OSU's Master Gardener Hotline has a new Multnomah County Home!

The West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District is pleased to announce a new partnership with the OSU Extension Master Gardener Program. The Master Gardener Telephone Hotline is now open, and several Master Gardeners are in residence at WMSWCD's office in the Montgomery Park building in NW Portland. It has been seven years since the hotline has had a presence in Multnomah County and many residents are eager to take advantage of its expertise and training.

To contact the Master Gardeners, call 503/445-4608 or visit the office between the hours of 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM at 2701 NW Vaughn Street, Ste. 453, Portland, OR 97210

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. They use a variety of resources to arrive at an unbiased and research-based answer (or answers) to your questions.

The Master Gardner program lost its Multnomah County funding in 2002. In 2003, the program relocated to the North Willamette Resource and Extension Center in Aurora, and then moved to the Clackamas County Extension office in 2008 serving Multnomah County residents through an office at Portland State University. With their new presence at WMSWCD, the Telephone Clinic has a permanent home.

Multnomah Weed Watcher Program

Become a Multnomah Weed Watcher and help protect Oregon's landscape by preventing the spread of harmful invasive plant species! Invasive species cause serious problems by disrupting ecosystems, pushing out native species, and decreasing the value of your land. Many invasive plants are not yet abundant in Oregon, and you can help keep them out! Some plant species to be aware of are Himalayan Blackberry, English Ivy, Garlic Mustard and Knotweed.

WMSWCD is helping sponsor a free Multnomah Weed Watcher training session, Saturday, May 30 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at Metro (600 NE Grand Avenue, Portland). Volunteers become part of an Oregon Early Detection Network.

Remember, the training is FREE and you will:

• Discover more about the problem of invasive species
• Learn to identify, locate and report invaders before they become a problem
• View live and preserved specimens

Space is limited to 130 people. Free parking is available in the Metro garage accessible from NE Irving Street. If the parking attendant is present, tell them you are attending the Metro sponsored event. Other sponsors of the training are Metro, East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District, City of Portland/Bureau of Environmental Services, City of Gresham and the Nature Conservancy.

Register 

Grant Funds are Now Available for Sustainable Projects

The West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District (WMSWCD) has awarded a total of $39,690 for area habitat projects...and announces that additional funds are available for projects that qualify for the FISH program; Financial Incentives for Sustainable Habitats.

One more funding cycle is planned for the WMSWCD FISH grant program! Applications for the next cycle of funds are due by MAY 15th, 2009. Please contact Mary Logalbo, 503/238-4775 x103 or mary@wmswcd.org for more information.

Grant monies awarded in November, 2008 are going toward three projects in west Multnomah County:

• West Willamette Restoration Partnership ($10,000), for the Backyard Habitat Certification Program
• McMahon Sauvie Island Farm ($5,600), for a horse Heavy Use Area
• Robert Martin ($500) for a creek restoration project

In February 2009, grants were awarded to four additional projects:

• A Resident-Based Project to Control Garlic Mustard in Skyline Ridge/Forest Park ($550)
• Balch Creek Restoration Demonstration Project ($7,680)
• Multnomah Channel Habitat Connection ($7,680)
• Skyline School Native Plant Garden ($7,680)

Balch Creek Watershed "Summit" Covers All the Bases

About 25 residents gathered at the Audubon Society of Portland, Saturday, May 9, to learn about and discuss issues affecting the Balch Creek Watershed. WMSWCD's Mary Logalbo outlined the types of invasive weeds that can be found in the watershed and instructed residents on how to remove them and replace with native plants. Other speakers covered topics such as soil erosion and septic maintenance.

Participants also went on a nature walk through the watershed courtesy of Audubon naturalists.

West Multnomah District Joins Forest Park Conservancy in Day of Stewardship

Over 50 volunteers gathered at the Linnton Community Center for an ivy pull and native planting event in the Linnton neighborhood, March 21 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. As part of the Forest Park Conservancy's Day of Stewardship, the WMSWCD sponsored the event in the north end of Forest Park, which ivy is choking many native trees.

Volunteers spent the day cutting the ivy off trees at about waist length so that it dies further up the trees. They also pulled ivy around the base of the trees so that native ground cover may establish. In addition, volunteers installed an erosion mat on a newer section of trail. After their day of work, all the volunteers were treated to an appreciation party at the Lucky Lab Brew Pub on NW Quimby.

Please Join Us for These Upcoming Workshops!

Wapato State Park Ivy Pull
May 16, 10:00-12:30 p.m.
Wapato State Park Parking Lot
As part of SOLV's statewide Take Care of Oregon Days, the WMSWCD is organizing an ivy pull at Wapato State Park on Sauvie Island. Volunteers will meet in the gravel parking lot at the state park at 10:00 a.m. They should wear long pants and bring work gloves. For more Take Care of Oregon Days activities, visit http://www.solv.org/programs/take_care_of_oregon_days.asp.

Multnomah Weed Watcher Training
May 30, Saturday, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon
Metro, 600 NE Grand Avenue, Portland
Help protect the Northwest by preventing the spread of harmful invasive plant species, which crowd out our native plants and, in some case, send toxics into the soil. Space is limited to 130 people. Free parking is available in the Metro garage accessible from NE Irving Street.

Register Online:
http://www.emswcd.org/workshops-events
and click on 'Weeds Workshops' or call
503-935-5383

Sturgeon Lake Habitat Restoration a Top Priority

The WMSWCD is applying to the Oregon Water Enhancement Board (OWEB) to fund restoration work on Sturgeon Lake on the north half of Sauvie Island. The lake, owned and managed as wildlife refuge by Oregon Fish and Wildlife, borders and connects to Multnomah Channel via the Gilbert River and Columbia Rivers. This is critical off-channel refugia for endangered salmon, sturgeon and lamprey and is an integral part of the Pacific flyway for pacific coast migratory waterfowl.

Natural water flow to Sturgeon Lake was severely restricted 60 years ago when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer built an 18-mile levee to prevent annual flooding. The direct channel from the Columbia River through Dairy Creek was re-opened in 1989 but Columbia River floods in 1996 and 1967 blocked the creek's mouth.

So much has changed since then to alter the river hydrology. On-going channel dredging & deepening, larger ship traffic & wave action, upriver dam operations and other natural causes now require technical re-evaluation and analysis before deciding how best to re-open Dairy Creek. The District's proposal is very similar to successful restoration efforts at other areas, such as Smith & Bybee Lakes, Columbia Slough and Clackamas River