Weeds retreating in Southeast Vancouver

Old Evergreen Highway — There’s good news and great news at the Columbia Springs Environmental Education Center. The good news is that 41 volunteers turned out Feb. 25 for the annual invasive plant survey at the 100-acre site in Southeast Vancouver. Volunteers explored the entire property in search of invasive species such as English ivy, English holly and Himalayan blackberry. The great news, according to Columbia Springs staff member Mariah Acton, is that the 600-plus hours of weed-yanking that volunteers did last year has proven quite successful saving 171 trees and approximately 30,500 square feet of forest floor. The invaders’ footprint has been greatly reduced, and native plants are taking over. “It’s really exciting to see that our efforts are actually working,” Acton said.