Restoration

Broom removal doesn’t help park’s ecosystem

No place in the Northwest is more beautiful than the interior hills and cliffs of the Maury marine park when the May sun lights up the profusion of golden Scotch broom blossoms. Now “efforts (are) under way” to eliminate this annual display (Beachcomber, May 27). The article contains a number of errors regarding this familiar bush. First and foremost broom does not deplete the soil. Broom is a legume that fixes nitrogen in the soil. Its deep roots draw nutrients to the surface and further the process of humus production.

Furthermore, the broom is receding on its own. Over the past decade I have hiked the area frequently. I have observed how broom has provided shelter to madrona seedlings and other young trees from predatory browsing and withering sunlight. Many such trees have sprung up in the past few years along the gentler slopes of the park. 

Golden blooming broom still rules the cliff areas where their strong root systems stabilize the soil. Look for landslides where the broom is disturbed. The soil base is mostly sand and gravel subject to collapse.

In the past decade at least 50 percent of the broom has been replaced by native trees such as madrona and fir. Where underground springs are active cottonwood has taken over. Broom cannot compete with these large trees. The sun-loving bush dies in the shade. The “Invasive Species Rangers” may do more harm than good by tearing up the environment. Indeed the term “invasive species”’ is loaded. Aren’t most of us invasive? You know, European, Asian, African?

In early May I saw goldfinches nesting in some of the mature broom. I hope they were not displaced.

— Jonathan R. Cronin

VAA’s plans

Community’s vision needs to be included

If realized, Vashon Allied Arts’ plan to transform its corner property into a theater and arts campus could be the Island’s most expensive and high profile building project ever.

It has the chance of being transformative in a very positive way for the Island. The arts are an important part of every community and are an extremely significant part of Vashon. Creating a dream home to house the arts in our community is a wonderful idea — and one I think this community has the ability to dream about and move towards realizing.

But it needs to be the vision of the entire community, not just a small inner circle. If a wealthy individual wants to pay for and endow a campus, then I think the community could be somewhat excluded from the process. But if this is being done with government funds and if the community will continue to be asked to contribute, then it has to be included in the process.

For example, reading in The Beachcomber that a campus has been conceptually designed and an architectural firm essentially selected in secret will not allow the community to feel like this is their art center.

I commend the ambition and vision of the board of Vashon Allied Arts to begin the process of realizing a new arts center on Vashon, and I hope they find an equally visionary and open process to bring the community into the dream, even if this process greatly alters the current timing and concepts of the board.

— Roy McMakin