Community restoring Madrona Ravine

Located off Madrona Drive and East Pike Street, the Madrona Ravine is filled with invasive greenery that has taken over the local flora and fauna, concerning local residents about the long-term ecological wellbeing of their neighborhood.

Tracy Stanton, a nine-year area resident, was driven to bring the community together for a restoration project to remove the invasive species over the five acres. On Saturday, Aug. 4, a group of 10 volunteers dressed in boots and long-sleeve tees came to the ravine with shovels and clippers, ready to get dirty during their first invasive pull.

“This is the first restoration of the ravine in a decade,” Stanton said. “We hope to meet monthly to continue this effort.”

Her property overlooking the ravine, Stanton has grown to love the natural beauty in her backyard. Her background in ecological policy gave her an eye to notice the degrading health of the trees in the area, she said. She reached out to local residents by printing out flyers and knocking on doors.

She then contacted EarthCorps, a local organization that works to strengthen communities through healthy environments, for assistance identifying the invasive plants and teaching the various removal processes. The first goal of the invasive pull is to save the remaining cedar trees in the area by cutting down the vines covering them.

As much as there is excitement about the restoration, residents are glad to add a sense of community to an area they all share. While a rustic wooden pedestrian bridge connects many of these properties together, this is one of the few times all the neighbors have had a chance to bond, Stanton said. She wants this project to provide an infusion of energy and bring more people out to help.