Register for Fall 2026 Stormwater Stars Workshops & Workshop with Depave
Stormwater Stars is a landscape improvement and education program that supports managing rainwater where we live, work, and play.
By partnering with local residents, small businesses, and community organizations, West Multnomah SWCD’s Stormwater Stars supports the creation of landscapes that slow, soak, and filter stormwater. These improvements also promote healthier soils, enhance the look and feel of neighborhoods, and reduce pollution in our rivers and streams.
At our hands-on, family-friendly workshops, we share practical, sustainable landscaping practices that support healthy watershedswatershed an area of land that channels rainfall, snowmelt, and runoff into a common body of water, such as a nearby lake or river. Multiple streams can be part of the same watershed area, such as the Tryon Creek Watershed which is fed by Oak Creek, Park Creek, Falling Creek, and others.. Together, we’ll improve the workshop site while learning from one another.
Workshop Schedule
Sunday, November 1, 1 PM – 3 PM, Ashcreek/Crestwood Neighborhood
Join us in planting a native plant hedgerow in a front yard where the lawn has been removed using sheet mulching. We will discuss the benefits of lawn replacement as well as different techniques for removing lawns.
Sunday, November 8, 10 AM – 1 PM Skyline Grange
Join us at Skyline Grange, a community space, to replace a section of lawn on the property with an Oregon White Oak habitat as well as planting native plants along the slope adjacent to the parking area. We will discuss the benefits of lawn replacement as well as different techniques for removing lawns.
Sunday, November 15, 10 AM – 12 PM South Burlingame Neighborhood
During this workshop we will be planting a raingarden following the Depave workshop on October 31. We will review the process for depaving and the process for creating a raingarden.
Pre-registration is required, and all attendees will receive a free native plant. For more information about the program, visit our Stormwater Stars page.
Have questions? Email rachel@wmswcd.org.
Do you own or manage a landscape that could use help from this program? Apply to be a workshop site host!
West Multnomah SWCD in Collaboration with Depave!
Depave a yard! on Saturday, October 31, 9:30 AM – 2 PM South Burlington neighborhood. Address provided after registration. Cost: $25-$100 sliding scale. Registration limit: 20 participants, with a waitlist.
Join local nonprofit Depave for an engaging, hands-on workshop to learn how you can depave your own backyard. The class will cover topics including site assessment, project planning, cost estimation, permitting, tools, and various approaches for concrete (the most common driveway material in Portland). Workshop includes a short classroom session, followed by team-taught hands-on demonstrations in a real Portland backyard with too much pavement!
Participants will gain key tips and tricks to tackle projects in their own yards, resource referrals, and advising from experts. Coffee and pastries, plus a light lunch will be provided. Please wear long pants and closed toed shoes, and bring a folding camp chair if you have one. Tools, handouts and more will be provided.
Sponsored by the West Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District.
A limited number of scholarships may be available: Email info@depave.org and provide a justification for your request.
