Nature

Opening Weekend! Every Saturday thru October When: Every Saturday, 8:30AM-2PM Where: NW Miller & Third St Historic Downtown Gresham, OR Get Map!

Fresh & Local
Shoppers will find all-natural meats and cheeses, fresh-picked produce, nursery stock and fresh-cut flowers, hand-crafted jewelry, soaps, artwork, and much more. Live music and food are always part of the market.

Located on Northwest Miller Avenue between Second and Third Street 8:30AM to 2PM each Saturday now through Oct. 25.

Every Saturday May thru October! When: Every Saturday, 8:30AM-2PM Where: NW Miller & Third St Historic Downtown Gresham, OR Get Map!

Fresh & Local
Shoppers will find all-natural meats and cheeses, fresh-picked produce, nursery stock and fresh-cut flowers, hand-crafted jewelry, soaps, artwork, and much more. Live music and food are always part of the market.

Located on Northwest Miller Avenue between Second and Third Street 8:30AM to 2PM each Saturday now through Oct. 25.

No Experience Required! When: Thu Mar 06, 2014 9AM-5PM Where: Multipor Ski Area Meet at: Gresham City Hall 1333 NW Eastman Pwy Gresham, OR Get Map!

This three-mile out-and-back trail starts at the Mazama Lodge Sno-Park and goes down a gentle grade to the Multipor ski area and back. We'll stop in Government Camp for those who need to rent snowshoes. Pack a lunch, and bring a snack to eat on the trail.

The group will stop in Government Camp for those who need to rent snowshoes. In addition to lunch, bring water and snacks to eat along the trail.

• Round-trip travel: 82 miles
• Suggested donation per rider: $8
• Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
• Elevation gain: 150 feet

Bring a camera because if the weather is clear there will be many views of Mt. Hood.

Creekside Restoration When: Sat Feb 08, 2014 10AM-1PM Where: Fairview Creek Meet at: 431 SE 205th Av Gresham, OR Get Map!

Join Columbia Slough Watershed Council for Plantapalooza 2014! This is one in a series of community focused native planting events. Help restore an acre of stream-side habitat along Fairview Creek in Gresham! This project helps to stabilize the sensitive habitat around the creek and improves water quality in the creek and in our groundwater supply. Plantapalooza 2014 offers volunteers a unique opportunity to participate in a large scale restoration project.

Volunteers will assist in planting hundreds of bare-root native plants. No previous planting experience is necessary. Plantapalooza is a great, hands-on learning opportunity appropriate for families, groups and individuals. Register today!

Creekside Restoration When: Sat Feb 22, 2014 1AM-12PM Where: Wilkes City Park 15400 NE Beech St Portland, OR Get Map!

Assist Columbia Slough Watershed Council’s SERVE (Students Engaged in Restoring Vital Ecosystems) program at this Stewardship Saturday event. The SERVE program exposes local students to hands-on restoration work in the Slough watershed, and now you can help! Improve water quality and habitat conditions by planting and mulching native plant species along Wilkes Creek. Volunteers will also assist in park clean up, fence removal and the management of invasive plant species. Register Today!

Click to enlarge

Learn About Local Raptors When: Thu Jan 23, 2014 7:30-9PM Where: Gresham City Hall Council Chambers 1333 NW Eastman Pkwy Gresham, OR Get Map!

Birds of Prey
Join us for a free birds of prey identification class taught by naturalist James Davis. This class will help you better identify local raptors and you'll also learn about the natural history of these amazing birds. The program is suitable for adults and teenagers, and will help prepare participants for the 10th annual Raptor Road Trip on Saturday, Feb. 8, sponsored by Metro, Audubon Society of Portland, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and HawkWatch International.

Laminated Root Rot. Click to enlarge

Laminated Root Rot and Nadaka Nature Park Abel Gebrezgi and Jim Labbe Audubon Society of Portland

INTRODUCTION
Laminated root rot (LRR) is a fungal pathogen, Phellinus weirii, also known as yellowing ring rot. (LLR gets its name from the lamination of the decayed wood (see photo above). This fungus is widespread in Southern British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, northern California and western Montana.). It is one of the most damaging root diseases amongst conifers, especially firs and cedars, in the Pacific Northwest. Douglas fir, Mountain hemlock, Western hemlock, Grand fir, and Pacific silver fir are highly susceptible to infection by this pathogen. Pine species like Western white pine and Ponderosa pine and larch are more resistant to it while hardwoods are immune. The fungus was first discovered in 1914, on Western red cedar in Idaho. The first reported case in Douglas fir was in 1940, at Cowichan Lake, British Columbia.

BIOLOGY The mycelium of LRR doesn’t grow in the soil and the spores do not spread by wind like most fungal pathogens. Infection occurs when roots of healthy trees grow in contact with infected roots.

Click to enlarge

After initial contact with a living root, the mycelium grows on the bark, extending only a few inches into the surrounding soil. The mycelium penetrates the host through the injured bark and advances along newly infected roots. Symptoms include crown yellowing and thinning, distress of cones, red-brown staining of outer heartwood, and separation of annual rings. Less discernible is the root rot which eventually decays the roots, destabilizes the tree, and leads to death and toppling. In addition to the loss of mature trees within a stand, LRR creates potential hazards from tree fall especially in small urban parks. The number of cases of the LRR disease has increased substantially with the presence of fire suppression and resulting dominance of Douglas-fir and Grand fir.