These photos of graffiti on the landscape fabric at the West Hylebos Wetlands were sent in by Adele Freeland. The tagger decries a purported negative effect of the "erosion control" and uses the term "plastic wetlands."
It's too bad that the tagger either couldn't read, or just was too eager to pollute the park with graffiti, to read the sign 20 feet away that explains the habitat restoration project there, and the role of the landscape fabric in deterring blackberry regrowth. Yes, the fabric is part of a restoration project, making the park healthier.
When we remove Himalayan blackberry from a site, our main control method is to install the landscape fabric, leaving it onsite for two growing sseasons. The solar energy created by the sunlight on the black fabric "cooks" the remaining blackberry rootstock. After two years, we remove the fabric and plant native plants. The trees and shrubs are then able to grow without blackberry trying to
outcompete it.
It may not immediately look beautiful. But restoration requires patience. Sometimes it takes a few years to reclaim and restore a site.
Unfortunately, the tagger's actions will now require Parks and/or Friends staff wasting time on cleaning up the mess, diverting resources from restoration.