Riverbend Restoration Project

A riparian restoration project of the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council and Bend Metro Parks and Recreation District, the Riverbend project was made possible due to funding from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, the Deschutes River Conservancy, and Bend Metro Parks and Recreation District.  

Written by Molly Grove, Pilot Butte Middle School teacher

The Riverbend project entailed 39 of my students traveling by bus to Riverbend Park. They were briefed on the importance of riparian vegetation, and showed examples of good riparian cover and bad. The students then planted a variety of trees along the very blank section of riverbank which will soon become Riverbend Park. They were extremely excited about the tree planting and did a super job. My half of the class had a ball counting the number of trees they planted (some pairs as many as 25!) and naming them (Bob, Sarah, etc). "It was awesome, but hard," states 6th grader Tabi Dooms. "It was the funnest field trip I've ever been on and it was helping out Bend," states Shavon Provencio. "It was a great experience being able to plant so many different trees, and I can't wait to go back when I'm older and say I planted those trees," states Nic Kavanaugh.

This field trip was a super follow up to the Salmon Watch trip, where many students learned about riparian ecology. We're studying ecology in class this trimester, so it is a perfect connection to the outside world to get to see our local river ecosystems first-hand.