Stormwater Stars is now 10 years old! This great program provides instruction for District residents with in a suite of yard-scale practices that catch or absorb rainfall to reduce or eliminate surface runoff, erosion, and flooding. These are common in Portland’s West Hills, due to steep slopes, high groundwater tables, and poorly draining clay soils. These conditions often make some stormwater management options like rain gardens or downspout disconnections unsuitable solutions. Since 2014, Stormwater Stars has provided District residents with stormwater management best practices, which benefit all with healthier soils and habitats, and clean water. Stormwater Stars is delivered by Neighbors West-Northwest and the Westside Watershed Resource Center, in partnership with and funded by West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District and the City of Portland’s Office of Environmental Services.
Stormwater Stars’ design-build workshop series consist of community presentations and discussion, fact sheets, web resources, and on-site demonstration and implementation of practices. Participants gain knowledge, skills and resources to implement practices at their homes, apartments, community spaces, schools, businesses and other urban properties. The stormwater management best practices taught include soil amendments, permeable pathways, pavement removal, lawn replacement, contained planters, and landscaping with native plants. These practices are appropriate for installation across the region.
Stormwater Stars’ Impact
Over the past decade, this program has improved 43 sites, covering over 29,635 sq ft. It has engaged over 470 volunteers and installed over 3000 Willamette Valley native plants.
Rachel Dvorsky got familiar with Stormwater Stars first as a community member, then as a volunteer. Since 2022 she has worked as the program’s Stormwater Programs Specialist organizing community events and training volunteers and community members.
“I appreciate that this program aims to inspire and support people from all backgrounds and experience levels to learn together and support watershed health through small projects. My favorite moments at workshops are hearing volunteers share their knowledge and ideas with each other as they work. The idea behind Stormwater Stars is that by each of us making small improvements where we can, those small benefits create a network that together has a greater benefit for the watershed. Like a constellation in the sky, each site and participant have value and is an important part of the bigger picture.”
– Rachel Dvorsky, Stormwater Programs Specialist
Join the conversation about rain! Schedule a FREE site visit to help plan a project, or sign up for a FREE spring workshop: https://www.stormwaterstars.org/events
If you’d like to see Stormwater Stars 2023-24 End of Season Presentation, see stormwaterstars.org or see the presentation directly, here.
The Fine Print:
Demonstrations and site visits conducted through this program do not include recommendations for drainage piping or plumbing, basement flooding, foundation problems or foundation drains, French drains, retaining walls, landslide prevention, mitigation of high groundwater, or the capture and infiltrationInfiltration Water absorbs into the ground instead of running over the surface of runoff. We recommend that property owners consult a qualified licensed engineer to address such issues.
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