Category Archives: Archive

We are hiring for a Chief of Finance and Operations

EMSWCD office

The East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District (EMSWCD) is offering an exciting career opportunity for a dedicated professional to serve as the Chief of Finance and Operations (CFO) for EMSWCD’s Finance and Operations Program. The CFO is a senior-level position within EMSWCD, serving on the management team and interacting frequently with the Board of Directors and Board Committees. The CFO is responsible for all budgeting and financial management activities for EMSWCD.

The CFO is also responsible for oversight of 1-6 staff within the Finance and Operations Program. Program activities include but are not limited to board and committee management, contracting, equity, facilities and fleet management, human resources, information technology, office management, and marketing and media.

Update: This position has now been filled. Thank you for your interest!

Working Farmland Protection Program Makes Strides

We are pleased to announce that our Working Farmland Protection Program has closed on an important farmland transaction! This February, EMSWCD acquired a 14-acre farm property directly adjoining its Headwaters Incubator Farm property on the outskirts of Gresham.

Acquisition helps ensure a future for agriculture on the property. With its proximity to EMSWCD’s Headwaters Farm Incubator Program (a launching pad for aspiring farmers), there are exciting opportunities to extend programming for current and graduating participants of the Incubator Program onto this property. The property also enjoys nearly 400 feet of frontage along Johnson Creek, a stream which EMSWCD has long worked to improve through its StreamCare program (a voluntary program with private landowners that restores native vegetation along important waterways).
Read more

Learn About Beaver Creek

Beaver Creek - The Watershed Beneath Our Feet

Beaver Creek starts as a spring near Dodge Park Blvd, and flows through farms and nurseries. It passes by houses in Gresham and Troutdale where smaller creeks like Kelly Creek flow into it. The creek then empties into the Sandy River near Glenn Otto Park.

View a map of the Beaver Creek Watershed here!

The Beaver Creek watershed is the area of land where rain water flows towards the creek. It is home to salmon, salamanders, herons, eagles, otters, lamprey, people, and much more.

Read more about the watershed in the links below. Explore who lives there, the challenges the watershed faces, and what you can do to keep it healthy. Available in English, Spanish and Russian!


Created in partnership with the City of Gresham, Sandy River Watershed Council, Multnomah County, and the City of Troutdale.

Our Native Plant Sale is now open!

Plant sale update, January 25th, 11am
Our Native Plant Sale continues – most of our plants are sold out, but 5 species are still in stock. Visit our plant sale store to see which plants are available, and our FAQ page to learn more about the sale and picking up your order.

Plant sale update, January 18th, 8am
The plant sale store is running well today, and there are still 17 out of 42 native plant species in stock!

Plant sale update January 17th, 10am
We know you’re excited to get your native plant order submitted and we apologize for any inconvenience you may be experiencing. Despite having the highest business-level subscription to our current host, our website is still experiencing an overload due to the heavy traffic. To spread this traffic out, please try to place your order later today or even tomorrow. This will help to even-out the traffic and allow the website to recover.

Again, we apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience and understanding.
The EMSWCD Plant Sale Team

Our Native Plant Sale is here! Choose from over 40 species of beautiful and affordable bare-root trees and shrubs! Remember, quantities are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Click here to
begin shopping!

Thank you for supporting our Native Plant Sale!

Grant Butte Natural Area grows

photo credit: Jim Labbe

The Grant Butte Natural Area just got bigger!

Thanks to a recent collaboration between EMSWCD and Metro, an additional 15 acres adjoining the existing Grant Butte Natural Area was acquired for wildlife habitat and public open space uses. This acquisition adds to the existing 88 acre natural area, providing a significant expanse of natural open space for the residents of East Portland and the City of Gresham.

“We are excited to build upon our prior partnership with Metro to further enhance this community asset,” said EMSWCD Board Chair Rick Till. “These types of collaborations are critical to protecting the important natural resources that make our area such a special place.”

“Metro is proud to support the purchase of the property with $210,000 from the natural areas bond measure voters approved in 2006,” said Jonathan Blasher, Parks and Nature director. “The new acquisition at Grant Butte Wetlands will help protect clean water, restore fish and wildlife habitat, and provide people with opportunities to enjoy nature close to home.”

The land will be owned and managed by Metro as part of their natural areas portfolio. Metro will also engage the community in a public planning process to explore possibilities for expanding public access at the site. Read more

Soil School 2018

Registration is now open for Soil School 2018! This exciting and fun one-day workshop on all things soil will be held Saturday, April 7th from 8:00am to 4:00pm at the PCC Rock Creek Event Center. Soil School is sponsored this year by West Multnomah SWCD, Tualatin SWCD and OSU Extension.

Soil School 2018 will be a day packed full of information for small acreage farmers, landscapers, gardeners, grounds managers and anyone else who wants to improve their soil. The health of your soil determines the health of everything growing in it—the food you eat and the crops you produce.

Learn more and register here

This year, Soil School is approved for Oregon Landscape Contractors Board Continuing Education Hours (CEH)! Certificates will be available to registered landscape professionals.

Spring Workshops are here!

Cusick's Checkermallow

Get ready for spring with one of our free workshops! Learn how to conserve water, reduce pollution and attract beneficial wildlife, all while creating an attractive and low-maintenance landscape. Our workshops are held in a variety of locations in Portland, Gresham and Troutdale.

Register today for a Free Workshop!

Workshops offered this spring include:

  • Naturescaping Basics
  • Rain Gardens 101
  • Native Plants Workshop
  • Attracting Pollinators
  • Beneficial Insects
  • Urban Weeds

You need to register to attend a workshop – please don’t wait! Workshops tend to fill up quickly. Register today!

Apply for a Partners in Conservation grant!

Is your organization looking for funding for a conservation project? We are now accepting applications for the 2018 Partners in Conservation (PIC) grant cycle! Our PIC Grant Program supports conservation projects that are located within the District service area (all Multnomah County east of the Willamette River) or serve its residents. Funding areas include:

  • Habitat Restoration and Monitoring
  • Stormwater Management and Naturescaping
  • Sustainable Agriculture
  • School and Community Gardens
  • Environmental Education
  • Capacity Building / Equity

Visit our PIC Grants page to
learn more and get started!

Read more

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