Hello!

One of my favorite things to experience each year is the colors and crisp mornings that happen every fall! Earlier this week, I was reminded of this while visiting a new stewardship site at Lil 4 Corners, a little known and hard to get to section of the Slough, bursting with many shades of yellow, and the afternoon sun was creating a perfect reflection on the clear waterway.

I stood and listened to our Stewardship Director, Caitlin Costello, and Alex Staunch from Mosaic Ecology, talk about a new Stewardship project that will increase the tree canopy and bring natives back to large areas of the Slough!

• Bring your kids to trick or treat at Whitaker Ponds for Boo in the Slough
• Volunteer at No Ivy Day
• Sing while you paddle at Songs on the Slough!
• Sign up for the Spooky Slough Fall Photography Workshop

However you show up, we invite you to check it out and enjoy the fall as it continues to show up throughout the watershed. 

In Solidarity,

Heather King

Executive Director

PS: Save the date for the Columbia Slough Watershed Council End of Year Open House on November 6 from 6-8PM!

October Partner Happy Hour!

Wednesday, October 16, 2024

5:30 PM - 6:30 PM

Level Beer: 5211 Northeast 148th Avenue

Join us for an informal partner gathering to get to know each other! Whether you are a new or long-time partner of the Council, we'd love to see you and this event will have lots of time for networking opportunities. Drinks and food will be available for purchase from Level Beer and food carts. Registration is free and all are welcome to attend!

Join us this October for a Spooky Slough!

A Spooky Hoga Film Photography Workshops



Join CSWC's Education Director, Jennifer Starkey, and Reneé Heister of Blue Moon Camera for a two part outdoor film photography workshop!

Participants will learn how to use a Holga camera, a 100% mechanical classic medium format camera, in the spooky setting of Whitaker Ponds at dusk.



This series will take place on Tuesday, October 15, and

Tuesday, October 29, both from 6 - 8pm

Halloween Paddle &

Trash Cleanup on the Slough

Sunday, October 20, 2024

9:00 AM  12:00 PM

NE Glassplant & NE Alderwood

Join Mosquito Fleet and Columbia Slough Watershed Council for a Halloween themed on-water cleanup! Participants can bring their own boat, or reserve a seat in one of ours. This is for people 14 and older, minors must be accompanied by an adult. 

Boo in the Slough!

Join us for some Halloween fun for all people of all ages - come dressed in your Halloween best!

This year, there will be trick-or-treating stations set up throughout Whitaker Ponds - don’t forget your candy bag!

People of Color Outdoors will be hosting an activity in the gazebo - make sure to stop in! And while you’re on your walk at the park, make sure to keep an eye out for the Earth Weave provided by Cedar Tree Learning.

Thank you Paddle Team Volunteers!

Thank you all so much for showing up and making our

Volunteer Appreciation Party a success!

We are incredibly grateful for your time, energy, and dedication. Your efforts make such a difference, and we couldn’t have achieved so much without your support. Here's to celebrating you—our amazing volunteers!

Congratulations to this season's Golden Paddle Awardees, Ernesto Nolasco and Ed Rosney!! You each brought your spirit, skills, enthusiasm and sheer willingness yo help whenever needed. Your dedication transformed ordinary tasks into extraordinary results. On behalf of The Council, THANK YOU.

What to know how you can volunteer with CSWC? Email Valeria!

Saturday, October 26 is No Ivy Day!

Kick start Stewardship Season with CSWC and Portland Parks & Rec. in this region-wide event to rid our natural landscapes of the pesky weedy growing species, English ivy!

Come and hang out with your neighbors and see who can pull the longest piece of ivy!

Wilkes Creek is one of the only remaining surface creeks that still flows into the Columbia Slough, making it a critical freshwater source in the watershed.

Event Details:

• Saturday, October 26, 2024
• 9:00 AM  12:00 PM
• Wilkes Creek: 3655 NE 154th Ave

It's Sweater weather!

Order you CSWC Paddle Team Sweater

Sweatshirt Price - $32

• Don't miss out! To get your Sweatshirt email Amanda Gallegos with your size
• Payments can be made via check, exact cash, or through Venmo (@columbia-slough)

Looking Ahead - CSWC Open House

Wednesday, November 6, 2024

6:00 PM  8:00 PM

CSWC Office

Join us at the Council office to get to know the Council! Our Program Directors will each talk about what they plan to accomplish this year. Our end of year fundraising is kicking off in November so you will hear all about Give!Guide! We also have exciting new prizes for becoming a becoming a monthly donor.. Drinks and snacks will be provided. 

Registration is free and all are welcome to attend!

Native to the Slough: Salal

Gaultheria shallon is an evergreen shrub in the heather family (Ericaceae), native to western North America

Salal’s attractive, evergreen leaves and dainty, white-to-pink, urn-shaped flowers are a ubiquitous sight on nearly any Pacific Northwest forest or coastal hike and a staple in luscious habitat gardens. The flowers provide nectar to hummingbirds and insect pollinators.