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2 | P a g e A project to restore and increase the native riparian habitat on a 1 acre site along Oak Creek will begin in spring 2013. In order to carry out long-term monitoring and evaluation of the efficacy of the restoration effort, it is necessary to know what is growing there now. To that end I have conducted a multi-part inventory of the current vegetation, to establish baselines of species diversity and coverage, canopy cover, and percentage of native and invasive species against which to measure progress. The current vegetation is a mix of native species and exotics. The tree canopy is a narrow strip along the creek banks, and there are not very many trees in it, but those present are primarily native species. This survey confirms that there is a growing problem with several Class B Noxious weeds that are likely to take over the understory if not checked. These results demonstrate a clear need for a restoration and management plan focused on increasing the native understory cover and on increasing the width of the overstory canopy. This plan should be combined with a strong, long-term institutional commitment to keep the invasive species under control. In addition there are possibilities for expanding the restored area through collaboration with other OSU departments that manage nearby stretches of Oak Creek. 3 | P a g