December Storms Strike Oregon Nurseries
By Marissa Heflin
Posted: Tuesday February 17, 2009, 3:00 p.m. EST
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| People from the community stepped in to help with cleanup at Pacific Water Gardens in Molalla, Clackamas County. (Courtesy of Pacific Water Gardens) |
Oregon nurseries were struck hard by the December snow and ice storms. Damages ranged from $18 million to $31 million, according
to a recent survey conducted by Oregon Association of Nurseries. Aquatic nurseries were among those hit.
Pacific Water Gardens in Molalla, Clackamas County, was hit extremely hard, said Neal Lucht, owner of the wholesale nursery. Although there was little plant destruction, damage to about 68 structures resulted in a $150,000 loss.
The road to recovery means getting up earlier and going to bed later, Lucht said. Community support, however, really had an impact on helping them pull it back together, he said.
“We’ve had a lot of support from friends in the community,” Lucht said. “Local classes have been volunteering their time to clean up the mess. These things are pick-me-ups.”
Lucht said Pacific Water Gardens is still in business and should not be considered damaged goods. “I want to emphasize the positive nature in rebuilding,” he said. “We will be ready for the upcoming season.”
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The December storms damaged about 68 structures at Pacific Water Gardens in Molalla, Ore. (Courtesy of Pacific Water Gardens) | Jim Purcell, co-owner of Oregon Aquatics in Eugene, Lane County, said his area missed the brunt of the ice storm, but the aquatic nursery sustained some damage. For instance, plant damage reached almost $50,000. Water hyacinths and water lettuce were among about 125,000 destroyed plants, he said, adding that Oregon Aquatics’ California branch will help resupply the plants.
Fortunately, the nursery sustained only about $2,000-$3,000 worth of structural damage, Purcell said. A major problem they encountered was burst water pipes throughout the nursery. At press time, the nursery was repairing about 1,400 feet of pipes.
“Still, I feel pretty lucky compared to other nurseries,” Purcell said.
Dave Brigante, nursery manager at Hughes Water Gardens in Tualatin, Washington County, said despite the storm’s effect, he too felt quite lucky. “Looking around the area, I have seen more greenhouses down than ever in my life,” he said.
Hughes Water Gardens lost two greenhouses and two small quansets in the storm, sustaining damage worth $4,000 to $5,000, he said. One greenhouse housed perennials while the other housed waterlilies already removed for the season. The seven main greenhouses with heaters faired well, he said.
At press time, Tualatin was experiencing 40 degree weather, with highs in the 50s and partly sunny skies. Brigante quickly pointed out that more than six weeks of winter remain. “Right now, we are just taking a deep breath and moving on from here,” he said.
At press time, 160 growers in 12 Oregon counties reported damage. Counties sustaining the most damage included Washington, Clackamas, Multnomah, Marion and Yamhill, which collectively produces 86 percent of the state’s nursery crops each year. Hardest hit were many greenhouses and other structures used in the production of nursery and greenhouse crops.
“It was quite an unusual storm,” said Elizabeth Peters, OAN’s director of communications. She described the extensive period of cold and series of snow and ice storms as a ‘snow-ice-snow sandwich.’ The weight of the layers of snow and ice crushed many of the unheated hoop houses, she added.
Growers reported the total estimated cost to repair or replace damaged greenhouses and structures at about $11.2 million, according to the association’s survey. As part of the survey, the association asked its members to provide low and high estimates from crop damage because many plants are still in winter dormancy. Growers in the 12 counties estimated that nursery and greenhouse crop damage could range from $6.8 million to $19.9 million.
The damage prompted the association to seek agricultural disaster declarations in Benton, Clackamas, Columbia, Douglas, Jackson, Lane, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Washington and Yamhill counties. The range of support could come primarily in the form of low-cost loans to impacted growers, according to the association.
The association held a winter storm disaster meeting on Jan. 13 to review the status of the disaster declaration process and to share resources that nursery owners might need to get back on their feet. For instance, U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Services Administration is helping growers who need to remove debris from collapsed hoop houses. The association listed other resources at www.oan.org.
Despite all the destruction, Peters said the people who attended the meeting were in good spirits. “These growers are resilient,” she said. “What I heard was, ‘We are going to make it through this.’”
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December Storms Strike Oregon Nurseries
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