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Making Tracks
The Newsletter of the Friends of the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge Complex
Joyfully Connecting our Community with the Wonder of the Refuge
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Monthly Board Meeting via Zoom
- April 26, 2022 6:30 PM
- May 24, 2022 6:30 PM
April 30th- Visitor Center & Nature's Overlook Store Open
20% Discount Day for Friends Members
May 1- Seasonal Trail Opens
20% Discount Day for Friends Members
Please Note
there will not be a 2022 Tualatin River Bird Festival- see you next year!
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President's Perch
by Cheryl Hart, President
Have you noticed that it seems to be more and more difficult to make plans, with everything that is happening around us? On Thursday it’s 77 degrees and you are breaking out the shorts and the sunglasses. On Monday we have several inches of snow, the power is out, and we’re trying to find the long underwear. For months we have been making plans for the opening of the Visitor Center and opening the new Chicken Creek Trail to the public. Now, COVID numbers are rising again and FWS is bound by those numbers to determine what activities can be allowed. One thing is for sure, we are all learning to be a lot more flexible!
One thing is for certain, we had a wonderful visit from Martha Williams, Director of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It was such a thrill to show her the work that has gone on over the past couple of years to reconfigure Chicken Creek to a natural flowing stream. And it was especially rewarding to be able to do that with representatives from FWS Regional Office and some of the many partners who work with the refuge and Friends: Clean Water Services, Ducks Unlimited, and Metro. Director Williams was very complimentary of the work that is being done and the way we are all working together to accomplish the goals of better habitat for wildlife.
Thank you to Curt Mykut, Refuge Biologist for taking a group of Friends members/donors on a behind the sign tour of Chicken Creek. Understanding more about the work being done on the refuge is a critical part of our Friends ability to advocate for our refuge and the refuge system.
If you want to see what’s been going on behind those “closed” signs, you will be able to do that after the opening of the seasonal trail on May 1. We are pretty sure you will be as surprised and proud of everything that has happened—it makes better habitat for wildlife, as I said before, but better habitat for humans too. The plan now is to have the Nature’s Overlook Store open May 1 and we will be offering 20% off for all members. Not a member? No problem! You can join at the store or online. Just click the JOIN button at the top
We don’t have any news on the Tonquin Quarry. We are awaiting the hearing process when FWS will have the opportunity to explain why destroying the hydrology of the refuge is not a good idea.
I’ll see you at the refuge!
-Cheryl Hart
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Focus of Friends
by Bonnie Anderson, Executive Director
Spring is a time of great change and growth and so it seems an appropriate time to take on my new position as Executive Director of the Friends. During this past month we have filed our final grant report with Tualatin Soil & Water Conservation District that provided $100,000 for the new pedestrian bridge on the main unit of the Refuge.
| We also executed a $40,000 grant from One Tree Planted that provided 50,000 plants for the two permeant wetlands in front of the Visitors Center. | The Friends' Board and Refuge staff toured the Rock Creek Unit. We learned more about the impact the proposed Tonquin Quarry could have on our Refuge. | Refuge Project Leader Rebecca Chuck and Biologist Curt Mykut gave the Friends Board an extensive tour of the Chicken Creek Restoration Project that we have been involved with. | |
It's always a busy time on the Refuge for the Friends. I look forward to returning to the Refuge, as we get ready to reopen our store and seasonal trail.
Welcome Back!- Bonnie Anderson
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Friend's Nature Store to Reopen
The Friends are pleased to announce that our retail store, Nature’s Overlook, in the Refuge Visitor Center, is scheduled to reopen on Saturday, April 30. After being open our regular hours (10:00 am to 4:00 pm) that weekend, we will be open reduced hours (10:00 am to 1:00 pm) for the following week. Starting on May 10, we will be back to our regular schedule, Tuesday through Sunday. We are looking forward to seeing you again!
We have lots of new merchandise – children’s books and games, ornaments, folding water bottles, socks, to name a few of the new items. And, it’s just in time for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and graduation gifts, too.
