Canyon Resources
Documents Library
One of the toughest parts of doing any research is finding out what work has already been done. To help with future investigations into the canyon, we've assembled this library of canyon-related documents. The information collected below is intended to give some background on the canyon's history and ecology. (Be sure to also check the curriculum page and the list of senior thesis projects that have been done in the canyon.)
If you know of a canyon-related document that we should add to our library, please drop us a note.
Valuing the Benefits of Ecosystem Services Generated by the Reed Canyon Restoration Project: 1999-2009 (2009)
the Fall 2009 Natural Resource Economics 352 Class
... This report, a collaborative effort by students in the fall 2009 Natural Resource Economics class, evaluates and values the change in ecosystem services from restorating the Reed College Canyon. Ecosystem goods and services include: water quantity and quality, air quality, wildlife habitat and recreation. ...
Habitat Assessment of Reed Canyon Reach of Crystal Springs Creek (2001)
from the Portland Parks and Recreation Dept.
... The Reed Canyon Reach received the highest score in the study area (62 of 81 total possible points, 77%) during the field investigations. For comparison purposes, the range of scores within the CSC study area was 36 to 62. This reach scored high in the natural biological support and specific habitat functions due to the presence of a large area of land containing variable habitat types within the reach. ...
Reed Canyon Enhancement Strategy (1999)
prepared by Dennis O'Connor and Kendra Smith
... Reed Canyon, within the Reed College campus and the headwaters of Crystal Springs, is in dire need of invasive species management and enhancement. The extraordinary water quality bubbling up from the springs around the canyon is in stark contrast to the ailing plant community complexes that dominate the system. The native trees and shrubs that form the overstory of the Canyon are at risk of being eliminated from the system, if the non-natives are left to spread unchecked. ...
Canyon Day--Past and Present (1997)
by Nathan Coutsoubos '97
... Starting in 1913, a day has been set aside yearly for members of the Reed community to pitch in and take care of the canyon. This ethic of stewardship works to guarantee that Reed's common resource maintains its health and vitality. ...
Reintroducing Salmon into the Reed Canyon (1996)
by Nathan Coutsoubos '97
... The Reed College Green Board, a student-run organization working to improve campus ecology and environmental practices, is responding to this regional crisis by acting at the local level. They have built a fish box, in which fertilized salmon eggs can be safely sequestered until hatching. At that point, the hatchlings will be released into the stream that drains the canyon lake, where they will live and grow. ...
Canyon Plants (1996)
by Bruce Moreira and Helen Stafford
... Montia siberica, Candy Flower, east-end marsh - Narcissus sp., Daffodils, northwest shore, one individual - Penstemon cardwellii, Beardtongue, Penstemon, east end of foot bridge - Petasites palmatus, Palmate Coltsfoot, southeast shore - Pityrogramma triangularis, Gold-back Fern, east-end marsh (one loc.) - Polypodium glycyrrhiza, Licorice Fern, southeast & southwest shores ...
Ecology of the Canyon (1995)
by Bruce Moreira, Reed '97
... Much of the ecological change of the canyon described in this paper is based on a thesis completed in 1938 by Ms. Una V. Davies entitled "Vascular Plants of the Reed College campus." Many of the species she cites as being in the "canyon" are still abundant, like Trilliums (Trillium Ovatum), Sword ferns and Douglas firs. Others have apparently disappeared, like the Triangular Wood fern (Dyropteris apinulase), and Smith's fairybells (Disporum smithii). The most striking change however are the species which were not present, or very limited in 1938, but are widespread now, most significantly; English ivy (Hedera helix), Himalayan blackberry (Rubus discolor), Wild clematis (Clematis ligusticifolis) and English holly (Ilex aquifolium) ...
Birds, Mammals & Marsupials Viewed on or over Reed College Campus, 5/90 - 10/95 (1995)
by Jess Kimball, a neighbor of the college
... GREBES: Pied-Billed Grebe, HERONS: Great Blue Heron, Green Backed Heron, WATERFOWL: Canada Goose, Wood Duck, Mallard, American Wigeon, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, Ruddy Duck, VULTURES: Turkey Vulture, HAWKS: Sharp-Shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Red-Tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, RAILS: American Coot, PLOVERS: Killdeer ...
Canyon Research Report (1995)
the Fall 1995 Natural Science 110 Class
... Phosphate and nitrate concentration data are completely consistent with those measured last year and therefore again show a significant nitrate concentration drop from the top of the canyon to its bottom. Coliform bacteria concentrations are high in all canyon waters, which are therefore unsafe for human consumption. An attempt to simulate the heavy metal leaching of acid rain failed again, but several improvements on this simulation are possible. Measurements of pH of Canyon waters and rain water show a healthy condition of low acidity. ...
Canyon Research Report (1994)
the Fall 1994 Natural Science 110 Class
... The unusual recent algal bloom in Reed Lake is found to probably not be primarily caused by unusually large values of nitrate or phosphate. Instead we propose for further study the hypothesis that the aquatic ecology of the canyon is being damaged by unusually low summer flow rates of water through the canyon. Several additional features of canyon water are reported in this attempt to initiate a chemical and physical data base for the waters of the Reed Canyon. In addition, coliform bacteria concentrations were found to exceed drinking water standard values by more than an order of magnitude. ...
The Reed College Canyon Brief (1994)
by Jimmy Y-Ming Huang '97
... Before experiments can be carried out, one must have a good background of the canyon's general location with respect to the other major Portland streams, the canyon's fascinating history, and some of the studies that have been done with the canyon. ...
Birds Seen in the Reed Canyon (1994)
Appendix C from Canyon Brief
... Brewer's Blackbird, Brown Creeper, Brown-headed Cowbird, Bushtit, Cedar Waxwing, Cinnamon Teal, Common Merganser, Dark-eyed Junco, Downy Woodpecker, European Starling, Evening Grosbeak, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Great Blue Heron, Green-backed Heron, Hairy Woodpecker, House Finch, House Sparrow, Mallard, Mourning Dove, Northern Flicker, Northern Oriole, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Orange-crowned Warbler, Pine Siskin ...
Crystal Springs Creek data (1993)
from Rick Boatner, Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife
... Since 1975 at least four population inventory surveys have been conducted on Crystal Springs Cr. The list of species inventoried consisted of the following species (J=juveniles, A=adults): Family Salmonidae:, Coho Salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch (J, A), Chinook Salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (J, A), Steelhead and/or Rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri (J, A), Cutthroat Trout, Salmo clarki (J, A) ...
Winter Bird Species Likely to be Found in the Canyon Area (1976)
by Dave DeSante
... Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Cedar Waxwing, Starling, Yellow-rumped (Audobon's) Warbler, House Sparrow, Red-Winged Blackbird, Evening Grosbeak, Purple Finch, House Finch, Pine Siskin, American Goldfinch, Rufous-sided Towhee, Dark-eyed (Oregon) Junco, Goldern Crowned Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Yellow-bellied (red-breasted) Sapsucker ...