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Stormwater Programs

If you live in Portland’s west hills, you’re probably wary of disconnecting downspouts and building a rain garden due to your steep slopes and poorly drainingWindsorCtDrainswPipes soils. However there are many things you can do reduce runoff, erosion and non-point source pollution!

Consider the following ideas:

• Plant a tree (or two or three!)
• Restore your soils – amend damage and degraded soils and replant
• Depave – remove unnecessary impervious surfaces and restore the landscaping
• Install planters – place potted planters over underused hardscapes
• Porous walkways – create pathways that can manage some site stormwater

We have informational fact sheets below to show you how to implement these practices and further explain why we recommend them on these challenging stormwater sites.

Best Management Practices

Depaving

Contained Planters

Restore Disturbed Soils

Porous Walkways & Patios

Tree Planting

Irrigation Guidance

Homeowner Interest Form

The Conservation District is sponsoring the Stormwater Stars program, which is delivered by our partner, SW Watershed Resource Center.  This program leads you though a “design-build” training focused on the above stormwater practices, so anyone can be a “Stormwater Star”!

Contact Urban Conservationist Mary Logalbo for more information; mary@wmswcd.org or 503.238.4775, ext. 103.

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From the blog

Nature a Key Tool in Carbon Reduction

A new study shows that better global land stewardship—conserving and restoring wild habitats and practicing more sustainable farming—could get us more than one-third of the way to the Paris climate mitigation targets. Read more…Nature is the tool […]
As a city grows, its impact on rivers doesn’t have to

Throughout history, cites and towns have often been established along the banks of rivers, because these waterways provided a source of drinking water, power, and transport links to other communities. The effects of our settlements […]
Water Quality Depends on Farmer’s Willingness Not Regulations

On the national level, the Federal Clean Water Act regulates pollution flowing out of pipes, known as point source pollution. But contaminants flowing off of farm fields — non-point source pollution — are exempt from […]
Cover Crops Prevent Erosion

After all the rain we’ve had…Sauvie Island Organics reports that the cover crops they planted kept their soil and plants in place through it all!  And that was 17 inches of rain since December first!

Around the web

Projects

Sunstone Montessori School Stormwater & Garden Improvement Project

West Multnomah SWCD is now working with Sunstone Montessori School in the John’s Landing neighborhood on a number of conservation projects.  Sunstone, an Oregon Green School, plans to use the Conservation District’s assistance to install […]

Hayhurst Elementary School Garden

Located in SW Portland, the Hayhurst school garden had been neglected for several years and was in bad need of repair and reinvigorated parent and teacher engagement. The existing garden area also had a small […]

Markham Elementary School Native Habitat Garden

Markham School on SW Capitol Highway has expansive open landscaping with mature trees, but the lawns left habitat and biodiversity lacking. The fifth grade class took on the project of planning and installing a native […]