Connect with other Southwest Watershed Stewards!
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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.
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Portland 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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
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For healthy SW watersheds, Jen
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