July 2023 | Columbia Slough Watershed Council News
Hello Everyone, 

Here we find ourselves with summer in full swing and none of us at the Council are slowing down! 

Over the past month I had the opportunity to do a bit more paddling and explore some more of our natural areas. I am continually delighted by everything our watershed has to offer in terms of adventures, both big and small. In line with adventuring, I am also talking with one of our Paddle Team volunteers to paddle the entire slough, which will include portaging our canoe over the levees … stay tuned for that adventure I am considering taking over the CSWC Instagram feed for the day to keep you all in the loop! 

We have a great line-up of programming coming to you in July, including the Annual Great Slough Clean-Up, a paper making class, a sunset paddle and a couple other events. Head on over to our events calendar to sign up for something today! Personally I am ready to get down and dirty at the slough clean-up and will be at the Marx Drive site. It is one of my favorite events.

Lastly, I would like to personally ask you to consider becoming a financial supporter of the Columbia Slough Watershed Council. As our programming and staff grows, it is essential that we work to diversify and grow our funding base. All programming at CSWC is free, we never charge anyone for attending an event. That is why donations are so important, and it doesn’t matter the amount, because every dollar helps! Consider a one-time donation or becoming a monthly donor! You can find out all the ways you can support CSWC here. Do you own a business or are you a part of a larger company in our watershed? Please reach out to me so we can talk about all the ways you can partner with CSWC and join a growing group of amazing businesses both large and small! 

However you support CSWC, please know we are grateful! I hope to see you out there soon! 

Heather
Heather

Heather King
Executive Director
Please consider donating to CSWC, supporting the free community programming that happens throughout your watershed! 
July Slough Science -
Pollinators with Thomas Meinzen!
Wednesday, July 5, 5:30-7:30PM at Level Beer on NE 148th
This free educational speaker event will feature Thomas Meinzen, a pollinator ecologist and bee and butterfly enthusiast, introducing some of our local pollinator species and discussing natural history, ecology, and conservation.

Events are free and open to whoever is curious, so come learn with us!
CSWC has committees that advise the board and focus on certain topics, such as Land-use, Justice Equity Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI), and Fundraising. Becoming a committee member is less time-commitment than being a board member, but still allows you to become more involved in decision-making processes with the Council.
There's still time to register for the
Great Slough Cleanup!
Join us on Saturday, July 8, for the annual Great Slough Cleanup! This year, we are hosting three events, one on land and two on the water, where participants will help us to remove trash and debris from the Slough. Participants can bring their own boat, reserve a seat in one of ours, or join our on land efforts!

After these events, volunteers of all ages are welcome to join us for a drink at Level Beer - ciders, soda and kombucha will also be available.

This event is made is possible funding from Portland Metro, Communicare, East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District, Bottle Drop Give, Paddle Team volunteers and countless community partners. 
Paper-Making Workshops are Back!
Yellow flag iris! Is it a menace? Is it beautiful? Does it contain multitudes? Yes! This plant takes over riparian areas around the Slough but also, it's a source of fiber for MAKING PAPER.

Class 1: FIBER HARVEST - Participants in this class will go find Yellow Flag Iris plants around the Whitaker Slough, harvest them, and then cut them up into smaller pieces. (In between classes, we'll cook and beat the plant fibers into PULP and post what it looks like on instagram.)

Class 2: PAPER MAKING - Participants in this class will learn how to use a mould and deckle to pull sheets from a vat of Yellow Flag Iris pulp.

You can do one class, or you can do both! FYI it takes time for paper to dry, so anyone who comes to class 2 will be getting their finished paper in the mail.

PS: any youth that sign up to do this class should have a grownup with them for supervision!
Join Outdoor Afro for a Canoe and Kayak event!
Saturday, August 5th from 9:30AM - 11:30AM
Join Outdoor Afro and CSWC for a morning kayaking and canoeing at Whitaker Ponds Nature Park! Expect to see blue herons and other waterfowl. All equipment, canoes, oars, life vests (PFDS), and dry bags will be provided at no charge. Participants will receive instructions on the use of equipment, entering and exiting the canoe, and navigating the water.
Sponsor Highlight:
Next Adventure
Next Adventure has generously come on board as a sponsor of the Council, providing discounted products so we can continue providing free events for the community.

