acres of open space that contain numerous different types of trees, bushes, plants and grasses along with natural debris that exists on the forest floor. For many years the forest floor has held branches and debris but with recent storm earlier this year the amount of potential hazardous materials has increased. The City recently evaluated open spaces in the city by partnering with Oregon Department of Forestry (wildfire experts) and TVF&R (structure experts) to utilize their expertise to mitigate hazards.

The wildfires that ripped through the West Coast inrecent past are undoubtedly still fresh on many of our minds.  The City is currently working with fire specialists, such as our partners at Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue (TVFR) and Oregon Department of Forestry staff to assess and reduce wildfire risk in City spaces.  City crews and volunteers continue to work on fuels reduction and ice storm debris cleanup through our Parks system and special contracted crews from NW Youth Corp will be working in City parks and open spaces throughout the year. Volunteers are always needed and appreciated:  check out these regular volunteer opportunities or work with your neighborhood association to organize something in your area.

Based on site visits and recommendations the City will be utilizing the limited resources available on the tasks outlined below:

• Focusing on higher risk human interface areas:  where people travel trails/pathways to enter, travel through and/or exit open spaces. Creating safer spaces around where people recreate (shelters, pavilions, playgrounds and trails).   
• Educating the public to maintain fire safe space buffers around their homes. 
• Making sure that forest debris litter is spread out and not piled or stacked more than 6-12 inches off the ground so it can adequately and quickly decompose and break down to minimize fuel loads (smaller branches break down quicker than larger ones, but as long as they aren’t stacked up the risk should reduce within the first year or so, due to the decomposition process). 
• Reducing "ladder fuels" by creating separation between ground fuels and the lowest branches of the trees. A general recommendation is to create a separation of 3 times the height of ground fuels to the lowest branches of the trees.  The main goal is to break up the continuity of fuels and keep fires on the ground. 
• Removal of invasive ivy for the health of the trees and the reduction in ladder fuels.  At the bare minimum it would be good to cut the ivy even if it can’t be completely removed as the health of the tree is important for resilience of that forested area.

The City will utilize the existing West Linn Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan and Clackamas County Wildfire Protection Plan to prioritize areas to focus resources.

City parks crews and volunteer teams are consistently working on these tasks. During the month of July and early August the city and a couple of Neighborhood Associations will be contracting with Northwest Youth Corps for two weeks of youth crews working on fuels reduction in the parks system.
July 12- 16, 2021 - 2 staff crew leaders and 9 crew members
July 19 – 23, 2021 – 2 staff crew leaders and 9 crew members
July 26 – 30, 2021 – 2 staff crew leaders and 9 crew members
August 2- 5, 2021 - 2 staff crew leaders and 9 crew members

In 2022 the City will be contracting with Northwest Youth Corps for two weeks of youth crews working on fuels reduction in the parks system.
June 20, 2022 - 2 staff crew leaders and 9 crew members
July 25, 2022 - 2 staff crew leaders and 9 crew members

Many thanks to numerous volunteer groups that are also working in open spaces to reduce fire risks.

In June 2022 th City hosted 8 different Adopt A Park groups in West Linn parks and open spaces.