Volunteers Remove Invasive Weeds; Plant Native Herbs at Balfour-Klickitat Trail
A land stewardship work party pauses to pose for a photo on the Balfour-Klickitat Trail. USFS Botanist Brance Morefield (right) holds up a recently removed European houndstongue. Photo: Monique Trevett
By Cole Goodwin
Lyle, WA, April 23, 2024 – Volunteers joined Friends of the Columbia Gorge and the US Forest Service in removing hundreds of invasive plants at the Balfour-Klickitat Area and Trail last Friday April 23rd.
“There has been a lot of momentum here for many years tackling the European houndstongue,” said Sarah Skelly, Stewardship Volunteer Coordinator.
European houndstongue (cynoglossum offiicinale) is a toxic biennial plant in the borage family that procuded long rough, hairy tongue shaped leaves and narrow magenta flower clusters.
Volunteers severed the roots of the european houndstongue, leaving the plants themselves to compost back into the soil. This method, when done early enough in the season, prevents the plants from flowering and producing seed burs that can travel far on the pelts of animals or on your shoelaces.
Western Houndstongue at the Balfour-Klickitat Trail on April 4, 2024. Photo: Cole Goodwin
IMPORTANT NOTE: Aspiring land stewards should always be sure to carefully identify a plant species before removing it. As there is also a native species of houndstongue, known as Western or Pacific Houndstongue (Cynoglossum occidentale) which plays an important role in local ecosystems. This perennial herb is easily distinguishable from it’s invasive cousin by it’s five lobed blue flowers with white appendages at the center.
Volunteers also planted Klickitat biscuitroot (Lomatium klickitatense), an aromatic perennial herb native to Washington along the river.
Crystal Durbecq, USFS Invasive Plant and Pesticide Use Coordinator (right) and work party volunteers planting Klickitat Biscuitroot along the Klickitat River. Photo: Monique Trevett
Cole Goodwin, OSU Naturalist program student and Friends volunteer removes some Himalayan blackberry to release a blue elderberry tree. Photo: Monique Trevett
The work party was rewarded for their hard work with the rare sight of a resident red fox on the trail.
The next work party at Balfour-Klickitat Trail is scheduled for May 10, 2024.
Learn more about upcoming stewardship work parties at Gorgefriends.org.
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