The WRC is a partnership between SW Neighborhoods, Inc. and the City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services. The mission of the Watershed Resource Center is to inspire and support watershed stewardship at the neighborhood level in SW Portland.

Learn more about what the WRC offers here.

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Published every 2-3 months, Riffles keeps you connected with watershed stewardship opportunities & seasonal resources in SW Portland.
Jen Seamans
Watershed Outreach Coordinator
SW Neighborhoods, Inc.
6820 SW 45th Ave., Portland, OR 97219
503-823-2862
email the WRC
The Southwest Watershed Resource Center (WRC) is located inside the lobby of the SW Community Center at SW 45th & Vermont.

Click here to open a calendar of the WRC open hours schedule. Hours may change without advance notice. If you are planning to visit the WRC, please call 503-823-2862 or email and time will be set aside to meet your needs.
We all live in a watershed, and we all contribute to its health. The Watershed Center is here to help landowners meet their goals while helping protect watershed health and function. See other pages on landowner and stewardship group resources. If you have any questions about watershed restoration, or are looking for information or referrals, don't hesitate to contact the Watershed Center.
Check out the variety of free outreach programs based at the WRC and out in the community. For more information about bringing the WRC to you, contact 503-823-2862 or watershedcenter@spiritone.com
Resources at the WRC include:
It's Friday night and you're looking for something to do with the family...come on over to the Southwest Community Center! Family Fun Nights are the first Friday of each month from October through May. The WRC usually has a table at these events. Have you seen some colorful salmon on the loose around the Village? Community events such as the Maplewood Picnic and Multnomah Days are opportunities to connect with the WRC.
Online resources for homeowners, businesses and organizations. List is still in process, check back for updates.
City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services (BES)
Watershed projects in your neighborhood
West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District
Technical assistance and funding for native plants, erosion control, and other land management concerns. Staff assistance is prioritized especially toward larger acreage landowners, open tracts, and riparian landowners.
OSU Master Watershed Steward Program
Tualatin River Watershed Council
Naturescaping for Clean Rivers: How-to guide on native plant landscaping. Profiles many native plants. Register for a free workshop to learn more.
Bosky Dell Natives, a plant nursery located just south of Portland.
Other native plant nurseries in the Portland metro area
Contact the WRC for assistance if you are looking for plants for a non-profit organization, community of faith, or a riparian landowner, as there may be assistance available. The Portland Bureau of Environmental Services has a native plant minigrant program for those who own property along a creek.
Native Plant Society of Oregon - Portland chapter. Publishes Guidelines for Native Landscaping.
Xerces Society for invertebrate conservation and protection of sensitive insect species, especially pollinators.
Pacific Northwest Native Wildlife Gardening
Backyard Habitat Certification Program, a program of Three Rivers Land Conservancy and Audubon Society of Portland.
PlantNative.org maintains a list of landscape architects, designers and contractors who are versed in Naturescaping and native plants.
Contact the WRC if you are looking for assistance in removing invasive plants from your property.
Metro has a multitude of resources:
The OSU Master Gardener program has returned to provide support in Portland and Multnomah County, in partnership with WMSWCD. Call 503-445-4608, Mon-Fri from 10 am to 2 pm, or stop by the office at 2701 NW Vaughn St., Suite 453.
...a common question at the WRC.
Washington State Extension - Low Impact Development
A series of worksheets to help you design a rain garden.
Clean River Rewards
Stormwater management information, technical assistance and financial incentive program for sewer/stormwater ratepayers in the City of Portland service area.
Specific workbooks include:
In development:
Click here for Funding Resources.
The Southwest Watershed Resource Center offers a variety of free watershed education programs on topics including water quality, salmon, watershed restoration, and more!
Indoor programs topics include:
Groups of up to 12 such as scouts, youth groups, neighbors, and afterschool programs are welcome to schedule programs at the WRC. Larger groups may check about the possibility of reserving an adjacent room at the Southwest Community Center, or scheduling a traveling program at your site.
