Restoring pastureland to a thriving wetland along Circle Creek
In the late spring of 2025, NCLC’s stewardship team was contacted by its longtime partner, Tillamook Estuaries Partnership. At the end of the main planting season, TEP had a surplus of roughly 2,500 shrubs at their Native Plant Nursery in Tillamook that needed a home or they would be composted. With the help of numerous volunteers, Circle Creek Habitat Reserve became that home.
The project of salvaging the shrubs, transporting them to the reserve near Seaside, and planting them across roughly two to three acres became known as Feathered Friends and Creekside Trends.
“We wanted to do a restoration project that was specifically targeting enhancing habitat for birds,” Stewardship Director Melissa Reich says. That includes adding beneficial native shrubs—such as elderberry, salmonberry, cascara, twinberry, and Pacific ninebark—in an area of Circle Creek that is currently dominated by reed canary grass, which doesn’t make for good habitat. Shrub habitat is also important for nesting and perching.
For most of May and into early June, many of NCLC’s various stewardship efforts became focused on getting the shrubs into the ground to capitalize on the remaining spring moisture. In addition to Tidy Wild Tuesdays, Weed Warrior Wednesdays, and other spontaneous activities, Land Steward Nick Bromen organized Restoration Rendezvous get-togethers on several Fridays in May and early June to supplement the planting efforts. In all, 165 volunteer hours were spent on the project—not including the transportation time.
“It was awesome to have such high interest and support from our volunteers, without whom we couldn’t have completed this project,” Nick says.
The restoration project also highlights the importance of NCLC’s partnership with TEP, as one of their North Oregon Restoration Partners (NORP). NCLC has been part of NORP for several decades. Read More