Reecer Creek Aquatic Plants

Document Type

Oral Presentation

Event Website

https://source2022.sched.com/

Start Date

19-5-2022

End Date

19-5-2022

Keywords

Invasive, Native, sustainability, Ecology

Abstract

We surveyed aquatic plants at 3 locations in the stream on the Reecer Creek Floodplain Restoration Project, Ellensburg, Washington. We compared native and invasive species of flora in and around the area. We measured 1m2 areas at stratified random locations in Reecer creek. We counted the number of each species of plant in each area. We concluded that there are more native than invasive flora at Reecer Creek. For example, our upstream section contained 60% Widgeon Grass (native), 30% Clasping-Leaf Pondweed (native), and 10% Reed Canary Grass (Invasive). We recommend continued monitoring of Reed Canary Grass, which is a highly invasive species that is known to outcompete native flora. In every section of the creek this grass was present, and in our opinion this is a threat to Reecer creek and its native flora.

Faculty Mentor(s)

Jeff Hashimoto

Additional Mentoring Department

Community Partnership with Ellensburg High School

Streaming Media

Share

COinS
 
May 19th, 12:00 AM May 19th, 12:00 AM

Reecer Creek Aquatic Plants

We surveyed aquatic plants at 3 locations in the stream on the Reecer Creek Floodplain Restoration Project, Ellensburg, Washington. We compared native and invasive species of flora in and around the area. We measured 1m2 areas at stratified random locations in Reecer creek. We counted the number of each species of plant in each area. We concluded that there are more native than invasive flora at Reecer Creek. For example, our upstream section contained 60% Widgeon Grass (native), 30% Clasping-Leaf Pondweed (native), and 10% Reed Canary Grass (Invasive). We recommend continued monitoring of Reed Canary Grass, which is a highly invasive species that is known to outcompete native flora. In every section of the creek this grass was present, and in our opinion this is a threat to Reecer creek and its native flora.

https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2022/COTS/4