The Significance of Hess Creek Canyon for GFU
Reported By: Sohpia Lumsdaine
Photographed By: Allison Martinet
Seasons at George Fox University (GFU) can be marked by the changing appearance of Hess Creek Canyon. When students arrive on campus in late August, the canyon is green, leafy, and lush. In autumn, the many Big Leaf Maple leaves in the canyon turn beautiful shades of yellow and orange, and they slowly drop until branches are bare. Winter rains and wind soon hit and the canyon becomes less inviting. However, when spring rolls around, new buds and shoots will once again bring the canyon back to life. Along with the Crisman Crossing Bridge and the Clock Tower, the Hess Creek Canyon is arguably one of the most distinctive nonacademic locations around campus.
After a young bear cub’s mother was shot about 15 miles west of Newberg in the late 1800s, a student brought the cub back to the GFU campus. The cub lived with a faculty member until it grew into adulthood, and was then held in captivity in a pit in Hess Creek Canyon. This bear is the namesake of GFU’s current Bruin mascot.
Beyond this historical vignette, Hess Creek Canyon has been a constant feature on the GFU campus since its founding, even as many other aspects of the university have changed over time. “[The canyon is] a glimpse into some of the native vegetation of native ecosystems that were here prior to the neighborhood,” said Biology Professor Aaron Sullivan. “But […] it's also really convenient to have a place to study the basics of ecology.”
Sullivan, who teaches ecology and biodiversity courses at GFU, uses the canyon regularly for his classes. This has included calculating the density of Western Sword Fern, estimating Big Leaf Maple dispersion, and using plots and camera traps to gauge the size of Douglas Squirrel populations in the canyon. Students have additionally conducted research on pattern recognition capabilities in squirrels, and they have used feeders to observe foraging and competitive interaction between various bird species.
Sullivan discussed the potential for a thorough ecological survey of species diversity, and stated that various projects could be conducted involving the creek, including research on invertebrates and various types of runoff in the water.
In addition to providing habitat for deer, squirrels, racoons, owls, and likely beavers, the Canyon also serves as a green space for students and staff to enjoy. A report by the World Health Organization has shown a correlation between access to natural spaces and individuals’ mental health and well-being.
Over ten years ago, GFU launched an effort to mitigate erosion, restore riparian habitat, and promote growth of native species in the canyon. “As part of its emphasis on creation care, the university has worked to combat the effects of soil erosion and has planted more than 1,500 trees over the past three decades,” GFU states on their website, “ensuring the canyon will remain a place of peaceful escape for generations of students to come.”