Riverfront Vegetation Removal with Goats

Mayor Rick Scholl stands next to goat behind fence on waterfront property.

What do you do when you have a very steep basalt hillside that needs to be cleared of brush where your equipment can’t easily reach and you would rather not use herbicide? You call in goats!

The City of St. Helens is hosting a herd of 10 goats at the St. Helens Waterfront this weekend to remove vegetation from the basalt bluff next to the Tualatin Street staircase. These goats come from Westside Goat Girl out of Forest Grove and will be onsite for approximately four days. In addition to providing an efficient and fast removal of nuisance vegetation, the goats are also a great non-toxic brush removal option.

The work is part of the ongoing fence removal cleanup and urban trail connection project that the City is currently working on to connect the community to the St. Helens riverfront.

Click any thumbnail image to view a slideshow

A goat eats English Ivy along hillside in St. Helens.
Goats clearing basalt hillside on St. Helens riverfront.
Two goats on St. Helens basalt hillside.
Goats behind fence with Columbia River in background.
Goats on St. Helens hillside with Mayor Scholl at bottom of hill.
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