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August 2023 | Columbia Slough Watershed Council News
Hello Everyone,

Thanks so much for taking a few minutes to read our newsletter and catch up on all the exciting things happening at CSWC!

We had a board meeting just a couple of weeks ago and during my update I shared a piece of information about our programming that blew my mind and in that moment, I decided in the moment that I wanted to also share it with all of you!

During the months of May and June CSWC hosted 41 events with 1,150 participants and 81 volunteers!

I am so very proud of our staff and the work they continually do to introduce and uplift our community's connection to the natural areas throughout the watershed.
I am so very proud of our staff and the work they continually do to introduce and uplift our community's connection to the natural areas throughout the watershed.

Lastly, in continuing my year-long adventure to take in as much of the watershed as possible,, I share with you a picture taken today of me and my service animal George, out on the Whitaker Slough AND to let you know that there is a plan in the works to paddle the whole slough in early fall - stay tuned for updates!

Thank you for all that YOU do to be a part of CSWC! Please consider supporting us today by making a donation, coming to an event, or sharing our organization with a friend.
Heather

Heather King
Executive Director
Please consider donating to CSWC, supporting the free community programming that happens throughout your watershed! 
Thank you to those who joined our Great Slough Cleanup in July!
With the help of 52 community volunteers and 8 of our staff members, we were able to remove 15 tires and over 40 yards of trash from the Columbia Slough. Every volunteer made a huge difference and we are so thankful for the energy everyone put in! A special mention for one of our Paddle Team Volunteers, Ed, who won this year's Golden Picker Award. He has supported countless on-water events this year, and is always the last to leave at every cleanup - give him a high five next time you see him at an event!
A huge thank you to Metro, Oregon Bottle Drop, Communicare and East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District for financial support, Level Beer and Guayaki Yerba Mate for supporting our after party, and to Affordable Junk Removal for hauling away all of our trash!

Join our next cleanup at Kelley Point Park on August 24th! This event will be held on land and is great for all ages. See additional details below and register today!
Learn About the Watershed at an August Bike Ride!
Monday, August 7th from 6 - 8PM join us for the Historic Vanport Route! We'll be joined by Vanport Flood survivor, Ed Washington, and Flood Safe Columbia River for a free educational talk and 7.5 mile bike tour of Portland’s flood safety system - free dinner included!

Monday, August 14th from 6 - 8PM
Andando en Bicicleta en los Diques with Community Cycling Center, Verde and Flood Safe Columbia River. This will be a 5 mile Historic Vanport Route held in Spanish - free dinner included! Don't have a bike? Please email bella@communitycyclingcenter.org to borrow one for the event.

Saturday, August 19th from 10AM - 12:30PM join us for a Pedal to Paddle event! This event begins with a short 4.2 mile bike ride tour of the watershed, discussing elevation and gravity as we go. Our route will bring us to Whitaker Ponds where we will end with a group paddle on the Columbia Slough.
August Slough Science -
Whitaker Ponds Walk with DEQ
Wednesday, August 23rd from 5:30-7:30PM
Learn about a beautiful local site in the Slough where the Council has it’s office and many events! This educational speaker event will feature Blair and Sarah from Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), discussing the cleanup of East Whitaker Ponds. This will be an outdoor event and we will walk around the ponds.

Events are free and open to whoever is curious - come learn with us!
Join the Columbia Slough Watershed Council
as a Committee Member!
Are you interested in becoming involved in driving the Watershed Council's work in the community? We have committees that 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.

Anyone with a passion for our mission and who is interested in learning is encouraged to join a committee! No previous experience is needed to become a Committee Member.
Emerald Ash Borer Training Opportunities
The emerald ash borer is wood-boring beetle that is native to Asia, it was first detected in Michigan in 2002. Since its initial detection it has killed hundreds of millions of ash trees nationwide and was most recently found in Forest Grove Oregon in 2022.
Join Kelley Deas from Portland Parks and Recreation's Urban Forestry program on August 29th at 7pm to learn more about this invasive species. The presentation should last around 20 minutes with time for questions at the end. No prior registration is necessary.

 
Please reach out to Kelley.Deas@portlandoregon.gov with any questions about this training or requests for translation services.
Partner Highlight: Loco Por La Aventura
Loco Por La Aventura's connects the Spanish-speaking community to outdoor activities, from hiking, bouldering, rock climbing, camping, and kayaking, to snow sports. Through their events, participants are able to enjoy nature and become certified experts in outdoor activities.

Join our collaborative evening paddle event on August 24! Additional details are available below, and keep an eye out for more events in the fall!
August Events Lineup
We have lots of fun events this August, including Bike the Levees, Canoe Rentals, Slough Science, and more! Register and find out more information about CSWC events on our website.

FULL Outdoor Afro Canoe and Kayak Event Saturday, August 5th, 9:30 - 11:30AM
Email amanda.gallegos@columbiaslough.org to be added to the waiting list.

Monday, August 7th, 6 - 8PM
See details in section above!

Tuesday, August 8th, 9AM - 1:15PM
We are lending our out canoes and kayaks for free 2 hour rentals. Just a few morning rentals remain - reserve your boat today!

Monday, August 14th, 6 - 8PM
See details in section above!

Wednesday, August 16th, 7:30 - 9PM
Come explore the fascinating world of bats with our resident expert, Elaine Murphy! This free event is open to all people of all ages!

Thursday, August 17, 6 - 7:30PM
This free class is for anyone who wants practice creating a zine from one piece of paper. What's a "zine" you ask? It's a cool medium for DIY analog self publishing!

Saturday, August 19th, 10AM - 12:30PM
Join us for a free educational watershed tour via bike and boat! We'll start with a 4.2 mile bike ride discussing elevation and gravity, and end with a paddle at Whitaker Ponds.

Wednesday, August 23rd, 5:30 - 7:30PM
See details in section above!

Thursday, August 24th, 9 - 11AM
We're partnering with Portland Parks & Recreation for a cleanup at Kelley Point Park! This is a great all ages event, however minors must be accompanied by an adult.

Jueves, 24 de Agosto, 5:30 - 7:30 PM
Están cordialmente invitados a un evento muy especial organizado por el Columbia Slough Watershed Council y Loco por la Aventura. Únanse a nosotros en nuestra primera actividad en canoa en Whitaker Ponds el 24 de Agosto, de 5:30pm a 7:30pm. Lo mejor de todo es que ¡este evento es completamente gratuito!

Sunday, August 27th, 9 - 11AM
Follow bird walk leader, Ryan Gilpin, for a late summer bird walk at Smith & Bybee Wetlands Natural Area, one of the country's largest urban wetlands.

Tuesday, August 29th, 7 - 9PM
Come explore the fascinating world of bats with local organization, Birdhers, and our resident expert, Elaine Murphy! This free event is open to womin, queer, trans and non-binary participants of all ages!

September 7th, 5 - 7:30PM
Join us, along with Through the Trees Collective, for an on-water cleanup event for BIPOC individuals looking to give back to their community.
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