Posts by WMSWCD Admin
Have you heard about Stormwater Stars?
Guest post by Stormwater Programs Specialist, Rachel Dvorsky Stormwater Stars are properties that have improved their landscaping to help manage rain in our city. By making improvements at many small sites we are creating a larger constellation of stars that together make a big impact. Do you have an area of your yard that is…
Read MoreSo what is GIS, exactly?
By Shahbaz Khan, GIS & Field Conservation Intern In the past couple of years, you might have come across the term “GIS” and found it puzzling. Being told it stands for “Geographic Information Systems” doesn’t really help since it sounds like something straight out of science fiction. If you’re anything like me when I first…
Read MoreGiving back to the soil – cover crops are an easy start
Reciprocity is the exchange of things for the mutual benefit of those involved. When talking about a relationship with soil on a conventional working farm or forest, there is often a one way exchange – growing food or fiber then just walking away. Chemical additives can make up for the nutrients that are taken from…
Read MoreTending a relationship with the forest
Up in the Tualatin Mountains (also known as the West Hills) just north of Forest Park in Portland, Oregon lies a patchwork of forest, pastures, fields, and homes where the Skyline Neighborhood community resides. West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District has worked with many residents of this community to improve forest and stream health.…
Read MoreNotice of Budget Hearing – June 21, 2022
A public meeting of the West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District will be held virtually via video conferencing on June 21, 2022, following our Board of Directors meeting, which begins at 6:00 PM. Attend by emailing info@wmswcd.org with the subject line “Request for Zoom access code” or by calling 503-238-4775 and leaving a voicemail…
Read MoreDay in the life of an intern
By Jordan Delawder As a Field Conservation Intern with West Multnomah SWCD, I have ample opportunities to learn from the land itself, having direct encounters with the air, water, soil, and numerous beings that dwell therein. I spend most of my days outside, observing, asking questions, or using my hands. There’s never a dull moment,…
Read MoreClimate lens for conservation
(Photo: Cover crops on a farm field can improve soil quality and have the potential to sequester carbon.) There is a growing need to help environments and communities become resilient to climate change. We are working to adapt our conservation projects to meet the needs of communities and to better protect and preserve local ecosystems.…
Read MoreMeet our 2022 interns!
Jordan DeLawder (pictured left) graduated from Tufts University with a BS in Environmental Engineering. Jordan currently works at a farm and a produce market, and they are interested in bridging the gap between Portland’s urban center and nearby rural areas. Jordan spent several years studying herbalism and is an avid local forager. They are interested…
Read MoreBigleaf maple syrup: A Pacific Northwest delicacy and emerging industry
Guest article by Eric T. Jones, Oregon State University One thing western Oregon has an abundance of is bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum) trees. Ask a Douglas fir tree farmer and they will likely tell you that as hard as they try, they are difficult trees to kill. Enter the Oregon State University (OSU) College of…
Read MoreSturgeon Lake Restoration Project – Three Year Update
With the construction of the Sauvie Island levee by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in the 1940s, open water and wetland habitat on the island was reduced by 45%. The levee and the dams further upstream on the Columbia River altered hydrology and sedimentationSedimentation Fine soil particles that are washed into streams collect…
Read More5 Tips for a Healthy Stream
(Photo by Nicholas T: www.flickr.com/photos/nicholas_t/11660023586) One of the most essential types of natural habitats we have is the riparianRiparian areas The land alongside a stream, creek, river, or floodplain forest, which affects the health of the adjacent stream and benefits our climate. A riparian forest is the community of trees, shrubs, and understoryUnderstory The area…
Read MoreIntroducing the District’s Climate Change Internship
West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District has been selected to host a Portland State University (PSU) Institute for Sustainable Solutions (ISS) Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Climate Change Intern. The ISS is partnering with the LSAMP program to provide funding for climate change and climate/disaster resilience related internships for the 2021-2022 academic…
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