SW Neighborhoods, Inc. Empowering Citizens since 1978

The Southwest Watershed Resource Center (WRC) is located inside the lobby of the SW Community Center at SW 45th & Vermont.

Participate to help identify community needs --
AND enter to win a prize from local businesses!

Take the survey now! Survey will close on March 3rd.

The Watershed Resource Center wants to know what’s important to you when it comes to your backyard or the area around your home. What happens to the stormwater on your property? What concerns do you have relating to watershed health?

It doesn’t matter if you live in a house, apartment or condo. Whether your surroundings include native plants, invasives, food plants, ornamentals, or no plants at all – we’d like to know more about what motivates your choices around the place where you live, and which resources could help you.

Join the Friends of Vermont Creek as we get to know our watershed! Learn more about the roles of stormwater runoff, groundwater, and native vs. invasive plants in watershed function. Tour is expected to take 2.5 hours one way (about 2-2.5 miles, some trail hiking). There will be limited shuttle space available to take people back to Multnomah Village at the end of the tour, if needed.

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.

Environmental Services Worked with the community to develop a management plan for the Fanno Creek and Tryon Creek watersheds. The plan recommended project sites to improve water quality, address public interests, enhance fish and wildlife habitat, improve infrastructure, and restore watershed functions. The Multnomah Village Raindrop Walk green street is a showcase for green street improvements.

Friends of April Hill Park is a committee of the Maplewood Neighborhood Association.  Older information about Friends of April Hill Park is located under the "Parks" link on their web page.

 
April Hill Park Planning Meeting
Tuesday, March 9th, 2010
7-8pm

Join the Bridlemile Creek Stewards for maintenance and monitoring the ongoing stream restoration project in Albert Kelly Park's "Restoration Creek" on Saturday May 2nd from 9:00 AM - Noon
Meet at the bridge area Wear boots and dress for the weather. This project has been recognized as a Weed Management Area by Metro

Join the Bridlemile Creek Stewards in Albert Kelly Park stream restoration area in Restoration Creek bridge area for maintenance and monitoring of an ongoing riparian enhancement project. This site is selected as a Weed Management Project by Metro. Meet from 9:00 am - noon Saturday May 2nd in cooperation with P&R and No Ivy Day. SOLV is one of our partners and all volunteers wellcome.

Join the Bridlemile Creek Stewards for maintenance and monitoring the ongoing stream restoration project in Albert Kelly Park's "Restoration Creek" on Saturday May 2nd from 9:00 AM - Noon
Meet at the bridge area Wear boots and dress for the weather. This project has been recognized as a Weed Management Area by Metro

Meeting

The Dickinson Park Stewards have been instrumental in many projects at Dickinson Park within the South Ash Creek watershed, including:

• fundraising and construction of a new adventure playground for the park;
• installation of a swale along the north edge of the field;
• ongoing removal of invasive plants and installation of natives.

SW Texas: Street of ‘Greens’

printed in June 2008 SWNI News

Does your car sport a worn spot in the fabric above your head from hitting potholes?

The website for the CWSP grants is here, to get more of an idea about the grant parameters.

Here are the things we identified at the meeting for more exploration:

• produce video of Vermont Creek (and possibly other SW watersheds??), potentially with teen involvement

The Stephens Creek Stewards formed in 2008 to address water quality and wildlife habitat challenges to Stephens Creek, from its headwaters near Hillsdale and Multnomah Village to its confluence with the Willamette.

 

 
The Friends of Vermont Creek (FOVC) is a citizen group that was formed in 2004 when Vermont Creek was rated among the lowest in water quality and habitat resources in Portland. FOVC's goal is to help neighbors preserve and enhance the Vermont Creek watershed. We accomplish this through:

Click here for technical assistance resources.

New! Cash for Conservation
Saturday, Feb. 20, 9am to noon
SW Community Center, SW 45th & Vermont

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

Download a PDF version of this checklist here.

A list of common activities that watershed volunteer groups engage in:

• Stewardship:
  • invasive removal
  • native planting
  • bioswales, rain gardens, other stormwater projects
  • erosion control
  • litter patrol
  • creek habitat enhancement