2012 salmon homecoming at Oxbow Regional Park. October 20 and 21. "Spicy scents of autumn trees, giant golden leaves on maples and the silvery chatter of American dippers in the river. ... Witness the return of wild salmon to one of the Pacific Northwest's premier rivers - the glacier-fed Sandy - just 45 minutes from downtown Portland.

Congregations Caring for Watersheds and Wildlife, October 20, 9:30 to noon. St. Michael's Lutheran Church, 6700 NE 29th Ave. "Congregations will learn how to restore a bit of Eden through a hands-on workshop to learn how to improve the stewardship of congregation lands to benefit watersheds and wildlife, while reducing maintenance and creating spaces for spiritual renewal and education." Suggested Donation: $5-15. To register: email awarren@emoregon.org or calling (503) 221-1054, ext. 210. More information at www.emoregon.org/events.php.  

Portland Harbor Community Coalition meeting. October 24th, 5:30-7:30 pm, NAYA--Annex Conference Room, 5135 NE Columbia Blvd. In dialogue with Environmental Protection Agency, Coalition partners will begin to focus the most pertinent information about Portland Harbor to share with their respective communities. Agenda items include environmental justice concerns and an EPA-led presentation on the most critical points to know about Portland Harbor Site. (503) 662-2590; cassie@groundworkportland.org

Economic Benefits of Trails: Community Forum & Dinner Banquet. October 26, 6 pm-9pm, Hilton Vancouver Convention Center, 301 West 6th St. Vancouver, WA 98660. Distinguished Professor, Dr. John Compton will keynote this forum which will engage trail users and stakeholders in the issues, trends and opportunities surrounding the development and programming of trails in local communities.

"Why I Love Tryon Creek" Video Contest Closes October 31. neighborhood notes, October 1.  

River Discovery-Willamette Falls. November 10, 9 am to Noon. launching from Sportcraft Marina boat ramp in Oregon City, 1701 Clackamette Drive, 97045. Join Willamette Riverkeeper on the last River Discovery trip of 2012 with a paddling adventure to the base of the Willamette's most impressive feature! Located near Oregon City, Willamette Falls is the largest waterfall in the Pacific Northwest by water volume. Its horseshoe shape is 1500 ft wide and 40 ft high. Explore the area around this natural landmark, admiring scenic views and the historic locks, as well as the mark of industries past and present--and perhaps even spotting an ancient petroglyph. Bring extra warm/dry layers, rain gear/hat, gloves, water, & snacks (Note: cancellation possible if rains cause river to rise too high.) To register: email kate@willametteriverkeeper.org to join us in your own canoe or kayak, or request one of our canoes at no cost (although you must recruit your own paddling partner).     

Should Metro ask voters to approve a 5-year parks and natural areas levy? "Metro manages ... more than 16,000 acres of land on behalf of the region  ... With the future of these special places in mind, the Metro Council is considering the best way to care for our region's parks and natural areas. This summer, a 15-member independent advisory panel recommended the Council take the first step ... by referring a five-year local option levy to voters. Take the online survey by November 19 and learn more about the advisory panel's recommendation and tell the Metro Council about your priorities." Metro It's Our Nature, October 2012

Riverology Videos: Earlier this week, Chris Prescott of Portland's Bureau of Environmental Services gave a thought provoking-and at times surprising--presentation on "Changes in Hydrology and Habitat in the Lower Willamette River: Implications for Restoration." See it - and 16 other river-talk videos at the Rivers Office River in Focus website.

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Only in Oregon: Beaver dams blasted to save dying ducks. "In this case, the blast was literal - 144 pounds of explosives, used to help drain out Smith Lake in North Portland in ongoing efforts to curb an avian botulism outbreak at the wetland." Metro News, October 12

On the Oaks Bottom Bluff Trail, restoration work to keep the plants safe and your feet dry. "But if [the trail users] come back after the work is completed, they'll find a trail with a new scenic viewpoint, a flatter trail surface, new vegetation, rock retaining walls and 500 feet of new boardwalk over segments that flood regularly. The Portland Parks Bureau is overseeing the $750,000 project. It started in August and is expected to be complete by the end of November." OregonLive.com, October 17
(Image: Portland Parks)  

Estuary Partnership receives NFWF Grant. "The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation awarded the Estuary Partnership's Education team with funding for the Meldrum Bar Habitat Enhancement Project. The project will involve 300 students from 4th and 5th grades in restoring three acres of riparian habitat at Meldrum Bar Park in Gladstone, OR. ... The project will also provide at-risk teens with hands-on job training in horticulture, habitat restoration and project management." Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership October 2012 Update

Endangered Species Protection Proposed For Airport-Dwelling Larks. "the larks have lost a lot of their natural habitat to development of the Columbia and Willamette river flood plains. The next best places are the flat spaces on dredge spoils, agricultural land and at airports." OPB Ecotrope, October 12

Port of Vancouver in the thick of construction. "[a train overpass] will eventually connect downtown Vancouver, Wash., to the waterfront via Esther Street and open the doors to a $1.5 billion development project that Gramor Development is planning to begin in 2014. Until recently, the railroad for a century had separated the city from its waterfront, and BNSF Railway Co. had been unwilling to sell the rights to the heavily trafficked rail. But then the port proposed to move the line as part of its West Vancouver Freight Access project - a $275 million effort featuring 21 separate projects to expand rail capacity from 16 linear miles of track to more than 45." DJCOregon.com, October 12, subscription required to view entire article. (Image: Rivers Office)

Centennial Mills team reconvenes after developer's passing. "The evaluation committee tasked with choosing a development team for the Centennial Mills redevelopment reconvened on Thursday to review a revised proposal from Harsch Investment Properties and Venerable Properties." DJCOregon.com, Oct. 5, subscription required to view entire article.  (Image: Rivers Office)

On A Boat With MTV, Jezabels, Intel.. & Steam Punkers? "On Monday evening, at the same moment Justin Bieber was going through puberty at the Rose Garden, I was invited to join in on a music experiment, well, it was really more of a "themed experiment"-a steampunk party/concert for a select few that would cruise up and down the Willamette River-right in front of Bieber and a building packed with screaming girls." ByronBeck.com, October 9