While we are optimistic that we will be able to open on April 30, we will be keeping watch on Covid infection numbers, and those could impact our ability to open as planned. Thanks for understanding if that needs to happen.
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20% OFF
April 30 & May 1, 2022
your entire purchase in store
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Friends Members enjoy 20% off their Entire Purchase on
April 30 & May 1, 2022
Not a Friend Yet? Join Now
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USFWS Director Williams visited Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge on March 18
Martha Williams, the newly appointed Director of USFWS, visited the TRNWR and toured the Chicken Creek restoration project on the main unit, learning about the role the Friends and other partners such as Clean Water Services, Metro and Ducks Unlimited had with the Service to accomplish this project. The Director was impressed by the collaborative efforts made within our community. Director Williams also learned about the Friends program on Fridays at Greenway and our upcoming Mini Bird Festival. Park Rangers Todd McKinney and Natalie Balkam and Principal Jennifer Whitten discussed the success of the TREE (Tualatin River Environmental Education) program at Greenway Elementary School in Beaverton. The Director even recorded a video message for the Greenway students and they are looking forward to staying in touch with each other. Friends Board President Cheryl Hart and Executive Director, Bonnie Anderson accompanied Director Williams on the tour and discussed the role our Friends group plays in helping these programs happen. The Friends are instrumental in leveraging community connections to support the Refuge.
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Friends Behind The Sign Tour
Eagle, Falcon, Goose, Heron, Owl, or Mallard Member of the Friends were invited to a special Behind the Sign Tour of the Chicken Creek Restoration Project on the main unit of the Refuge on April 9th. These members got to see this massive restoration project up-close before the seasonal trail is open to the public. Members learned first hand of the role the Friends played in this dramatic change to the Refuge for the betterment of wildlife.
An outstanding time was had by all who participated. A huge thank you to Biologist Curt Mykut for guiding everyone through the changes. The tour was followed by much welcomed hot coffee and pastries in the EE shelter. This provided a nice time to ask questions and socialize. Our next Behind the Sign Tour will be on June 4th at Wapato Lake National Wildlife Refuge.
Eagle, Falcon, Goose, Heron, Owl, or Mallard member- watch for your email invitation to RSVP for this special event.
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Habitat and Restoration Update By Carly Hirschmann | | |
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This past weekend we held our April Second Saturday Work party which involved planting rush and sedge plugs in one of our permanent wetlands. If you were here that day, you may have seen a sea of yellow vests out in front of the Visitor Center and Administration buildings. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints brought the vests for their 50 volunteers! They were joined by returning Sherwood Rotary members and the Sherwood High School Key Club. Altogether, there were over 6,000 plants installed during 3 hours! We finished up just as the clouds rolled in and the pouring rain began.
Between our partners at Ash Creek Forest Management and our volunteer work parties, we have finished up the plantings for the One Tree Planted grant we were awarded earlier this year. This grant funded the planting of 50,000 trees and woody shrubs in the two permanent wetlands in front of our Visitor Center.
Our amphibian egg mass survey season has come to an end. We had an awesome volunteer turn-out this year, and wanted to highlight one of our most consistent volunteers, Brenden Thomas. He is studying fisheries and wildlife sciences at Oregon State University, and also successfully landed an internship with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife this fall, using his survey experiences at the Refuge! Brenden wrote a final report based on his time at the Refuge, which can be read below.
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Volunteer Brenden Shares
Click on the image below to read our volunteer Brenden's summary of his experience assisting in amphibian egg mass surveys at the Refuge
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Thank you to the Sherwood Rotary ($100), Willem Stoeller ($100), David Collin($100 In Memory of his wife Marilynn), Cheryl Hart ($50) Tom Hartz ($50), John & Debbie Marsh ($50) and Debra Dale ($20) for their immediate and generous contributions. AND Thank you to Jerry for all of his volunteer work! Please know that there are always needs for the Refuge and the Friends - Donations are always encouraged and welcome | |
EE Classroom- Thank You Friends!
