NEW TRAIL- Agnes Creek Open Space
Agnes Creek Before
The City is pleased to offer a new trail within the Agnes Creek open space in southwest Lincoln City. The ¾-mile trail loop and parking area are the result of a thinning project that took place within the open space in the summer of 2013.
The Agnes Creek forest reseeded itself naturally after it was clearcut in the 1960’s. The resulting second-growth forest was very dense and uniform, with little understory vegetation or wildlife habitat, and increasingly susceptible to damage from high winds.
The City commissioned Mark Miller from Trout Mountain Forestry to analyze the condition of the forest and provide recommendations on improving its quality. A secondary goal was to provide for a recreational opportunity in the form of a walking trail. In June and July of 2013, Trout Mountain managed a selective thinning project within the Agnes Creek Open Space. Mark Miller marked individual trees to remove. The trees that were selected to be removed were small and less vigorous than others of the same species within the forest. By removing these trees, the larger, more established trees would have less competition and would benefit from a healthier environment. Mr. Miller hired and supervised a contractor, who used equipment and expertise in a light-touch method of harvesting that protected the sensitive open space environment
Agnes Creek After
and the preserved trees. Contractors also removed invasive weeds such as English Ivy and Scotch Broom. Sale of logs and pulp wood paid for the project and provided the city with a small net income. The contractor ground up small limbs and brush into wood chips to cover the trail formed by the logging equipment.
After thinning, more sunlight reaches the forest floor, which is already stimulating new seedling, shrub and understory vegetation growth and strengthening the remaining trees. The newly thinned forest will provide a better habitat for wildlife and will be more resilient to weather, insects, and disease.
During the coming months, the City will gravel the parking area and plant native trees and shrubs to stimulate strong undergrowth. The Park Board and City Council are considering further improvements, including an information kiosk, trail markers, and picnic facilities.