Welcome…
…..To the Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership E-Update - a summary of some of the current activities of the staff, committees and Board.
Habitat Restoration Forum – May 1, 2009
Welcome…
…..To the Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership E-Update - a summary of some of the current activities of the staff, committees and Board.
Habitat Restoration Forum – May 1, 2009
On May 1, the Estuary Partnership, the Columbia Land Trust and Columbia River Estuary Study Taskforce will host our next Science to Policy Forum. The focus will be on habitat restoration in the lower river: what has been accomplished by many partners (a lot!) but the challenges are many as we face the next tier of restoration. The projects are more complex, more technical expertise is needed to ensure their success, and funding needs to be increased. The discussion will help the Estuary Partnership define how we can support existing efforts and build on them. The summit will be held from 11:00 am – 1:30 pm (lunch provided) at the Water Resources Center in Vancouver, WA. For more information or to register visit the Estuary Partnership website www.lcrep.org. You can also register by contacting Sarah Wallace at (503) 226-1565 x226 or wallace at lcrep.org. We hope to see you there!
OWEB Education Grant Funded!
The Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board is awarding the Estuary Partnership a "Watershed Stewardship Project" grant. With these funds, the Estuary Partnership will provide a "education and involvement opportunities to over 720 youth and adults including 24 fourth and fifth grade classes in three watersheds – Young’s Bay, Scappoose Bay, and the lower Willamette River, as well as three community paddles. Each class will receive five classroom lessons and a unique watershed field trip that includes a service learning element and an on-water paddling experience. We are very grateful to OWEB for their investment in this project.
Volunteer Stewardship Opportunities
The Estuary Partnership led eight volunteer tree plantings this winter and early spring. Over 200 volunteers planted nearly 1,000 native trees and shrubs at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge and Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge. At Ridgefield, volunteers planted Oregon ash, willows and spirea along Gee Creek. Several return volunteers from previous year's plantings participated and were impressed to see the success of their work. At Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge volunteers worked to plant several species along Gibbons Creek near its confluence with the Columbia River. The Estuary Partnership received funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to restore riparian habitat at Steigerwald. The refuge is preparing to open to the public this June for the first time and the hard work of volunteers will enhance the refuge for wildlife and humans alike.
We have two more volunteer projects this month if you would like to get out and enjoy the river!
We will be at Steigerwald April 11th and 18th. Please contact Josh Holcomb for more information: holdcomb at lcrep.org. Watch here and on our website for more volunteer projects!
Seasonal Environmental Educators to Enhance On-River Programs
The Estuary Partnership has hired two seasonal Environmental Educators to expand on-water programs during the Big Canoe season of April through October. With their help, we will increase the number of on-river trips we provide and the number of students and citizens of all ages throughout the study area. Our student canoe trips are very popular and last summer we added some ‘community paddles’ for kids of all ages. We are very pleased to be able to expand those offerings this summer. Watch for more on dates and locations as we get closer to the summer. We also look forward again to partnering with Vancouver-Clark Parks, Portland area SUN Schools, and other organizations possible. Welcome Katie Jacobson and Carl Poston.
Tom Argent joins the Estuary Partnership
Tom Argent is joining the Estuary Partnership team as the Technical Contracts Administrator. He will work with the Science team managing our contracts for habitat restoration, monitoring, toxic reduction and pile structure assessment. Tom has a degree in Geography. He joins us after six years at OHSU in the Intercultural Psychiatric Program. He also has a long history in refuge work, is fluent in spoken Sango, and is a trip leader for the Oregon Ocean Paddling Society. We’re excited to have Tom join the staff.
Debrah
April 2009
Executive Director
Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership
811 SW Naito Parkway, Suite 410
Portland, Oregon 97204
503.226.1565 x227
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