The Environmental Education Classroom is getting a fresh coat of paint this week thanks to the generosity of our Friends! Within 48 hours of asking for donations of Home Depot gift cards we received $470 to purchase the paint and supplies needed. Up to $350 will go toward the paint and painting supplies and the balance will go towards Park Rangers Todd and Natalie's Wish List of items for the EE Classroom. Resident RV volunteer, Jerry Young will be taking photos of the classroom when he finishes up painting early next week. We will share those photos in the next newsletter.
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Friends At Greenway Elementary
The Friday with the Friends program is going strong - thanks to our dedicated volunteers David Collin, Darlene Dumke, Willem Stoeller and Brian Smucker.
Bonnie Anderson is part of a Community Asset Funding Committee that helps provide financial support for meaningful projects in the community. The Friends were able to secure financial help to do the following;
- Provide small studio set up equipment for students to produce PSA about how to be a water protector and changemaker.
- All school end of year field trip to TRNWR in June.
- Virtual artist in residence with Steph Littlebird Fogel for 5th grade students
- 2nd mini Bird Festival on April 28th at Greenway. Students will be able to build a bird house, learn to cast a fishing pole, bird watch and much much more. The students have been learning about the importance of the Pacific Lamprey this year. They will have an opportunity to meet lamprey experts from USFWS. Thank you to all of the volunteers that help make this happen.
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This Week at Interior : Secretary Haaland visits the Southwest to learn about locally led conservation in Texas and the ongoing challenges of the historic western drought crisis in New Mexico; the President's 2023 Budget request could spell a 19% increase for Interior; two wind lease areas offshore the Carolinas hit the auction block next month; Interior leaders outline the Administration's ambitious clean energy goals at the Pacific Offshore Wind Summit; the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement has a new director; federal agencies convene in Hawai'i to talk about putting the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to work in the United States' island territories; the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement selects its Employee of the Year; the nation honors the life and legacy of Cesar Chavez; and we head to the Gulf of Mexico for our social media Picture of the Week! | | |
Friends and Refuge Staff Visit Ankeny Hill | | |
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On April 12 Friends joined Project Leader Rebecca Chuck and the Refuge Visitor Service's team and toured the new Ankeny Hill Nature Center and Nature Play Area at the Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge near Salem. Although the Center and play area are not yet open to the public, we were given a tour of the facility by Visitor Services Manager Samantha Bartling. We learned about their volunteer program from our own Friends of TRNWRC members Bobbie & Pat Allaire ,who now live near Ankeny NWR. The Allaire's are the volunteer- volunteer coordinators for the Ankeny Hill Nature Center
The center was a combined project with the Friends of Willamette Valley Refuge Complex, Salem Audubon and WVNWRC. We encourage a visit- you will not be disappointed.
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Continuing Education For Environmental Professionals
Field Identification of Fish in the Willamette Valley
This hands-on workshop is designed to improve the ability of field staff to identify local species of fish, and to use the resulting data for assessment of waterway health. Participants will learn to identify species commonly encountered in this region, practice using various sampling gear and techniques, and determine best approaches to analyzing the data. Day two of class will be spent in the field collecting and identifying fish in a local waterway.
· Lecture
Thursday, April 28, 2022
8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Environmental Learning Center, Lakeside Hall, Clackamas Community College
· Field Practicum
Friday, April 29, 2022
8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: TBD
· Rain Date: May 2 (8 a.m. – 4 p.m.)
Instructor: John Cox, Salmon & Trout Enhancement Program (STEP) Biologist,
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife in Clackamas
Instructor: Kevin Stertz, Assistant District Fish Biologist,
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife in Clackamas
Professional Credit: 1.35 CEU or 13.5 PDH
Certificate of Completion will be provided.
For detailed information and registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/field-identification-of-fish-in-the-willamette-valley-tickets-275230500837
Questions? Please email Renee Harber at: rharber@clackamas.edu
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Friends of the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge Complex
19255 SW Pacific Hwy Sherwood, Oregon 97140
503.625.5944 x 15227
www.FriendsofTualatinRefuge.org
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