OSU's Master Gardener Hotline holds an Open House

OSU Master Gardeners invite all your questions and plant samples this Friday at an Open House from 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m. in their office with West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District in the Montgomery Park building in NW Portland. The Master Gardener Hotline moved into space with WMSWCD in late March after a seven year absence in Multnomah County. The office is located at 2701 NW Vaughn Street, Ste. 453, Portland, and the hotline number is 503/445-4608.

Master Gardeners are well trained about the art and science of growing and caring for plants. They are part of a highly educated corps of volunteers that provides sustainable gardening information to the community through education and outreach programs.

Board of Directors Adopts New Budget

On June 9, 2009 the West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District's Board of Directors adopted the fiscal year 2009 - 2010 budget. The Budget Committee, comprised of District constituents and the District's board of directors, met on three different occasions between March 2009 and June 2009 to discuss, approve and adopt the budget.

In the 2009-10 year, the District will levy $628,760 in property taxes to fund over $1,000,000 in expenditures. These expenses include $65,000 in FISH Grant funds, $40,000 in CARE grant funds, and $50,000 for the ECREP/Healthy Rivers Program. The District also intends to hire a new Conservation Planner in the fall to assist with its ever-growing number of projects.

The District extends its thanks to budget committee members for helping to craft a responsible and well allocated budget, as well as to the Tax Supervising & Conservation Commission for its budget guidance.

For more details on the District budget, please visit our website: www.wmswcd.org

Over $55,000 Awarded in FISH Grants

A total of $55, 373 has been awarded to ten priority projects by the West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District (WMSWCD) in fiscal year 2008-2009. The grants are part of the Financial Incentives for Sustainable Habitats (FISH) program's first year. FISH grants are dedicated to improving watershed health and native wildlife habitat as well as raising awareness throughout the District.

This year's awards will fund the restoration of over 60 acres of land through on-the-ground conservation work and educate over 2,500 District constituents on natural resource issues through a variety of programs. The projects include:

• West Willamette Restoration Partnership/Backyard Habitat Certification Program: $10,000 to engage urban landowners in conservation practices and expanding to include wildlife stewardship and stormwater management.
• McMahon Sauvie Island Farm: $5,600 for the installation of a "heavy use area," providing a well-drained & stable overwintering area for McMahon's horses.
• Robert Martin: $500 to leverage other funds for a restoration project, involving the removal of invasive species, erosion control measures and native riparian plantings along Vermont Creek.
• Skyline Ridge Neighbors & Forest Park Neighborhood Association: $550 to control the growth and spread of garlic mustard by paying for plastic bags, disposal fees, outdoor literature holders and better roadside signs.
• Balch Creek Restoration Demonstration: $7,680 to help landowners remove priority invasives and replant across 10 acres of riparian and forested habitat in the West Hills along the upper headwaters of Balch Creek
• Skyline School: $7,680 to the Skyline School PTA Green Team to remove non-native plants and create a native plant learning garden for students and the local community. (See more below)
• Multnomah Channel Habitat Connection: $7,680 to connect important salmon habitat downstream including documented native runs of federally listed ESA anadromous salmonid species.
• Vermont Creek Restoration: $1,648 to improve watershed health and wildlife habitat along Vermont Creek by removing invasive plants, placing fabric/netting to prevent erosion along the streambanks and planting native species.
• Tryon Creek Watershed: $9,992 to help eradicate invasives in the Tryon Creek Watershed and re-vegetate to reduce re-emergence.
• SW Watersheds: $4,043 to build awareness of watershed ecology and stewardship in SW Portland through a video toolbox project and education programs.

The next deadline for FISH grants is August 17, 2009. For more information contact WMSWCD Conservation Planner/Technician, Mary Logalbo, 503/238-4775 x103, mary@wmswcd.org.

