Grants Awarded
 

FISH

The West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District has awarded Financial Incentives for Sustainable Habitat (FISH) grants totaling $8,908 for two restoration projects in the county. In November the Tryon Creek Watershed Council (TCWC) will improve critical upland and riparian habitat on three private properties along Deer Creek, an important tributary to Tryon Creek with an award of $7,258. TCWC will reach out to landowners up and downstream of the project to encourage their participation in the restoration. Wesley Wong, a private landowner adjacent to the Sylvania Natural Area Park (SNAP) was awarded $1,650 to conduct a complimentary stormwater retrofit project at a headwaters segment of Fanno Creek. The next deadline for FISH grant applications is February 16, 2010. Contact Conservation Planner/Technician Mary Logalbo at 503.238.4775, ext. 103 or mary@wmswcd.org for more information. Find FISH grant forms at our web site, www.wmswcd.org.

OWEB

Over the past two years WMSWCD staff has worked with the Native American Rehabilitation Association (NARA) staff, residents and community volunteers to remove invasive weeds along a 2 acre section of the riparian zone of McCarthy Creek. Recently, WMSWCD was awarded $5661 in OWEB Small Grant funds to pay for the native plantings in this important habitat area. After native plantings are installed, WMSWCD will work with NARA NW residents and staff as well as Pacific Northwest College of the Arts (PNCA) students to develop educational signage exploring the historic Native American usage of this area, watershed restoration and installed native plants' traditional medicinal/edible uses.

Balch Creek

Two private landowners in the Balch Creek Watershed have been working with the District to create a "restoration demonstration" site which aims to increase overall wildlife habitat and watershed function over 10 acres of the upper Balch Creek. This project has been awarded WMSWCD FISH grant, OWEB Small Grant and, most recently, a Metro Central Enhancement Grant which assist the landowners in financing the invasive species removal and native plants needed to fully restore these sites. After these projects are completed the landowners plan to offer tours to showcase the site!

Multnomah Channel Habitat

The Multnomah Channel Habitat Connection bridges 60 acres of crucial upland and riparian wildlife habitat between Metro and City owned open spaces and the Multnomah Channel. This project includes sections of Miller Creek, home to some T&E salmonid species, and Ennis Creek. This project is currently undergoing major invasive species removal, funded in part through a WMSWCD FISH Grant, and will be replanted in heavily infested areas through a recently awarded OWEB Small Grant. Further funding is now being pursued for this major restoration project through Metro's Nature in the Neighborhoods grants!