Posts by WMSWCD Admin
Bittersweet Goodbye to Sauvie Island Center
We are sad to be ending our longtime partnership with The Sauvie Island Center as they move out of our service area and into the eastside. Fortunately, Sauvie Island Center will be continuing its work as it merges its programs under the umbrella of the Learning Gardens Lab in SE Portland beginning in early 2025. …
Read MoreEarly Spring 2025 E-Newsletter: Soil School, Weed Watchers, and more!
We’re excited to share the latest updates from West Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District! As February unfolds, we have some fantastic events coming up that you won’t want to miss. First, we’re opening registration for Soil School 2025—a symposium-style day of learning designed to help you understand and improve the health of your soil and…
Read MoreSoil School 2025
Calling all gardeners– from aspiring to advanced–to Soil School 2025! The event offers 8 sessions taught by experts to learn about how improving soil health improves plant, garden, and habitat health. $35 covers the whole day, including breakfast and lunch. Scholarships are available, see details and registration link below. Saturday, April 5, 2025 | 8:30…
Read MoreWinter 2024 E-Newsletter: Looking for native plants or a paid internship?
As we move into the winter season, we’re excited to bring you some new opportunities and upcoming events to keep you engaged with the land and with our District. We’re currently accepting applications for an open internship position and welcoming volunteers to join our Budget Committee, both great ways to get involved and contribute to…
Read MoreRiparian restoration from West Multnomah Sites are Successful in Carbon Sequestration
In 2023, scientists from The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and University of Oregon (U of O) began a study to measure the carbon sequestration of restored riparian areas in western Oregon. The study included two sites on private land where West Multnomah SWCD staff had planned and implemented restoration projects. In the preliminary results released in…
Read MoreRemembering Brian Lightcap
Photo of Brian in 2016. It is with heavy hearts that we share that our long-time board member, Brian Lightcap, recently passed away at the age of 80. Brian was a dedicated and engaged board member, for Zone 5 and then Zone 4, from January 1983 until his passing in November 2024– an incredible 41…
Read MoreWe Need You For Our Budget Committee
West Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District is seeking community members to serve on the Budget Committee. As a committee member, your input will help shape local conservation efforts. Are you interested in protecting the natural spaces in your community?Do you like numbers?Would you like a say in how tax dollars are spent?Do you want…
Read MoreFall 2024 E-Newsletter: Talk to a soil scientist and be wildfire-resilient!
As folks come back from vacation, leaves start changing, and chill hangs in the air longer each day, it’s feeling like fall. And with it, our team and partners are working hard to offer new teachings and workshops—there are many exciting events below to add to your calendar. Always, let us know if you have…
Read MoreFall’s Advantage: The Best Time to Tackle Woody Invasive Weeds and Sow Native Seeds
As the days grow shorter and temperatures cool, fall is a great time for gardeners and land managers to tackle some of their most challenging tasks: controlling woody invasive weeds like blackberry and knotweed. Then, the fun part: sowing native seeds. The season’s unique conditions create a perfect environment for these tasks, ensuring better outcomes…
Read MoreMeet our Newest Staff: Ariana and Eleanor
We’re excited to welcome our newest staff members to the team at West Multnomah SWCD! Ariana Scipioni joins us as an Urban Conservationist, bringing extensive experience in wildlife conservation and habitat restoration. Eleanor Greene, our new communications specialist, will enhance our community outreach with her expertise in media and publications. Ariana Scipioni Urban Conservationist Ariana…
Read MoreRemembering Kim Peterson
It is with heavy hearts that we share that our long-time board member, Kim Peterson, recently passed away at the age of 74. Kim spent her entire life on Sauvie Island, where her family managed a 250-acre dairy farm during her upbringing. Over the years, the farm evolved into a beef operation and now includes…
Read MoreSalmon and Sturgeon Return to Sauvie Island’s Dairy Creek
How far would you travel to get to Dairy Creek? If you are coming from West Multnomah SWCD’s office, you’d travel about 20 miles north and across Sauvie Island to get to where Reeder Road crosses Dairy Creek at Bill’s Crossing. You can’t map swimming routes on Google Maps, but some salmonids (meaning all types…
Read More