Riffles WRC logo
In This Issue
Portland Parks Budget Process
Terwilliger Parkway Open House
Gabriel Tool Shed work party
Biophilic Cities presentation
LIving with Urban Coyotes
EMSWCD Native Plant Sale
Plant Propagation/Winter Twig ID
Watershed Events
Watershed Links




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January 2012 News

 

 

 

New Year, New Projects Underway!    

 

 

At the Watershed Center and around SW Portland, the sun has peeking out from the clouds, and there are new projects starting up with the turn of the calendar to 2012!   

 

A new partnership with Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon promises to engage more communities of faith as stewards of their watersheds.  The search is underway for an intern to help with this program.  The WRC will also host a coyote presentation by Portland Audubon staff on February 1st.  There are also Backyard Habitat Certification Program Community Site Visit Days in the works for Homestead and South Portland neighborhoods.   Friends groups and neighborhoods are becoming more active and invigorated with new ideas for grant proposals and local projects (see shed article below). 

 

Whew.  New opportunities for involvement abound -- particularly with the city's budget process underway, bureaus such as Portland Parks (see article below) look to citizens for feedback on priorities.  Find something new to participate in, lend your voice, and remember what it feels like to be part of your community -- geographically, socially, and ecologically. 

 

 

 

 

  

Walking trailPortland Parks seeks public input on budget process 

TONIGHT!  Monday, January 9
6:30-8:30 PM
Multnomah County Board Room
501 SE Hawthorne

 

 

Portland Parks has been asked to prepare its fiscal year 2012-2013 budget with 4%, 6% and 8% cut options.  While in recent years of budget cuts, every effort has been made to preserve staff positions, additional cuts at this level may require it.  What areas are most critical to preserve?  Parks land is some of the most environmentally sensitive, and plays a key role in watershed health, as well as human health, recreation, and overall livability and quality of life.

If you can't attend tonight's open house, you can still submit written comments online

 

 

 

 

 

  

Terwilliger Parkway Open House  

Thursday, January 12th
6-8pm
Terwilliger Plaza, 2545 SW Terwilliger Blvd

Terwilliger Parkway is turning 100 years old! To commemorate the City of Portland's most distinctive linear parkway, we are designing and installing "gateway markers" to highlight the entrance to this historic park.  Please join us to preview and comment on the designs.

 

For more information on this project go to: www.portlandparks.org

Childcare and translation is available, please contact Elizabeth Kennedy-Wong at 503-823-5113 by January 6th. 

   

  

 

  Gabriel Park tool shed

 

Gabriel Park tool shed work party 

Monday, January 16th
10am-noon
SW 45th entrance near Nevada

The tool shed that supports watershed projects in SW Portland has been tagged with graffiti -- on MLK Day, help prepare the shed for a new mural as we scrape and sand down the exterior.  Bring cordless sanders and other tools! 

We won't let light rain stop us -- warm beverages provided -- but if the weather is really bad, call Jen at 503-314-2931 on the day of event if you have any questions.

   

  

 

 

 Texas Green Street wetland

  

A Presentation on Biophilic Cities

with Dr. Timothy Beatley
January 18th, 2012
6:00-8:00 PM
Portland Northwest College of Art - Swigert Commons
1241 NW Johnson
Portland, OR 97209
 

Across the world, cities are bringing back nature to help address urban challenges.  We are healthier when we are closer to nature.  We have a greater respect for the environment that sustains us.  We are more adaptable to change when we let nature do its work.  

  

Join us for a free presentation by Dr. Timothy Beatley, renowned expert in sustainable city planning and author of the book Biophilic Cities. Dr. Beatley is the Teresa Heinz Professor of Sustainable Communities, in the Department of Urban and Environmental Planning, School of Architecture at the University of Virginia, where he has taught for the last twenty-five years.  He will share his experience and knowledge of cities across the world that have made strides to integrate nature into our neighborhoods and communities.

   

 

This event is free and open to the public.  Sponsored by the City of Portland's Environmental Services and Office of Healthy Working Rivers, Illahee, The Intertwine Alliance, and The Urban Greenspaces Institute.


   

  

 

 

 Coyote, Marshall Park (c) Mike Charles

 

Living with Urban Coyotes  

with Bob Sallinger, Audubon Society of Portland
Wednesday, February 1st, 7-9pm
SW Community Center
6820 SW 45th Ave

Have you heard (or experienced) unwanted interactions with coyotes in your neighborhood?  Learn everything you wanted to know about coyote biology and how to reduce nuisance behavior.  Extensive time will be allotted for questions and answers.

