Nature

Rain or Shine! When: Sat Mar 2, 2013 9AM-12PM Where: Hogan Creek Confluence Springwater Wetland 6430 SE 152nd Av Portland OR Get Map!

Get Your Green on!
Join us on Saturday, March 2nd from 9AM-12PM as Johnson Creek Watershed Council (JCWC) hosts its 15th annual Watershed Wide volunteer restoration event. Organizations, individuals, and businesses will gather for a day of ecological stewardship, spring stream-cleaning, and community-building at 12 priority restoration sites throughout the watershed. Registration required (below).

The closest site to the Wilkes East neighborhood is Hogan Creek Confluence- Springwater Wetland (meet at Gresham Operations Center, 6430 SE 152nd Ave.) –work with the City of Gresham to remove blackberry and install native plants in a wetland under restoration near the entrance of the Hogan Creek tributary.

Learn About Our Local Birds When: Tue Mar 5, 2013 7-9:30PM Where: Gresham City Hall 1333 NW Eastman Pkwy Gresham, OR Get Map!

Backyard Bird Class
You're invited to attend a free spring bird class and learn to identify year-round residents arriving in our yards and parks.

Spring brings thousands of migrating birds to our region; some stay to nest and others pass through. Get ready for great spring birding action with this crash course in identifying spring migrants and summer breeders.

Metro naturalist James Davis will show slides, play some easy bird songs and simplify what seems like a confusing variety of birds to many beginners.

Inside this Issue

• Happy Birthday, Gresham!
• Gresham Honored for Excellence and Innovation
• What Bird is Singing?: Mar 05
• Renewable Energy Open House: Feb 21
• Groundbreaking Event, Rockwood Safety Facility: Mar 07
• Earth Day Collection Event Needs Volunteers: Apr 20
• Passport Day in the USA: Mar 09
• Private Property Towing Reminder
• Winter Carpool Giveaway
• City Jobs, Meetings and Community Events

Keep up with what’s Happening in your City!

Sheet Mulching of Community Garden. Rain or Shine!

Nadaka Nature Park, Gresham OR

40 Volunteer needed! When: Sat, Dec 01, 2012 9AM-1PM Where: Nadaka Nature Park 176th & NE Glisan St Gresham OR Get Map!

Event info
We will be mulching the future community garden site on the South side of Nadaka. Be prepared to get a little dirty and to have fun by supporting and volunteering with Friends of Nadaka and Wilkes East Neighborhood Association.

Rain or Shine! Come dressed for weather and help improve Nadaka Nature Park. Bring working gloves & a water bottle if you have them. Volunteer as long as you can. Drinks and snacks will be provided for volunteers.

Lee Dayfield just inside the north gate of Nadaka Nature Park. Click to enlarge.

Nadaka Nature Park For years, the plot of land tucked away in Gresham's Wilkes East neighborhood was forgotten. Source: The Oregonian, Nov 14, 2012 by Nancy Anderson

Those who noticed the forested 10 acres must have figured it was off limits. An 8-foot-tall fence topped with barbed wire enclosed the site, save for one small entrance. Few would have guessed this was public land, officially known as Nadaka Nature Park.

But in 2008, the right person with the right heart and a vision stumbled upon the park and set out to make it known and accessible.

Lee Dayfield of Gresham has since led an effort involving extensive community partnerships to give the park new life and purpose.

Columbia Slough, Portland Oregon

Our community is known for its natural beauty and commitment to protecting farms, forests and natural areas. Since 1995, our region’s voters have approved two bond measures to allow Metro to acquire natural areas to protect water quality, wildlife and outdoor recreation opportunities.

Today, Metro manages more than 16,000 acres of land – more than a third of all the public parks and natural areas in our region. By law, Metro is prohibited from using the existing voter-approved bonds for ongoing preservation and maintenance.

Metro wants your input on their recommendation.
This summer, a 15-member independent advisory panel recommended that the Metro Council take the first step in a long-term plan to protect and maintain these areas purchased with the bonds by referring a five-year local option levy to voters.

Take the survey below to learn more about the advisory panel’s recommendation and tell the Metro Council about your priorities.

Krugers Farm Corn Maze. Click to enlarge

Kick-off Fall With Some Great Family Fun -- Explore a Corn Maze! There's no mistaking that harvest-time feeling. The brisk air, the warm drinks and the sight of children climbing over large pumpkins in a field.

There's another tradition worth exploring this year - the corn maze! So grab a jacket and the kids and head for one of these locations. You're sure to find plenty of family fun, food and even some warm apple cider.

Check websites for schedules, details and discount coupons!

• Fazio Farms Corn Maze
• Kruger's Farm Corn Maze
• The Maize at The Pumpkin Patch

Have a Safe & Happy Halloween!    More info below this break.

Bring A Notepad And Join The Fun! When: Sat Sep 8, 2012 10AM-12PM Meet: SE 174th and Jenne Rd Gresham, OR Get Map!

Herbalist Randi Embree enlightens us about the “world of weeds.”

Take a short walk along the Springwater Trail learning the wonders and possibilities of edible weeds. Many weeds are used for agricultural and medicinal purposes. Take this opportunity to learn more at this free educational event. Registration required (link below).

To some plantain, dandelion, chickweed and sow-thistle are a nuisance. To others they are a delicious salad and a seasonal treat!

First In A Series of Science Pub Talks! When: Sat Sep 8, 2012 10AM-12PM Where: 4th Street Brewing Co 77 NE 4th Street Gresham, OR Get Map!

Download flyer here!

Join us for an educational evening and a cold beer.

Scientists will discuss hot watershed topics and the audience can enjoy a cool beverage at special happy hour prices sponsored by the Johnson Creek Watershed Council. RSVP requested. (link below)

Explore Johnson Creek, a little stream that flows from agricultural headwaters through the urban areas of Gresham, Portland, and Milwaukie. Join Johnson Creek Watershed Council, and partners City of Gresham and Multnomah County, to kick off our educational science pub series.

Explore Our Wetlands When: Sun, Sep 16, 2012 1PM-4PM Where: Gresham Meadowlands Preserve (SE Paropa off SE 21st Av) Gresham, OR Get Map!

Event Flier

Join the Wetlands Conservancy, Biodiversity Conservation Coordinator Laura Guderyahn, City of Gresham, and Life Scout and Eagle Scout candidate Ethan Parker, Boy Scouts of America, for an afternoon of exploration and to learn more about urban wetlands, the cool animals and plants that live there and Ethan's Eagle Scout project that will benefit the preserve. Snacks and beverages will be provided.

For more information about this event, please contact Jennifer Wilson at 503-691-1394 or jennifers@wetlandsconservancy.org.