THE MOLALLA RIVER
          ……More Than Meets The Eye

A Discovery Series: Field Trips on the Molalla River

From its headwaters beyond Table Rock Wilderness, the crystal clear and biologically diverse Molalla River cuts through dense forests, towering basalt cliffs and columns, and slender canyons to its union with the Willamette River. It supports a treasure of ecosystems including rare natural communities and an amazing variety of plants, animal species and little known geological spectacles.

This is the setting for an inspiring new series of small-group, guided field trips in the Molalla River Recreation Corridor. Whether your interests are birds and wildlife, native fish species, plants and trees, river ecology, geology, or local history and culture, this is your chance to discover, explore and enjoy the beauty of the Molalla River watershed. Organized and sponsored by the Molalla River Alliance, each field trip is led by leading naturalists and scientists.

Thursday, March 17: "Rivers and Their People: A Confluence"

To kick off this exciting series, a free Opening Night "Field Trip" will be offered at the Molalla Adult Community Center (315 Kennel Ave, Molalla) from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., on Thursday, March 17th, 2011.

This fast-paced evening will feature multi-media narrations previewing each of the three upcoming field trips. These will be presented by the guides / speakers of these trips.

Also, we are pleased to have keynote presentations by two Estacada-raised speakers, noted author Robin Cody, and Mike Houck, Executive Director of the Urban Greenspaces Institute.

Robin Cody is the author of "Another Way the River Has: Taut True Tales from the Northwest", and "Ricochet River," a novel. Robin grew up swimming across and drifting down and poking around and puzzling over the Clackamas River. He is a native speaker who probes the streams and woods and salmon that run to the heart of what it means to live and love, to work and play, in Oregon. Robin will talk briefly and entertainingly about the spirit of our rivers. He has worked as an English teacher, a dean of college admissions, a baseball umpire and a school bus driver.

Mike Houck founded (1999) and is Executive Director of the Urban Greenspaces Institute. He has served for thirty years as Urban Naturalist for Audubon of Portland. He co-founded the Coalition for a Livable Future and more recently was a founding member of The Intertwine Alliance. Mike's work focuses on the integration of nature in the city. "In livable cities is preservation of the wild" speaks to his philosophy that it will be only by creating livable cities that the rural landscape will be protected and restored. And, to be livable, urban residents must have access to nature where they live, work and go to school.

Schedule of Field Trips

Saturday, May 7: "Birds and Plants of the Molalla River"

In the spring, everything returns to the forest, and everything begins anew. It is the perfect moment to spend a May morning learning about ferns, mosses and flowering plants and the assortment of birds that inhabit or visit the Molalla River watershed. May is the peak of bird migration, breeding and nesting. And, you'll learn that many plants have great stories to tell.

Are you aware that members of the mint group have square stems, that the lily group has structural components that come in threes and sixes, and that woodpeckers have a distinctive, undulating flight that can be used as a field mark from long distances? Every participant will leave with a general idea of characteristics of plants and bird groups. This fascinating field trip will make future identification in the field easier.

Your guide will be expert birder, naturalist and educator Steve Mauritz. You will find his enthusiasm infectious, his knowledge inspiring. Steve will take you to Aquila Vista, an unusually rich diversity of habitats and wetlands. He will also talk about the effective use of binoculars and field guides to help make future identification easier.

• When: Saturday, May 7th, Rain or Shine!
• Time: 8:45 - 11:00 am
• Where to Meet: Bus transportation will be provided from downtown Molalla.
• What to Bring: Bring binoculars or borrow a pair of ours. We'll also provide field guides. You are encouraged to bring your camera.
• What to Wear: Weather can be variable in the spring, so you are encouraged to dress
• appropriately. You are strongly encouraged to wear boots or shoes that can get muddy.
• Dogs: We love dogs, however, they are not allowed on the field trips

Saturday, July 30: "The Geology and Hydrogeology of The Molalla River"

The Molalla River Corridor offers visitors exceptional and easily visible examples of Western Cascades geology and hydrogeology. Lavas in the canyon date back over 15 million years and evidence one of the largest outpourings of volcanic material in North American history. Originating as glowing streams of extremely hot lava from vents as far away as Idaho, some of the lavas eventually formed most of the headlands on Oregon's coast. Details in the Molalla River Corridor allow us to determine the temperature, thickness and even the source of the flows.

Much of the local terrain here is Columbia River Basalt. You will see how the swirling basalt columns allow us to interpret what the ancient topography looked like. You will also have a stunning view of the river's famed Rosette "eye" of Columnar Basalt.

Rivers, with their fascinating and powerful hydraulics, do important work shaping the landscape. The Molalla River is no exception. The Molalla features a classical steep canyon cutting through resistant volcanic rocks. The stream changes from a gently flowing summer mode to a powerful wintertime current. During the latter phase, stones of remarkable size are rolled down the canyon along the bed of the river.

You will see how the stream bed becomes a "rock library" of the geology of the river. Field trip participants will come away with an appreciation for the enormous amount of information a flowing stream can yield…..and maybe even with some gold!

Your guides on this field trip are William N. Orr and Sheila Alfsen.

Bill taught Geology and Paleontology for 30 years at the University of Oregon, where he retired after a full career of teaching and research. He has written several books on Oregon’s Geology and fossils, coauthored with his wife, Elizabeth, and remains the director of the state’s Condon Museum of Fossils.

Sheila has been in education for 26 years and has taught Geology in local high schools and community colleges. Sheila is currently developing and conducting classes at Chemeketa and Linn Benton Community Colleges. She is bilingual and has led many local area field trips.

We invite you to come and experience the geological spectacles of your Molalla River Corridor while gaining a glimpse of earth's mysterious past.

• When: Saturday, July 30, 2011
• Time: 8:45 am - 3:00 pm
• Where to Meet: Bus transportation from downtown Molalla
• What to Bring: Lunch, water, camera (optional), notebook, pencil
• What to Wear: Sunscreen, sunglasses, shade hat, comfortable walking shoes
• Dogs: We love dogs, however, they are not allowed on the field trips

Saturday Sept. 24: "Fish and Water Discovery Field Trip"

This dynamic, hands-on and interactive program will give participants an overview of the Molalla River watershed, focusing on salmon spawning and water quality issues. The fall is the premiere opportunity to view this wondrous event.

Participants will travel by bus to visit various sites along the Molalla River corridor. At least two will be on the main river, and one will be to a headwater stream. We will view spawning activity where present at these sites.

Participants will also have an opportunity to measure and collect information on water quality (such as temperature and turbidity). We will explain the connections between water quality and the importance of a healthy watershed for salmon and other species. Please join us for a fun and educational day along the Molalla River!

• When: Saturday, Sept. 24th, Rain or Shine!
• Time: 8:45 am - 3:00 pm
• Where to Meet: Bus transportation will be provided from downtown Molalla
• What to Bring: You are encouraged to bring your camera. We will have a lunch stop along the river, so please bring a sack lunch.
• What to Wear: Weather can be variable in the Fall, so you are encouraged to dress appropriately. You are strongly encouraged to bring rubber boots and/or waders
• Dogs: We love dogs, however, they are not allowed on the field trips