Skyline School Begins Work on Native Plant Garden

With assistance from WMSWCD, OWEB awarded Skyline Elementary School a $7,222 grant in April. The grant was used for invasive weed control, creation of a native plant garden for wildlife habitat and education. In late April, some 32 volunteers and a contractor removed juniper and laurel on close to an acre. The project continues this fall with container plantings and erosion control seeding and then in winter with bareroot plantings.

WMSWCD technical staff provided advice on appropriate native plants and wholesale sources, contractor services and costs, use of compost, weed control methods and educational signage.

New Healthy Streams Program Unveiled

The WMSWCD Board has approved a $50,000 budget for restoration of privately owned riparian areas in the West Hills and on Sauvie Island agricultural land. Grants totaling $35,000 will be available for planting projects along Rock and Abbey Creeks, and along drainage ditches and canals on Sauvie Island (The remaining $15,000 will be used to maintain 3 existing projects). Invasive weeds will be removed and native trees and shrubs will be planted to improve wildlife habitat and water quality. Funding is also available for streamside fencing and livestock watering facilities.

Landowner benefits include free project planning and management, aesthetic enhancement, an increase in desirable wildlife -- including pollinators -- less water pollution and algae growth and smaller pump costs. On non-agricultural land, WMSWCD will help landowners seek matching funds. For more information contact Kammy Kern-Korot at  kammy@wmswcd.org.

Protect Your Forest Land & Home from Wildfire

You are at risk of wildfire damage if your home is near Forest Park, where Portland's largest wildfires have occurred. The growth of invasive weeds and other underbrush adds to the amount of fire fuel in the forest. What can you do?

First, clear out invasive plants such as Scot's broom, Himalayan blackberry, European hawthorn, clematis and English ivy. These are highly combustible and a nuisance. Then replace them with herbaceous and other fire-wise native plants that have moist leaves, are low in sap, and have little dead wood. Avoid plants with volatile waxes or oils, like holly, gummy sap, aromatic leaves, and loose or papery bark.

If you have a lawn, you can let it go dormant and cut it short. Prune tree branches within 10' of walls and roofs and remove limbs from conifers up to 6' from the ground within 30'of structures. Check out our website at for ideas on woodland management and native plant options. For free assistance with invasive weeds and woodland management, contact us.

Summer Care of Your Pasture Land

Do you have pasture for horses or other livestock on your land? It's time to think about caring for your land through the summer and fall. By late July, your pasture grass is growing more slowly and will go dormant in August. While protein levels of common pasture grasses such as ryegrass and tall fescue are the highest in September and October, grasses need time to recover from dormancy and re-grow (to 3-4" or more) before grazing. Keep livestock off wet pastures to protect the grass and prevent soil from getting compacted which inhibits future growth and promotes weeds. Wait to graze until the ground dries out and grass has grown enough.

Test your soil in the fall and apply lime or nutrients as needed before seasonal rainfall -- don't over-apply nitrogen, as it can interfere with carbohydrate storage, leach into groundwater or wash away with rain. Avoid applying manure and fertilizer during the wet season in order to keep valuable nutrients on the land and protect water quality, and apply manure at least 100 feet from a water source. Move horses and other livestock into confinement or properly-surfaced "heavy use areas" during the winter months when soil is saturated.

Fall Pasture Workshop

This fall WMSWCD will host a pasture workshop to benefit livestock owners in the district. If you have questions about pasture weeds, grazing, fencing, water, or fertilizers, this is the event for you. Did you know that as a livestock owner, you have an obligation under the Clean Water Act and Oregon Senate Bill 1010? We'll explain the bill and present experts on rotational grazing, invasive weeds, soils and nutrient management. Also find out ways the District can help you achieve greater success from your pastures.

Sauvie Island Small Grant

WMSWCD recently received an $8,600 grant to help a Sauvie Island landowner restore wildlife habitat on a piece of their property. Grant funds, from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB), mandates a 25% match from the landowners and will be used to purchase and plant native trees, shrubs, and grasses. The District will also help maintain the plantings for next couple of years until they are established.

