The Greater Yamhill Watershed Council hosted a work party to remove invasive plants from Cozine Creek on Saturday at 9 a.m.

The event brought Linfield students, professors and even biology students from Chemeketa Community College to restore Cozine.

Environmental policy professor Bill Fleeger helped out and gave some background on the creek and why it is important to the school.

Cozine has been part of Linfield since the 1800s and was once the main entrance to school Fleeger said.

The area has served many different functions in the past. In the 1940s, it was a place where students could take a stroll with their significant other, which earned it the name “lovers lane,” Fleager said.

Cozine was also the location of an annual tug-a-war contest between the sophomore and freshman classes.

However, the only use it seems to get now is from the environmental studies classes who use it as a laboratory. Fleeger said that many students today don’t even know what Cozine is.

This is one of the reasons students volunteered and came out in the cold morning air to help in its restoration by removing non-native plants, like the Himalayan blackberries and the English ivy.

The Delta fraternity was also on hand and attend every Cozine work party. Luke Fia, ’20, environmental studies major and Delta fraternity member said that when they heard about the Cozine clean-up, they thought it would be a  perfect way to help the community.

“I love it! I love having all these people here. Although it isn’t a lot, it is better than nothing and we are getting a lot done,” said Meg Angier ’21.

Gabi Esparza, ’18, interns for the Yamhill Watershed Council and said that there are tentative plans to have another work party open to the public on Oct. 28 and Nov. 3.