Riley Creek's “Rich Riparian Zone” Vision Statement:
Transform Riley Creek School’s creek-side property into a healthy habitat which will support a diversity of wildlife, create an outdoor learning lab for students, while instilling a sense of community pride and awareness of our town’s watershed.
Our hard work is paying off, and we have evidence! Exciting new signs of improvement of wildlife habitat in and around Riley Creek include:
- New plant life emerging and our planted trees taking strong root and growing tall!
- More bird life
- Higher diversity of aquatic insects (fish food)
- Improved water quality and in-stream habitats for aquatic species
- Evidence indicating animals are utilizing newly restored and cleared areas for food, shelter, water and wildlife traveling through…
How the Adopt-a-Stream project got it's name: “Riley Creek's Rich Riparian Zone”
“Riley Creek’s Rich Riparian Zone” is the winning project name after a school wide vote, originating in Mrs. Hue-Dirusso’s 5th grade class from Riley Creek School in 2005. The name represents the school’s Adopt-a-Stream project along their school’s “riparian” edge. The riparian zone is the strip of vegetation next to aquatic zone which is vital to fish and wildlife habitat and water quality. Since March 2006, over 1000 native trees, shrubs and riparian plants have been planted along the edge of Riley Creek, where it has been overgrown with blackberries. “They voted the name Riley Creek’s Rich Riparian Zone for their project because they thought it was a good description of how they are trying to improve the “richness” of what was growing there”, explains Statia Ryder, project leader. Cassidy, a 5th grader at Riley Creek who voted for the winning project name, said “We think we can turn Riley Creek into a rich riparian zone. We really think we can do it.”
Riley Creek students take pride in that their school is named after the creek that runs next to it and are trying to make a difference. “We’re a school that cares about the stream”, said Nathan. “We should care; it was here before the school!” said Tyler.
Students at Riley Creek have learned that a healthy riparian area is important for many reasons. “The trees hold up the soil so the creek stays clean,” said 4th grader Darby. “So that we can have fish!” said her friend Emily. Other reasons students mentioned was to provide shade, wildlife and fish habitat. The overall consensus is that a healthy riparian zone improves the creek’s water quality, which means a better home for the fish that they want to live in their creek.
An Adopt-a-Stream sign has been erected along the north fork of Riley Creek, across from the school’s bus garage, to show the community how much they care and are committed to their project. Mark Becker, a Gold Beach High School teacher, volunteered his woodshop class to construct the sign, who dedicated many hours of work and created a quality sign. It is colorful, creative and the students at Riley Creek love it, especially the detailed trout splashing next to their schools name!
The lumber, hardware and concrete for the sign was funded by a SOLV grant that 5th grader, Raymond applied for and received; the paint was donated by Gold Beach Lumber and Frank Burris. The students of Riley Creek have a message for the community which is posted boldly on the sign, “DON’T BE MEAN, HELP KEEP RILEY CREEK CLEAN!”