Meanwhile, I bought a truckload of native plants in one-gallon buckets, and that's what we planted and caged today (while lighting off the now-dried burn piles at the same time). Salmon spawn in the creek each fall, and blackberry overgrowth leads to elevated water temps by crowding out the canopy-formers.

It occurred to me - now over a hundred man-hours and a few thousand dollars into the whole project - what a futile gesture it was.

I wish you great luck with this project. Hopefully your creek is tamer than ours. We took down a wall of brambles, opening up a view I had no idea came with the property, which we had bought in full leaf. Unfortunately, also triggering a war with the "creek," (so named, but a good 40' wide and kayakable,)which continues to eat our frontage with every rain storm, putting large trees at risk. Anything I plant has no opportunity to set roots, even Rosa Rugosa, or Beach Rose, which is often used to counter erosion. We are in the mountains so bodies of water are prone to extreme floods. Son is actually in the process of getting certified in stream restoration through work, so perhaps our paying for that degree can finally be exploited by us.

Would love to hear updates on your progress if willing, and am sending this directly to you as well as on the board so that you will hopefully check your junk mail and reply off the boards.

IP