a) Salvage
Prior to construction and the removal of any vegetation around the lodge, a site visit by the project landscape architect and historical landscape architect will be necessary in order to document and assess individual plant materials and tag those specimens worthy of the salvage effort. While materials that are in poor condition will not be salvaged, they will need to be documented so that they can be replaced with appropriate materials. Removal and storage of mature coniferous specimens will require special handling and consultation with vegetation experts. In discussions on this topic with Nancy Dunkle, DSC, it may be possible to dig the root mass, prune the roots and box the root ball for long term storage (this was done historically with great success). Salvage of these materials is the preferred preservation strategy for significant historic plant materials, primarily because they represent original materials and mature plantings that have acclimated to the harsh conditions at the rim. With such short growing seasons at the site and other challenges to establishment including poor soils, severe microclimate and stress to plant materials from snow loads and visitor tramplings, reestablishment of all materials removed from the site will require special attention, whether replacing stored materials or installing new ones.
b) Replacing “in-kind”
If, for some reason, it is determined that it is not feasible to salvage existing plant materials around the lodge, then replacement of materials on a plant by plant basis will be required. The specific program for such an undertaking, including selection and transport of individual plant materials, soil preparation and amendment, planting techniques and maintenance will need to be developed as part of a historic landscape preservation guide or as a special issue/study in the overall rehab package.
C. Summary
The plant materials around Crater Lake Lodge are significant historic landscape resources and should be preserved. Because of future construction associated with the rehabilitation of the lodge, most of this material will be destroyed. Two options for preservation/replacement of these materials are recommended. The first, remove and salvage, is the preferred option. Although considerable work will be required to implement the proposal, the technology is available. In addition, because the original plants will be retained, overall historic site integrity will be enhanced and most importantly, plants will be better acclimated, improving the chances for survival. The second option, replacement in-kind, is acceptable but will require selecting and moving relatively large specimens in order to attain the necessary effect. This action also has the potential to reduce survival rates. Adequate monies for either treatment must be included in any overall project estimate. Both of these options, as well as preservation strategies for other significant historic landscape resources at the site will be addressed in detail as part of the historic landscape report for Rim Village.
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