Originally set aside for pasture land, the landowner decided to devote the 9 acres to native plantings. These will provide shelter and food for various song birds, raptors, and other wildlife as well as provide pollinator habitat that will benefit the crop and berry fields which surround it. The plantings will go in during the fall, with maintenance activities the following spring and summer.

Summer Lawn Care

Now that the nice weather has finally come to our fair city, the instinct is to water our gardens and lawns often. Keep in mind that lawns only need about 1 inch of water a week. An easy way to keep track is to put an old tuna can on the lawn while watering and turn off the faucet when it's half full. Let your lawn completely dry out between waterings-this promotes deeper root growth.

As the lawn grows more slowly, consider leaving the grass clippings on your lawn instead of bagging them. It saves you time and effort and the nutrients in the clippings release back into your lawn, reducing fertilizer needs. This practice is called "grasscycling."

Only use organic or slow-release fertilizer, if you use it at all. You only need to fertilizer your lawn once a year and do it in the fall. Organic fertilizer will release nutrients into your lawn over a longer period of time and won't seep into groundwater or run into the storm drains.

Be sure to aerate and over-seed, particularly if you have an older lawn. You can rent a power aerator or just push a garden fork into the lawn every 4 inches or so. After that, over-seed with a rye/fescue mix designed for Pacific Northwest conditions. Finally, spread compost over the top of lawn about ¼ inch deep. It improves the soil and spurs the growth of grass over weeds.

Forestry Outreach Workshop Planned

The WMSWCD, with OSU Extension, Oregon Small Woodlands Association, Oregon Woodland Co-op, Oregon Department of Forestry and the Oregon Forest Resources Institute, will hold a landowner outreach event on Saturday, September 26. The event, planned for a private area of Skyline Boulevard, will bring together forest landowners from the area to share their wisdom, experiences and stories while learning about topics ranging from wildlife habitat to carbon credits to wildfire risk reduction. We will start at around 9 am with coffee and breakfast and finish up with hearty lunch around noon. Please stay tuned to our website for more details www.wmswcd.org.

New Faces at WMSWCD

Board member David Patte

David has worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service since 1990, currently serving as the Assistant Regional Director for External Affairs, as position he has held since January 2004. David worked as the Region's Congressional Affairs liaison from 2000 to 2004; the Region's Chief, Division of Budget and Finance from 1995 to 2000; and a budget formulation analyst in the Washington Office from 1990 to 1995.

David holds a Masters in Public Administration with an Environmental Policy minor, and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and French Literature (two majors). David also studied forestry for two years following his B.A.

David is happily married to Elizabeth and is active in the Portland community: He was on the Friends of Forest Park board for six years and served as President for three years. David and Elizabeth are members of the Sauvie Island Organics CSA and they enjoy wildlife viewing, hiking, cycling on Sauvie Island, Forest Park and many other places.

David is bilingual, being of French parentage, born in France and a first-generation immigrant to the U.S. He spent many summers working on the family farm in the Rhone Valley, and two years in French High Schools, successfully completing a French baccalauréat after his U.S. High School diploma.

GIS Intern Zeph Friendman-Sowder

Starting on July 6, WMSWCD welcomed a new face into office. Zeph Friedman-Sowder has worked as a biologist in Oregon, California, Wyoming, and Nevada and completed a stint as a GIS intern for the Forest Service in California in 2002. With a bachelor's degree in Geography from OSU in 2003, he recently returned to Oregon to pursue a degree in Renewable Energy Engineering at the Oregon Institute of Technology.

Zeph looks forward to gaining further experience working with GIS programs and is excited to continue his work in conservation. Projects include cataloging past WMSWCD projects and transferring them to GIS, assisting Mary Logalbo with invasives monitoring, aerial photo interpretation of forest stand types in the West Hills, and assisting staff with conservation planning on Sauvie Island. While other projects will undoubtedly crop up, these projects should keep him busy for several months to come. Products created during his internship will be presented to the Board as well as posted on the website. Zeph will be working part time while attending classes at OIT.

Enjoy your summer,

Dick Springer

WMSWCD District Manager