Paul Snoey

                                    Some shiny geranium seedlings on 304th Street near NW 71st Avenue.  

I had never heard of this geranium six years ago. First,  I noticed a pretty little weed growing on the curbs and curb stops at the post office parking lot. Later, on a property near Allen Canyon Creek I noticed a couple acres had turned bright green with tiny seedlings. A photo sent to Clark County Weed Management identified it as shiny geranium, an invasive species. Since it was in only a few places in Ridgefield I thought it could be controlled and I did my best.  On the six acres near Allen Canyon Creek, the property owner and I worked hard to control it. The owner spent over one thousand dollars on an herbicide that was recommended.  We did have some success, eliminating over 90% of it.  But to be successful you need to eliminate all of it since it is such a prolific seed producer.  I must have put in several hours a week last year looking for every single plant.  It’s an annual and the strategy was to kill it before it makes seeds.  Seeds germinate after the first fall rains.  Last fall, after seeing so many seedlings come up after the first rains I knew the effort was futile.  So, I’ve given up.  In riding my bicycle around town and north of town  I see it is almost everywhere now. It covers much of the ground in the northern part of the Carty Unit and is rapidly spreading.  It has been amazing to watch.  In another decade it  will be almost every where it can possibly grow. 

Some of the worst weedy species I know along  Gee Creek, are blackberries, English Ivy, and reed canary grass. It likely won’t be as damaging as those plants,  but still can smother other small native plants and seedlings.  It is still spreading rapidly so we won’t see how destructive it can be for a while.   It’s an awesome weed with an amazing ability to produce seeds.  Now only that,  but It can catapult seeds more than 20 feet away.  I’ve seen the seedlings  on tree limbs several feet off the ground.

It’s interesting to see a new weed species come in to our area.  Still, I wish it could have been contained.  For a property owner on say, a 7500 sq. ft. lot, it can likely be contained with a standard lawn herbicide.  In areas of acreage, especially wooded, it will eventually get there and have an impact.  From what I am seeing this fall, shiny geranium  has made quite an impact in only five years or so.

BY Paul Snoey

Above:  A photo taken yesterday.

 A juvenile bullfrog hops across a recently dried pond.  A few feet away are hundreds of dead tadpoles.   Some of which have  developed legs and arms; Another week or so and they would have  been able to  leave.  This has been the longest and  hottest summer we’ve ever had.  The damage to trees and shrubs is very evident.  The mortality of fish in Gee Creek is likely very high.  The mortality of all fish in Allen Canyon Creek is total since the entire creek went dry.  The last significant rain we had was in the middle of June.  It’s been almost three months.  The summers here have been drier, warmer, and longer since 2014.

There is some relief on the way.  The National Weather Service is predicting one to two inches  of rain beginning early Friday morning.  That will make a big difference if it happens.  It may be enough to restore flows to Allen Canyon Creek and increase the very low flows on Gee Creek.  NWS warns that it won’t be enough to end the fire season but should help.  It will not end the drought unless there is more rain soon.

There are  many construction projects in Ridgefield with a lot of exposed dirt.  Some of them look  vulnerable to erosion.  The city needs to  take steps to have contractors and developers double down on erosion control efforts.  In the past, erosion control failures have  have left a coating of mud on the streambeds.  With low flows, streams will not be able to wash any sediment away.

BY Paul Snoey

Clark County posted  new data for the two week average ending September 2nd.  It’s evident that the case rate/100,000 has slowed.  However, new cases in Clark are still at an all time high.  But perhaps we’re nearing the crest.  

For the United States today, Worldometer posted 160,748 new cases and 1929 deaths.

For Washington State, the posting was 3960 new cases and 64 deaths today.

For Clark County, the posting was 217 new cases and 5 deaths today

For Cowlitz County, it was 119 new cases and 10 deaths.

These are not good numbers. 

This photo was taken last year when there was a great deal of smoke in the air and it got dark early.     These birds went into the chimney sooner  than they usually did. It has always been a pleasure to watch these acrobatic flyers.  They were a nuisance for my neighbors.    Earlier this summer, screens were placed over the chimney,   These birds can no longer roost here.  I miss watching them.  I hope they find another place nearby.

by Paul Snoey