School classes interested in watershed education programs should contact Lynn Vanderkamp at 503-823-5281.
Download PDF brochure of WRC youth programs: programs.pdf (486 kB)
Outdoor & offsite opportunities available for community organizations, congregations, or neighborhoods:
For more information about these opportunities, contact Jen, WRC Coordinator at watershedcenter@spiritone.com or 503-823-2862.
Volunteers in SW Portland are out nearly every weekend maintaining healthy parks, creeks, and greenspaces! Contact the WRC to get involved with a group near you.
SW Watershed Stewards are supported by SWNI, Portland Parks & Recreation City Nature and the Bureau of Environmental Services.
Other Fanno groups that support watershed stewardship include Tualatin River Watershed Council, and just outside the city limits the Fans of Fanno Creek and the Tualatin Riverkeepers.
Contact the WRC if you have any questions about work parties.
You've walked through the park many times, bemoaning the encroachment of ivy and other invasive species growing up into the canopy. Your neighbor has commented that the banks of the creek are eroding close to the trail's edge.
The thought might have crossed your mind a few times...what can we do about it?
On the following pages, a series of questions and ideas can help you make some decisions about forming a group to address watershed issues in your local park or neighborhood.
Note: Although this guide was written primarily for watershed stewardship groups, especially groups that are "Friends of" parks or watersheds, the ideas also apply to neighborhood associations and other grassroots groups.
This guide is not intended as a list of requirements, but rather points to ponder.
Feel free to suggest additions or changes to improve this guide.
Click on the pages below to learn more. Or, check back soon for a PDF version.
Gain clarity, and give your group a stronger foundation by identifying:
This depends on how many people are interested in being involved in a leadership capacity versus a participant capacity, and personal preference. Leadership can take on many forms. Some volunteers will favor a formal board with roles such as chair, secretary, and treasurer. Other groups have formed coordinating committees with point people for different functions, such as publicity, event coordination, work party leader, fundraising coordinator, etc. Still other groups prefer to function without explicit leadership, instead using a self-organizing process such as open space technology. Watershed Center staff can help you access resources and develop a structure that works for you.
Next: Documents to Guide Action
Working together on the following documents may help focus the group's choice of activities and events.
Next: Meetings
Provide an accessible way for new & longtime volunteers to interact with the group.
Next: Getting the Word Out
Some ideas for recruiting people to your Friends group:
Note: anonymous web & print publicity is okay for recruiting volunteers who are already knowledgeable about the issues, but know that ultimately 80% of volunteers come to a meeting or event because someone asks them personally.
Next: Functional roles in a group
Think about how these activities might help sustain your volunteer group once started.
Communication: coordinate site and tasks for work parties with PP&R/owner, relay information to/from the SWNI-wide SW Watershed Stewards list, report volunteer hours & accomplishments to PP&R/WRC; send out event reminders to volunteers
Grantwriting: for project funding
Documentation, Photography, Historian: capture events in numbers, images and “before & after” stories to share with other residents
Group Pulse/Process: keep things light, keep a read on how the group is functioning – make sure people are having fun and not burning out; and that the group’s process is facilitating equitable involvement by all members
Next: Activities
A list of common activities that watershed volunteer groups engage in:
Next: Stewardship Event Checklist
Friends group specific resources
“Combatting the Same Six Syndrome,” SOLV.
http://solv.org/volunteers/same_six_people.asp
"Episodic Volunteers vs. Key Volunteers," SOLV.
http://solv.org/volunteers/key_vs_episodic.asp
Hands On Portland Partner User Guide
http://www.handsonportland.org/AboutUs/index.php/Partner%20User%20Guide%20102507.doc
“The Core Group.” Refuge Net.
www.refugenet.org/new-pdf-files/TakingFlight/D%20The%20Core%20Group.pdf
General Community Organizing & Recruitment Resources
Community Tool Box
http://ctb.ku.edu/en/Default.htm
especially
Chp. 14: Core Functions in Leadership:
http://ctb.ku.edu/en/tablecontents/chapter_1014.htm
Section 5: Building and Sustaining Commitment
http://ctb.ku.edu/en/tablecontents/sub_section_main_1136.htm
Brown, Michael. "How to Recruit People to Your Organization," Cambridge, MA, 1994.
