habitat restoration

Join the Rock Creek Partnership on Saturday, March 12th in Happy Valley for our fifth annual Watershed Wide Event! We'll be planting a wide diversity of native trees and shrubs to create a hedgerow on the property that will attract native pollinators and contribute to watershed health. No experience is necessary and all are welcome -- families, neighbors, and friends! There will be live music, a delicious variety of breakfast snacks and coffee/tea provided to all volunteers, as well as raffle prizes! The staging site will once again be the Galaxy Barn at Pendarvis Farm - site of the renowned Pickathon Music Festival. Parking is limited at the Pendarvis farm so we ask that all volunteers meet us at the nearby Happy Valley City Hall where shuttles will bring you to the farm. Plan to arrive by 8:30-8:45am at City Hall to leave enough time after arriving at the farm to get registered and assigned to a crew, as well as to enjoy hot coffee and breakfast treats. The event will wrap-up around 1:00pm. Rock Creek is an important tributary of the Clackamas River, which provides high quality drinking water to more than 300,000 people and provides critical habitat for many sensitive species of plants, fish and wildlife. The Rock Creek Partnership works with landowners to revitalize streamside habitats by removing invasive species, such as blackberry and ivy, and replanting the areas with native vegetation. Restoring native plant communities grows a canopy over our creeks, which filters drinking water, provides wildlife habitat, and increases property value.

Register online here: http://solveoregon.org/get-involved/events/watershed-wide-event

Linnton Creek is a principle stream in Forest Park, one of the main trail heads in the north end of the park, and its confluence with the Willamette River will have a new lagoon, as part of the the 27 acre Linnton Plywood Mill site's restoration as animal habitat (a Superfund mitigation site). We are restoring the creek trail head, removing ivy and blackberry, planting natives, and installing an interpretive sign, trash can and custom (and amusing) dog waste bag dispenser designed by noted artist Ivan McLean. Part of a broad effort to eliminate dog waste from the park, this site is particularly important as the creek will flow into a new lagoon designed as a resting place for salmon fry, where clean water will be crucial. At the moment the main effort is ivy removal and the planting of almost 300 native plants. Hot and cold beverages, pastries, tools and gloves are provided. We'll be having a celebration of the project's completion in June. Activities include: Invasive Plant Removal, Native Planting.

Register online here: http://solveoregon.org/get-involved/events/linnton-creek-project-march

This project will start the healing process for one of the finest public stairways in the City of Portland. It has been neglected and was once taken over by ivy and laurel. The invasive species have been cleaned up and now it is time to plant native plants in the beds along the stairs. Nearly 500 native plants that include favorites like sword fern, evergreen huckleberry, mock orange and snowberry need to be planted. It will be great fun with hot and cold beverages, pastries, tools and gloves provided. As a part of the cleanup of invasive species and planting of native plants, we will apply to the Backyard Habitat program to be a certified Backyard Habitat. This could be the first public space to be certified through that program. We hope it will encourage surrounding landowners to also become certified. Activities include: Native Planting.

Register online here: http://solveoregon.org/get-involved/events/alameda-ridge-stairs-native-p...

Community clean up on waterfront path on east and west esplanade from Steel Bridge to Hawthorne Bridge. Activities include: Litter Cleanup.

Register online here: http://solveoregon.org/get-involved/events/portland-running-company-litt...

Plant native trees and shrubs to improve habitat and water quality. Tools and gloves will be provided on site. Drinking water will also be provided but feel free to bring your own water bottles. This can be messy work, so please wear appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes.

Register online here: 

http://solveoregon.org/get-involved/events/trillium-creek-community-plan...