Clackamas Water Environment Services (WES) is awarding $287,670 in grants through the RiverHealth Stewardship Program to 11 organizations for the protection of local watersheds.
The grants will support a variety of activities that restore habitat, manage invasive plant species, organize community volunteer events, provide watershed science education, and remove trash from waterways while enhancing water quality.
The following 11 organizations will receive a total of $287,670 in grant funds:
Clackamas River Basin Council ($26,650) — Will conduct stakeholder outreach to engage key streamside landowners in the Rock, Sieben, and Trillium Creek watersheds in streamside restoration. The project also includes a culvert removal to improve fish access, in partnership with the Sunrise Water Authority.
Clackamas River Community Cooperative ($7,625) — Will develop a plan for erosion and sediment control in a community-owned greenspace at the Sieben Creek and Clackamas River confluence.
Columbia Land Trust and Portland Audubon Backyard Habitat Program ($17,440) — Will provide technical assistance, incentives, resources, and recognition to participants as they enhance native wildlife habitat, control invasive weeds, reduce pesticides, and manage stormwater at home.
Ecology in Classrooms & Outdoors ($30,000) – Will provide hands-on, in-classroom, schoolyard and wetland restoration and stewardship education at two elementary schools and Clackamas High School. Online options will be offered if needed.
Friends of Trees ($29,954) — Will build on previous efforts to conduct streamside restoration with volunteers and engage elementary school students with environmental education. Online options will be offered if needed.
Happy Valley Heights Home Owners Association ($29,814) — Will restore a vital 22-acre site at the headwaters of Mt. Scott Creek owned by the Homeowners Association, resulting in ecological improvements in a significant wildlife corridor.
Johnson Creek Watershed Council ($27,285) – Will engage volunteers and students in stewardship and educational activities, including a watershed-wide planting event, a creek clean-up, a Science in the Park event, and service-learning for students.
Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership ($29,949) — Will engage Dave’s Killer Bread employees and community volunteers in a riparian restoration project along Minthorn Creek. They will also create outreach materials to engage five new businesses in discussions about the RiverHealth Stewardship Program, the impacts of stormwater runoff, opportunities for stormwater or riparian improvements, and the opportunities to partner on future projects.
North Clackamas Parks & Recreation District ($29,955) — Will partner with the North Clackamas Watersheds Council on a three-part project that will restore North Clackamas Park along Mt. Scott Creek, sponsor an annual watershed clean-up event, and contribute to watershed action planning in the Kellogg-Mt. Scott Creeks watershed.
North Clackamas Watersheds Council ($29,997) — Will expand the Streamside Stewards Program in the Kellogg – Mt. Scott watersheds, including stream bank restoration and building an enduring stewardship ethic among landowners. They will also engage residents and landowners in workshops and tours to build their knowledge in watershed science.
Rivers of Life Center ($29,000) — Will establish 2,500 feet of trail with 12 interpretive stations, linking an event center to residential communities, and plant trees and shrubs along the trail. This includes Mt. Scott Discovery tours and workshops for homeowners led by ecologists, wildlife and geology experts, and a birds of prey presentation. The project will employ at-risk youth to complete the work and give tours.