Let your neighbors know about this event -- flyer and more information online at http://www.swni.org/coyotes.  

   

  

 

 

 TCWC fern

 

EMSWCD Native Plant Sale open

First come/first served,
Order deadline February 5
Plant pickup February 18th

EMSWCD is one of the least expensive local plant sales -- prices are approximately $2-3 per bareroot plant.  Order early, as quantities are limited!  Visit the EMSWCD website at http://www.emswcd.org to order.

   

  



FOTC_swordfern_trillium Plant Propagation and Winter Twig ID
February 19, 1-4pm
Tryon Creek State Natural Area

Join the Friends Education Director Matthew Collins as he shares tips and tricks for successful plant propagation. This hands-on workshop will take place in the field as participants will have an opportunity to learn through direct engagement. Winter twig identification will also play an important part in this workshop as it is essential for identifying the plants to be propagated. Propagated plants will be used for restoration projects throughout Tryon Creek State Natural Area and the Tryon Creek watershed.

This is a free program but enrollment is limited, pre-registration is requested on line at http://www.tryonfriends.org or by calling 503-636-4398.

 


 

 

Why "Riffles"?

 

A riffle is a section of creek where velocity and turbulence are higher, creating small waves on the surface.  Riffles often occur at an elevation change, where the stream suddenly slopes, or where the material at the bottom of the creek bed is coarser.

 

So why the name for this newsletter?  A riffle is free flowing, unencumbered  water, not stagnant.  Riffle habitat adds oxygen to the water, and often supports higher species diversity among macroinvertebrates and fish.  We'd like to see a few more Riffles around SW Portland!

 

  

 

Upcoming Watershed Events & Grant Deadlines
 


Jan 9: Portland Parks Budget Open House, Multnomah County
Jan 9: Tryon Creek Watershed Council meeting
Jan 10: Bridlemile Creek Stewards meeting, Watershed Center
Jan 10: South Portland Riverbank Partners meeting, DEQ
Jan 10: Native Plants workshop, EMSWCD office
Jan 12: Terwilliger Parkway Sign Open House, Umpqua Bank
Jan 13: Portland Parks City Nature - Fulton Park planting
Jan 14: Friends of Terwilliger work party
Jan 14: Friends of Tryon Creek work party
Jan 14: Native Plants workshop, PCC Cascade
Jan 15: Shomrei Teva at Neveh Shalom work party
Jan 16: Shed mural prep work party, Gabriel Park
Jan 18: Biophilic Cities, Timothy Beatley, PCNA
Jan 20: South Portland Riverbank work party
Jan 27: Friends of Woods Park work party
Jan 27: Friends of Marquam Nature Park work party
Jan 27: Tryon Creek State Park work party

Feb 1: Living with Urban Coyotes, SWCC
Feb 5: Styrofoam Round-up, Hillsdale
Feb 11: Friends of Terwilliger work party
Feb 11: Tryon Creek State Park work party
Feb 13: Tryon Creek Watershed Council meeting
Feb 14: South Portland Riverbank Partners meeting, DEQ
Feb 14: Bridlemile Creek Stewards mtg, Watershed Center
Feb 15: WMSWCD FISH grant deadline
Feb 18: South Portland Riverbank Partners work party
Feb 19: Shomrei Teva at Neveh Shalom work party
Feb 19: Plant Propagation and Winter Twig ID, Tryon Creek St Pk
Feb 24: Urban Ecosystems Research Consortium - PSU
Feb 25: Pendleton Creek planting
Feb 29: 4-County CWMA Pull Together

 

  

Watershed Links
Bureau of Environmental Services watershed planning & projects
Metro natural gardening programs: schedule at your site with a group of 20+ people
Portland Parks & Recreation natural areas work parties
Watershed Resource Center Watershed Stewards group links, WRC hours
  

 

For healthy SW watersheds,
Jen
SWNI logoJen Seamans
Watershed Resource Center Coordinator
Southwest Neighborhoods, Inc.
503-823-2862

[email protected] - NOTE NEW EMAIL ADDRESS

http://wrc.swni.org

WRC photo bar images (c) David Pickar