Sandy River Delta
Confluence of the Columbia and Sandy rivers
Troutdale, Oregon

Bird Blind

Maya Lin plans to preserve the ecology and create an elliptical bird blind in a forest glade at this site in Troutdale, Oregon. The slats will be inscribed with the names of the birds, mammals and amphibians noted by the Corps of Discovery. The bird blind will allow visitors to make similar observations.

Black Locust

Upon approval of the Confluence Project’s Sandy River site design, the task loomed of finding the appropriate material to implement in the construction. It took eighteen months of meticulous research to find the most ecologically sustainable, longest lasting hardwood: the black locust.

Composed of a deeply furrowed blackish bark and draping clusters of intensely fragrant white blossoms, the tree is prized for both its appearance and honey-producing nectar. But when displaced from its native Appalachian habitat, the black locust, while it’s alive, is deceptive in its beauty. Except for its blossoms, every part of this tree is considered toxic, and its ability to spread like wildfire in damaged areas like the Sandy River Delta has helped earned its designation as an invasive species to the Northwest.

Its use in this project supports the effort to locally eradicate black locust while reinforcing the Confluence Project’s goal of promoting sustainability. “It’s sustainable because the wood was locally sourced from Walla Walla and we know the manner in which it was harvested, the conditions the laborers lived in, the economies we are supporting and the habitat we’re conserving,” said Andrew Brahe, project manager for the Sandy River Delta site.