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Introduction

The Potawot Health Village is a branch of the United Indian Health Services whose services combine western medicine and traditional Native American methods of promoting wellness. The designers who worked on designing the grounds knew that nature has sacred value within the Native American community. They sought to create a space which honored tradition and would help their community to stay healthy, both physically and emotionally. One aspect of this idea was recreating the original habitats and biomes that once dominated the area, before people of European decent settled on the land.

History of the Area

The Northern California coast and the area around Humboldt Bay has been the home of the Wiyot people for thousands of years. Other native tribes to the area are the Yurok, Tolowa, and Karuk. The land around them, traditionally a place of great forests, seasonal wetlands, and heavy salmon runs, profoundly influenced their lives.

However, as people of European decent came to settle the land, the Wiyot were pushed off their native lands, which were reshaped to be more suitable for “modern” farming and development methods. On the Potawot land specifically, forests were cut down, native grasses were replaced by more aggressive ones, and the seasonal wetlands were destroyed to make the land more conducive towards farming.

In 1996, the United Indian Health Services began working with the City of Arcata and the Planning Commission to get their newly purchased land, which was zoned as “Agricultural Exclusive” to be approved for a Planned Development Permit and a General Plan & Zoning Map Amendment. A year later, after keeping the message positive and working hard, their plans for the Health Village at Potawot were finally approved.

As the owners of Potawot researched the land, they found that within the vicinity of the site were four historical Wiyot village locations as well as a burial ground for the victims of the 1860 Indian Island Massacre. However, the land has been changed so much over the years that it is now impossible to find the original locations. They also found the fossilized remains of spruce cones and other plants which helped them to discover what species were native to the area.

Forest Restoration Efforts

The Potawot grounds are known as the Ku’wah-dah-wilth Restoration Area, which means “comes back to life” in the Wiyot language. It is meant to reinforce the idea of the lands revitalization and the renewal of the natural resources that once existed there. Work on the site has included planting native species of trees and shrubs, creating a comfortable space for the clients of the United Indian Health Services. This space is also considered to aid in the healing of mind, body, and spirit.

Support for the Project

According to those who work for the Potawot Health Village, the community's reaction to the forest restoration efforts has been very positive. Financing was found in grants from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, a branch of the United States Department of Agriculture, as well as through a California Resource Conservation District. These grants helped greatly to offset the initial cost of the project.

Local tribes, notably the Yurok, as well as crews of community members have also helped by collecting trees from their properties that would otherwise have been destroyed and replanting them at Potawot. Six Rivers National Park also donates plants that are in the path of new development or road decommissioning. Since their machines are going to be tearing up the area anyways, Potawot is given permission to collect and replant the trees. Massive amounts of community volunteers as well as AmeriCorps members also assisted in planting new trees.

Soil Regeneration

The original soil, already very heavy in clay (which prevents proper drainage) had been badly damaged by years of monoculture. Native plants brought in by community members helped to reintroduce endomycorrhizae, fungi which encourage root development, as well as other native microorganisms which enrich the soil. Store bought packets of endomycorrhizae helped supplement the ones carried in by native plants. They also added redwood conditioner which makes for a loamier soil and better drainage. In addition, fertilizer and mulch gave the trees an extra boost after first planting.

Planting Methods

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  Trees planted at the property borders help reduce noise pollution.

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  Not planting trees around wetlands prevents raptors from praying on wetland birds.

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  Clusters make for easier maintenance and more natural growth patterns.

All of the trees and shrubs on the Potawot property were gathered from community donors, local nurseries, Six Rivers National Forest, and through Potawot’s own propagation in their native species nursery.

The trees and shrubs were planted in clusters around the property and in combinations in which they are thought to grow in nature. The clusters make them easier for the maintenance staff to care for and are separated by meadows. Trees were also specifically planted around the edges of the Potawot property. On the south side, redwoods were planted to block noise pollution from the nearby freeway. Although it is unlikely that they are native to the Potawot/Arcata Bottoms area they are considered culturally significant to the local tribes and so were included within the design. On the north side, more wind tolerant species of trees were planted, including spruce and shore pine, to help block the North winds and protect the garden. Near the storm water treatment ponds, designers did not plant trees in an effort to discourage birds of prey from inhabiting the wetland areas, therefore ensuring the presence of wetland birds.

Plant Species

Trees

Shrubs

Challenges

Although they have gathered the support of the community, there have been some problems with the topography of the area and the species which had been introduced. Right at the beginning, the entire property had to be reshaped to account for the seasonal wetlands and the habitats that originally existed there. Also, the damage inflicted on the soil after about a hundred years of near monoculture is very great. The ground had become choked with clay, had lost many of the naturally occurring microorganisms and fungi, and the ph balance was not conducive for native species. Plant species present when Potawot first began restoration also posed a problem. The introduced weeds and grasses were so aggressive that they would choke out the young trees, which had to compete for water and sun.

The Potawot restoration efforts, as part of their attempt to create a natural space, do not perform any supplemental watering and have no irrigation system. Due to this, they have lost some trees and shrubs in the past because of too little water. However, planting in fall during the rainier time of the year helps support young trees and the practice shows their respect for how things actually exist in nature.

Successes

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  The trees have helped create the healing atmosphere of the paths.

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  Bright fall colors from a young tree at Potawot.

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  Restorations have been largely successful at the Health Village.

Since restoration efforts began, around 10 acres of forested area have been restored and there have been some marked changes in the lands around Potawot. Not only is noise pollution already beginning to diminish but the increased number of trees and shrubs has brought new birds, mammals, and other creatures to the area.

The increased number of animals has lead to the propagation of native species whose seed has been brought in by the animal’s droppings. An increased number of trees and shrubs has lead to an increased amount of leaf litter and organic material in the ground which has been changing and improving the qualities of the soil.

As the trees grow larger they have begun to shade out certain grasses, most notably the ones that workers at Potawot are trying to eradicate. In addition, the trees shade is making way for understory plants, such as ferns, to have a place to grow.

Continued Work

Currently the forest restoration efforts at Potawot are in a waiting period as they let the trees mature and grow into their surroundings and provide the areas for more shade loving undergrowth.

There is some continued maintenance, such as the replacing of dead trees, but for the most part they are left alone. They are also beginning to plant more trees along the North end in order to provide more wind and noise protection.

In addition, Potawot has been making outreach efforts regarding Sudden Oak Death. Although, Potawot and Humboldt County have been spared this danger so far, they have been working hard to educate others and prevent the spread of the disease into their local areas.

References

• United Indian Health Services. "http://uihs.org/traditional.html
• "Our History." About Arcata. City of Arcata. 09 August 2008. 27 October 2008. http://www.arcatacityhall.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=90
• "History and Culture." Wiyot Tribe. 29 May 2004. 27 October 2008. http://www.wiyot.com/history.htm
• "About UIHS." United Indian Health Services. 2003. 27 October 2008. http://uihs.org/about.html
• "Ku' wah-dah-wilth Restoration Area" United Indian Health Services. 2003. 27 October 2008. http://uihs.org/kuwahdahwilth.html
• Johnson, Eric. Personal Interview. 28 October 2008
• USDA, NRCS. 2008. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 31 October 2008). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.