Reprinted online at: http://www.iww.org/organize/branch/recruit/index.shtml
Kretzmann, John P. and John L. McKnight. "Building Communities from the Inside Out: A Path Toward Finding and Mobilizing a Community's Assets."
http://www.sesp.northwestern.edu/abcd/resources/
Click here for technical assistance resources.
New! Cash for Conservation
Saturday, Feb. 20, 9am to noon
SW Community Center, SW 45th & Vermont
Representatives of local grant programs will be on hand to speak with landowners, and there will also be a session on grantwriting tips. Registration suggested at http://www.wmswcd.org/content.cfm/Events.
Grants are listed in chronological order of deadlines. Match refers to a requirement of additional funding through in-kind (volunteer) or dollar sources equal to (or some other value) the amount of the request. If you have any questions about funding or applications, contact the WRC.
Metro Nature in the Neighborhoods Restoration grants
BES Community Watershed Stewardship Program
SWNI Neighborhood Small Grants
Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board Small Grants
West Multnomah Soil & Water FISH Grants
West Multnomah Soil & Water CARE Grants
Metro Nature in the Neighborhoods Capital grants
Other notes on funding:
Download a PDF version of this checklist here.
Preparation:
Day of event:
Power down:
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Enjoy being outdoors? Spend a Saturday morning giving back to your neighborhood park. Group leaders also needed: Help other volunteers remove invasive plants, install native plants, and use tools correctly and safely.
Training: Receive training on best practices for removal and replanting of natural areas, as well as safety, tools and maintenance.
Commitment: Any Saturday morning. Leaders coordinate with WRC staff to hold work parties periodically throughout the year.
Locations: throughout SW Portland. See the Watershed Stewards page to find recurring work parties in your area.
Work with Watershed Steward groups and WRC Coordinator to create eye-catching activities, costumes and displays that convey watershed awareness.
Training: Learn the elements of effective environmental outreach, and how to manage large events.
Commitment: Multnomah Days is held on the third Saturday in August, plus about 20-30 hours in the three months preceding event.
Create a database to track WRC visitor and volunteer information and produce monthly and quarterly reports.
If you have any questions or other volunteer interests related to SW Portland watersheds, please contact Jen Seamans, WRC Coordinator, via phone (503-823-2862) or email.
SWNI's Watershed Resource Center has recruitment underway for a Watershed Education & Outreach Intern through the AmeriCorps LINKS program. Application details at the end of the post.
AmeriCorps LINKS Member
Dates: September 2009 - June 2010 (flexible)
675 hour position (average about 15 hours per week)
Application Deadline: Open until filled. Applicants are interviewed & placed on an on-going basis until positions are filled. Interviews are underway.
Position Summary:
Do you love water, wildlife and plants? Want to share your enthusiasm with a variety of audiences, and create opportunities for others to discover what they can do to help? The Southwest Watershed Resource Center (WRC) seeks an intern who will help inspire awareness and action to protect watershed health by helping to create & implement education programs, demonstrations, or activity kits for youth. Intern may also assist with a community-based social marketing program to reach park visitors. Put your creative ideas into action for the benefit of healthy watersheds and healthy people!
About the Project Sponsor:
The Southwest Watershed Resource Center (WRC), http://wrc.swni.org, inspires watershed awareness and stewardship at the neighborhood scale in SW Portland. The office is located inside the Southwest Community Center (SWCC), 6820 SW 45th Ave, adjacent to Gabriel Park. SWCC is located on bus line #1 and within 0.75 mile walk of bus lines #44, 45. No regular off-site travel is needed for this position.
General Responsibilities (to include, but not limited to):
- Develop and promote new programs, demonstrations, or activity kits for young audiences based at the WRC and Gabriel Park.
