Want to enhance wildlife habitat in your backyard? Organize a group of neighbors to clean up the creek around the corner? Click on the links below for resources that can help you achieve these goals. Feel free to call the Watershed Resource Center at 503-823-2862 to seek guidance over the phone, or stop in to the office in Room 5 of the Multnomah Arts Center.
Education Programs and Workshops (free or low-cost)
- Naturescaping (East Multnomah SWCD)
- Rain Gardens 101 (East Multnomah SWCD)
- Soil School - held annually in April, cosponsored by local SWCDs.
- Stormwater Stars workshop series (SW Watershed Resource Center, West Multnomah SWCD)
- Weed Watchers training (West Multnomah SWCD, Bureau of Environmental Services, & others)
Erosion Control
- City of Portland Erosion Control Manual
- Resources from West Multnomah SWCD
- Resources from East Multnomah SWCD
- Erosion control on steep slopes (resource from Clackamas County)
Funding
List of grant opportunities open to local landowners and/or stewardship groups (click link above).
Gardening for Wildlife and Watershed Health
- Metro has a multitude of gardening resources:
- An overview of natural gardening, including pest management methods, alternatives to pesticides, information on where to buy, and other resources.
- Composting, including construction plans for compost and worm bins.
- Reducing waste around your home, and substituting non-toxic cleaning supplies.
- The OSU Master Gardener program provides gardening Q&A and support, in partnership with Metro. The Multnomah County office is open Mon-Fri from 10-2 pm; call 503-445-4608 or stop by the office at 2701 NW Vaughn St., Suite 453, or see website for Clackamas and Washington County locations and times.
- Xerces Society for invertebrate conservation -- highlighting protection of sensitive insect species, especially pollinators.
- Pacific Northwest Native Wildlife Gardening
- Backyard Habitat Certification Program, a program of Columbia Land Trust and Audubon Society of Portland.
Native Plant Nurseries and Online Native Plant Information
- WMSWCD Pollinator Bloomtime Chart
- Naturescaping for Clean Rivers: How-to guide on native plant landscaping.
- Bosky Dell Natives, a plant nursery located just south of Portland.
- Champoeg Nursery
- Scholls Valley Native Nursery
- 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 want to add native plants to their landscape.
- Native Plant Society of Oregon - Portland chapter publishes Guidelines for Native Landscaping.
Native Plant Professionals
- Sign up for the Backyard Habitat Certification Program, and a program technician will visit your yard to help identify any invasive plants present.
- Contact the WRC if you are looking for assistance in removing invasive plants from your property.
- Go to our Publications page for a list of local contractors who are well-versed in invasive plant removal.
Native Plant Sales
- East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District hosts an online bareroot plant sale with orders taken on a first come, first served basis in January. Pickup at EMSWCD office in mid-February.
- The Trillium Festival is hosted by the Friends of Tryon Creek State Natural Area, annually on the first weekend in April.
- Skyline Grange (first weekend of April).
- Audubon Society of Portland hosts a plant sale annually in mid May.
- Tryon Creek Watershed Council holds an annual native plant sale in spring.
Pet Waste
...a common question at the WRC. See Dogs for the Environment.
Stormwater Management
- See the SWNI/Watershed Resource Center Stormwater Workshops and Resources page.
- Oregon Rain Garden Guide (14MB file)
- Clean River Rewards Stormwater management information, technical assistance and financial incentive program for sewer/stormwater ratepayers in the City of Portland service area.
- Site Assessment Guide
- Downspout Disconnection
- Soakage Trenches (also called French drains)
- Rain Gardens
Technical Assistance Providers
Obtain professional help in restoring and stewarding your property (click link above).
WRC FREE Tool Loan Program
Information about FREE tools available to SW Portland residents and organizations for watershed restoration projects (click link above).
Partnering Organizations and Related Programs
- 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.
- Tualatin River Watershed Council