This team is responsible for gathering all of the willow and dogwood whips and poles for the construction phase of the restoration project.

Purpose:  Willows and Dogwoods can be collected and propagated by cuttings.  Cuttings can be directly staked on site and the cuttings will form roots and new top growth and will spread relatively quickly to protect soil and provide wildlife habitat.

Methods:  There are numerous willow species with varying growth habits native to the Pend Oreille watershed basin. Willow species need to be selected that are appropriate for the planting site. Cuttings will be taken while the plants are dormant late in the fall of 2014 and in early spring.

Willow whips soaking in water prior to planting. (Figure is from: Hoag., J. 2007. How to plant willows and cottonwoods for riparian restoration. USDA-NRCS Technical Note No. 23. Plant Materials Center, Aberdeen, Idaho. 2007)

We will need approximately 51,000 willow and dogwood cuttings and 350 willow poles for the engineering contract this fall and winter. More will be needed for the revegetation efforts in the spring of 2015. Population locations for taking cuttings need to be identified during the summer of 2014.

Cuttings need to be approximately ¾ inch to 1 ½ inch diameter and 4 feet to 6 feet long. We will collect from native stands of healthy shrubs. Cuttings will come from wood that is 2 to 3 years old.

We will need huge support to accomplish the identification of collection locations and collections of these willows.