We are incredibly grateful for their support!
Take Flood Safe Columbia River's Community Feedback Survey
The Columbia is one of the world’s largest, most powerful rivers. A system of flood-control infrastructure–hidden in plain sight–protects the Portland region from devastating floods. But the climate is changing and extreme weather threatens vulnerable communities, water quality, and the natural environment. The system is nearly 100 years old and requires upgrades. Fortunately, there is a simple cost-effective solution. Visit www.floodsafecolumbia.org to learn more!
Over the summer, Flood Safe Columbia River is seeking community feedback on future flood safety investments through a short online survey. This survey will help us identify levels of support and community priorities when it comes to flood safety, and will help inform the development of a bond measure that will be referred to Multnomah County voters in 2024.
 
Take the survey at www.surveymonkey.com/r/fscr2024 or scan the QR code!
Survey participants will be entered into a raffle to win one of five emergency preparedness kits.
Thank you for your input! 
July Events Lineup
We've got lots of fun events this July, including bird walks, paper-making workshops, and the Great Slough Cleanup! Register and find out more information about CSWC events on our website.

Saturday, July 1, 9AM - 11AM
Join CSWC and bird walk leaders Ryan Gilpin and Thomas Meinzen for a summer bird and tree walk at Salish Ponds Wetland Park in the eastern part of our watershed. This free event is open to all ages.

Wednesday, July 5, 5:30PM - 7:30PM
This free educational speaker event will feature Thomas Meinzen, a pollinator ecologist and bee and butterfly enthusiast, introducing some of our local pollinator species and discussing their natural history, ecology, and conservation. 

Saturday, July 8, 9AM - 12PM
Join CSWC for the annual Great Slough Cleanup! This year we will be working in 3 different locations to remove trash from in and around the Slough. We have both land (at Marx Dr.) and water options to remove trash at Whitaker Ponds or from a launch located at NE Glassplant Rd & NE Alderwood Rd. Participants can reserve a seat in one of our boats, or bring their own.

Thursday, July 13, 6PM - 7:30PM
Join CSWC's Education Director, Jennifer Starkey, for an evening of working with natural materials to make paper. This is a two part event and participants are welcome to attend one, or both, events. Participants who join for just Part 1 will not be actually making paper or taking home paper at the end of the event.

Thursday, July 20, 6PM - 7:30PM
Participants who join Part 2 will have access to the yellow flag iris that was collected at the Part 1 Workshop. From there, the group will continue to process the plant, strain the plan and then make it into paper. The paper does take some time to dry and participants will receive their final product in the mail shortly after the event. 

Saturday, July 22, 10AM - 1PM
Join CSWC and Flood Safe Columbia River for a free 7 mile bike tour of Portland’s flood safety system! On this slow paced ride, participants will explore this system which protects homes, businesses, airports and critical community services from flooding, and learn about the plan to upgrade this system.

Sunday, July 23, 9 - 11:30 AM
Join the Slavic Community Center and CSWC for a paddle at Whitaker Ponds Nature Park in NE Portland! This is an all ages event, minors must be accompanied by an adult. Participants are welcome to bring their own boat, or reserve a seat in one of ours! This event is exclusively for Slavic community members. Ukrainian and Russian interpretation will be available throughout the event.

Monday, July 24, 5:30 - 7:30 PM
Our meetings are open to the public! Join us this month to get involved with the Council’s behind-the-scenes operations. This meeting will be held virtually over Zoom.

Thursday, July 27, 6PM - 8PM
Experience the wonders and wildlife of the Slough up close with a FREE canoe paddle. We will all meet at Whitaker Ponds, get fitted for life vests, and all paddle as a group along the Slough.

Saturday, August 5, 9:30 - 11:30AM
Join Outdoor Afro and CSWC for morning kayaking and canoeing at Whitaker Ponds! Expect to see blue herons and other waterfowl. All equipment, canoes, oars, life vests (PFDS), and dry bags will be provided at no charge.
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