- Acquire, organize and maintain education program supplies.
- Help recruit and train volunteers to assist with programs.
- Assist with community-based social marketing outreach to promote watershed action among park visitors.
- Integrate program assessment throughout process, and compile data.
- Complete and submit all necessary LINKS AmeriCorps Program paperwork and reports in a timely manner.
- Attend and complete LINKS AmeriCorps Program orientation and enrollment session.
- Wear an appropriate LINKS identifier and required safety gear while performing service or attending official events.
Requirements:
- Desire to motivate others to act on behalf of watershed health wherever they are.
- Able to develop an encouraging, professional rapport with a variety of audiences, including young children, parents, volunteers, and adults.
- Excellent public speaking and written communication skills.
- Ability to create content for websites.
- Must be at least 17 years of age at the time of enrollment in the program.
- U.S. citizen, national or lawful permanent resident.
- Possession of a high school diploma or equivalent, or commit to earning one prior to receiving an education award.
- Ability to commit to the full term of service for which they are applying.
- Submit to a criminal history background check and National Sex Offender Registry search.
- Regular and reliable attendance.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Knowledge of Pacific NW ecology, natural history or related background.
- Prior work or volunteer experience with youth.
- A ready learner of skills in educational program development and assessment.
- Creative arts and/or writing helpful in development of program materials.
Member Benefits Include:
- Receive training in environmental education, program development & assessment, social marketing, and volunteer coordination. Internship may be eligible for credit or culminating project, depending on program of study.
- Upon successful completion of a term of service, eligible members receive an education award of $1,800. The education award can be used to repay qualified student loans, for further education in an accredited institution of higher learning, vocational or for trade schools. The education award is taxed in the year that it is used.
- Loan forbearance (after successful completion of a term of service, AmeriCorps will pay a portion of the accrued interest on qualified loans, which is taxable).
- Other expected benefits include unlimited use of community center recreation facilities.
How to apply:
Step 1 - Email your résumé to links.recruitment@esd112.org and to watershed.resource.center@gmail.com
Step 2 - Complete your application online at the AmeriCorps website. AmeriCorps Application
1. If you do not already have a username and password, you must create a profile.
2. Once you have created a profile, log in and complete an application by clicking “Applications” under the “My AmeriCorps” menu.
3. To apply to this specific position, click “Search Listings” under the “My AmeriCorps” menu and search for
program name LINKS.
4. Select the position listing and click “Apply Now” at the bottom of the page.
Questions about the project?
Contact: Jen Seamans
WRC Coordinator
503-823-2862
watershed.resource.center@gmail.com
Questions about AmeriCorps, LINKS or our recruitment process?
Contact: Erika Johnson
LINKS
2500 NE 65th Ave
Vancouver, WA 98661
p 360) 750-7500 x 114
f 360) 360-694-2491
links.recruitment@esd112.org
Unable to Apply On-line? Click here: http://www.esd112.org/links/resources.html.
Southwest Neighborhoods Inc (SWNI) is hiring a temporary, part time Fanno Basin Project Manager for the Watershed Resource Center, located at 6820 SW 45th Ave, with funding from West Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District. The position is temporary, up to 15 hrs per week at $15/hour (no benefits). It is currently funded through December 2010 at the 15 hour level, with further work contingent on securing additional funding.
The Fanno Basin Project Manager will improve technical assistance to private landowners on properties less than one acre in the Upper Fanno Creek watershed. This position strengthens a partnership between the Tualatin River Watershed Council and Southwest Neighborhoods Inc. through the Southwest Watershed Resource Center (WRC). The WRC is a nexus for SW Portland neighborhoods, community organizations and watershed volunteer groups working in partnership with the Portland Bureau of Environmental Services to enhance watershed function through individual and community-level action.
Send cover letter and resume by Wednesday, August 11 to Jennifer Seamans, WRC Outreach Coordinator, at watershed@spiritone.com.
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