Restore, conserve

Photo by steve dunphy

GREEN FRIEND. Volunteers from Friends of Julia’s Gulch removed debris from the land during a work party. The group was recognized for clean up efforts on the Port of Tacoma-owned land.

Two years after partners pledged to restore and conserve Julia’s Gulch, blackberries have been banished and birds have returned to the Northeast Tacoma slope.

The Port of Tacoma, city of Tacoma and Schnitzer Steel partnered in 2007 to buy the 31-acre parcel and fund its stewardship with the Cascade Land Conservancy. Since then, the Friends of Julia’s Gulch have cleared garbage, removed invasive blackberries and ivy and planted native vegetation. And on Dec. 10, the Port of Tacoma Commission formally recognized the group of volunteers for their dedication to the site.

“The decisions we make on this commission impact the four corners of the world and generations to come,” Commission President Clare Petrich said. “Restoring and preserving Julia’s Gulch is an example of that impact. It wouldn’t be possible without the dedication from these volunteers.”

Heather and Don Halabisky, lead organizers for the group, were present at the meeting, as were several of the Friends volunteers. Heather says this project has been a catalyst for bringing people together.

“People in Northeast Tacoma don’t really have any kind of town center,” Heather said. “This project offers people the opportunity to get together with their neighbors and do something that is bigger than themselves.”

Heather said she has always enjoyed the outdoors and became interested in environmental preservation after taking a five-month training and workshop course on native plants and restoration techniques hosted by Washington Native Plants Society back in 2006. This was the first time the society hosted such a workshop in Tacoma, which was led by local university professors and experts, she explained.

It was also during that time Heather recalled hearing a rumor about the Port of Tacoma buying property on Marine View Drive, which would later become known as Julia’s Gulch.

“I just had a huge vision to create this trail along the bluff,” she said. “That goal will be coming true, maybe not in my lifetime, but I believe it will someday.”

Although the Port of Tacoma, the city of Tacoma and Portland, Ore.-based Schnitzer Steel Industries are legal owners of this land, they have appointed Cascade Land Conservancy (CLC) its steward. Under the agreement, CLC holds a conservation easement on the property.

The nearly $320,500 contribution from Schnitzer Steel has helped fund the monitoring and protection of the land under terms of the easement by the CLC, ensuring it will remain open green space in the future. The agreement also means that the CLC maintains an active stewardship role to preserve and enhance the conservation and habitat values of the property.

Chris Gilland, Green Tacoma Project Manager and Friends’ liaison to CLC, expressed his admiration for Friends of Julia’s Gulch.  

“This group is light years ahead of other conservation groups, because they are so dedicated,” Gilland said. “For every project like this, it takes just one person that is passionate about keeping it going and Heather is that person.”

While the formal plans for the property are still being considered, low-impact nature trails will be encouraged. The CLC views the Julia’s Gulch clean-up project as one way to achieve the goals of The Cascade Agenda.  

The agenda calls for conserving urban green space to make communities more livable. By creating a natural buffer to the port and limiting more residential encroachment, the CLC is helping the port to thrive without the need to adjust hours of operation and contend with incompatible use issues due to noise, lights, safety concerns and residential traffic.

From an ecological standpoint, the property has a seasonal creek draining to Commencement Bay and supports coyote, deer, birds and other wildlife, which use the gulch for nesting and as a corridor to the water and north to Dash Point State Park.

Friends of Julia’s Gulch usually host a clean-up party each month. The group’s next event will be held on Jan. 10, from 9 a.m. to noon. Details of the work involved is still being decided, however, Heather would like to encourage the community to attend.

“I think that most people would like to do something outdoors and this project is right in their own backyard.”

For more information on work parties and the Friends of Julia’s Gulch mission, visit http://www.juliasgulch.org. 

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