Nature and Human Health

Join the Portland Water Bureau and the Columbia Slough Watershed Council for a FREE bicycle tour through Portland's Columbia South Shore Well Field! Located deep below the Columbia Slough Watershed, the City's well field is capable of producing close to 100 million gallons of high-quality drinking water per day. The well field is used as an emergency backup for the Bull Run source and to augment our water supply during the summer when demand for water is higher.

Refreshments will be provided.  Space is limited so register early!  CLICK HERE now to register.

Event URL: http://www.columbiaslough.org/index.php/events/event/107/

The Ride:

At several stops along the ride, experts from the Portland Water Bureau and the Columbia Slough Watershed Council will reveal the mysteries of groundwater, discuss how groundwater provides flexibility and reliability to the City's water supply and explain how we can all protect this important resource. Bring your bike, helmet, water bottle and lunch. Dress for the weather.

Start/Finish Location:

Aloft Portland Airport at Cascade Station

9920 NE Cascades Pkwy

Portland, OR 97220

Sponsors:  

The Portland Water Bureau, Aloft Portland Airport at Cascade Station, and Columbia Slough Watershed Council

Length & Difficulty:

Approximately 16 miles over relatively flat terrain, at a slow/moderate pace. Suitable for advanced beginner and intermediate riders due to the length and possible headwinds. Ages 12 and up are welcome. Helmets and pre-registration are required.

Questions?

Contact Karen Carrillo at karen.carrillo@columbiaslough.org or 503-281-113

Join volunteers for this monthly Second Saturday Cleanup in Northwest Portland. Pick up litter from NW Vaughn to Raleigh, NW 22nd to 26th. Coffee/tea and pastries hosted by Food Front on their front terrace. Come dressed for the weather.

Register online here: http://solveoregon.org/get-involved/events/may-second-saturday-cleanup

Join volunteers for this monthly First Saturday Cleanup in Slabtown. Pick up litter in the area. Coffee & tea provided by New Seasons Market. Volunteers should come prepared with completed waiver forms (if possible) and work gloves on cold days. Activities include: Litter Cleanup. Activities include: Litter Cleanup.

Register online here: http://solveoregon.org/get-involved/events/first-saturday-clean-slabtown

Where:  Cathlapotle Plankhouse at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge - Carty Unit:

28908 NW Main Ave, Ridgefield, WA 98642; www.ridgefieldfriends.org

When: Sunday, May 8th, 2016

What: Take mom out for a stroll at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge to connect with wildlife and Native culture this Mothers' Day at 1:00pm. Learn how the traditional roles of Native women in Pacific Northwest helped maintain gender equality and how evidence of women's labor show up in the archaeological record. The Plankhouse will be open for visitors from 12pm-4pm, and there will be activities for the kids as well. 

1pm: Presentation "Where the Women Are: Gender and Power in the Archaeological Record of the Pacific Northwest"

The Pacific Northwest has a rich ethnographic record which details the lifeways of Native Americans at the time of Euro-American contact. Despite the wealth of data on gender division of labor in indigenous groups of the 19th-20th centuries, archaeological research on gender is rare. Activities traditionally associated with women such as plant gathering cooking, basketry, and mat making remain poorly understood in comparison to activities typically associated with men. In this presentation doctoral student, Tiffany Fulkerson, will explore the relationship between women's labor and their social power through evidence in the archaeological record.

2pm: Ethnobotany Hike
Join our speaker and a Refuge Naturalist for a walk on the Oaks to Wetlands Trail discussing spring plants and their relationship with Chinookan culture. Participants should be prepared for a 2 mile hike on moderately uneven terrain. Meet at the Plankhouse.

12pm - 4pm: Plankhouse Tours and Children's Activities
Tour the Plankhouse on your own or guided by our experienced volunteers. Children's activities exploring local nature and culture will be available as well.

Cost:   Refuge admission is $3 per vehicle - save money and carpool with a friend!

Contact:  Sarah Hill; 360.887.4106/Sarah_Hill@fws.gov For wheelchair access to events, please contact Sarah prior to the event date.

Join Lisa Taylor, a freelance garden educator, in a lively examination of vertical gardening techniques for Pacific Northwest gardens and urban farms at the Hoyt Arboretum, 4000 SW Fairview, Washington Park, Portland, Oregon. Discover time-tested, delicious varieties of fruits and vegetables that love to climb and produce enormous amounts of food! Learn techniques to make the most of your vertical spaces and how to construct attractive and functional trellises, teepees and arbors.