On a sunny Saturday in February, FOF’s Exective Director Steve Faust visited the Peaceful Valley Community Center and gave a presentation on the overall vision and projects of the Gorge Strategic Master Plan (SMP). The presentation seems to have sparked interest in implementing one of the projects from the SMP: the restoration of riparian habitat - in this case along the edge of the Peaceful Valley Neighborhood from Glover Field downstream along Water Street.

Matt Phillipy, a West Valley City School teacher who moved to the Peaceful Valley neighborhood in 2006, has volunteered to help move the project forward. Including a light duty walking trail along the south bank of river, the SMP estimates the project cost at about $500,000. Neighborhood residents have begun discussions with Spokane Parks & Recreation and the Lands Council about the project, and are considering devoting some neighborhood Community Development money as seed funding. Once the necessary planning and permitting is in place, volunteer labor could be coordinated as part of the annual Spokane River Clean Up.

There’s much more in the SMP document, but here’s some of the descriptive text from Chapter 4:

“The riverfront along the edge of the Peaceful Valley Neighborhood should be restored to native riparian habitat and even some riparian wetlands...public and private lands could be improved by removing non-native species over time and establishing more native species such as Black Cottonwood, River Birch, Scouler Willow, Pacific Willow, Swamp Gooseberry, Red Osier Dogwood, and Elderberry. These species would provide cover for wildlife as well as shade and nutrients for the river ecosystem. Bank retention should favor living, flexible materials rather than riprap or concrete.”

The plan identifies six general areas within the Gorge in particular need of non-native plant species removal, including the area of interest to the neighborhood.

We’ll keep posting updates as things develop!

SMP Map, Figure 4.7 (520 Kb Acrobat® file)