Activity Report for the Period 12/11/2018 – 12/22/2018

East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District
Sections:
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
ACTIVITIES
Jay Udelhoven
Completed:
  • Jay was out of office during this reporting period.
FINANCE & OPERATIONS
ACTIVITIES
Program Supervision / Finance & Budget Lissa Adams
Completed:
  • Created an email archive for Jay.
  • Reviewed Headwaters Farm contract and Rural Lands engineering contracts.
  • Finalized audit and sent paperwork to various regulatory agencies.
  • Met with Equity team and CEI for followup meeting.
Planned:
  • Continued budget preparation for FY18-19.
  • Prepare for calendar year reporting requirements.
Office Management Lindsay Nelson
Completed:
  • Finished the draft LLC meeting minutes and Board of Directors meeting minutes.
  • I spent some time researching US-made/organic clothing for branded gear. Spent some time comparing products for postal meter. Researched Lexmark's recycled toner program.
  • Spent several hours researching Oregon HR laws and compliance on personnel files. I researched and completed editing the audio from the previous Board of Directors meeting.
  • I created and sent out the legal public notice for the upcoming Board of Directors & Annual meeting.
  • I processed bills/invoices to be paid. I sent out checks to various vendors.
Planned:
  • I need to finish the last equity reading assignment.
  • Prepare and send out Board Meeting Packet. Send Board Meeting packet to Dianna Pope.
Facilities Management Scot Wood
Completed:
  • Scot Wood was out of office during this reporting period.
Marketing & Media Alex Woolery
Completed:
  • I wrapped up work with a contractor to optimize the website in preparation for the plant sale.
  • Plant sale development: worked with Urban Lands staff to test, develop and improve plant sale store.
  • Outreach and quotes for ads for plant sale in several different media outlets.
  • Website updates, social media, support for upcoming committee and board meetings.
Planned:
  • Wrap up work with contractor, test optimization interface with plant sale, and close out contract.
  • Continued plant sale testing and development.
  • Finalize selection of ads and develop.
Information Technology Lissa Adams,
Lindsay Nelson,
Alex Woolery
Completed:
  • Lissa finished loading software on Rural Lands computer; worked with Online Support on internet connection issues; troubleshot various minor IT issues.
  • Lindsay, Alex and Lissa responded to staff IT issues and questions as needed; see notes in their individual reports above.
Planned:
  • Lindsay, Alex and Lissa will respond to staff IT issues and questions as needed.
RURAL LANDS
ACTIVITIES
Program Management Julie DiLeone
Completed:
  • Julie was out of office during this reporting period.
Rural Water Quality Aaron Guffey
Completed:
  • Drafted contracts for engineering consultants for Erosion Solutions.
  • Met with Suzanne, my partner in completing equity homework to discuss the material we have completed thus far.
  • Completed my workplan for FY2018
Planned:
  • Work with engineering consultants and Clackamas SWCD to create Erosion Solutions design for two nurseries.
  • Engage in the diversity, equity, and inclusion process EMSWCD staff are participating in.
  • Attend all Oregon Association of Nurseries Mt Hood Chapter meetings and events.
StreamCare Lucas Nipp
Completed:
  • I had a crew install 350 live stakes (willow and dogwood) on a StreamCare site in Johnson Creek. I had a crew clearing blackberry on newly enrolled StreamCare sites. One site completed and another started. About four acres cleared in a day and a half. Will get back to this work in January.
  • I got a signed StreamCare agreement back and worked up another one for a landowner to sign. I hope to get these sites cleared of weeds this winter.
  • I have been working with a few others from the Western Invasives Network Steering Committee on getting ready to hire a new coordinator. Mostly working on the job description and a survey of partners so far.
Planned:
  • I will be looking into the requirements for modeling the effects of StreamCare on stream shading. Reading over a Masters report on modeling done by a graduate student in Johnson Creek.
  • I will be installing more signs on StreamCare sites.
  • I will be taking several days off around Christmas.
Technical Assistance Jeremy Baker
Completed:
  • Jeremy was out of office during this reporting period.
Weed Management Chris Aldassy
Completed:
  • Jon and I did a preliminary visit to the Eagle Creek Burn Area where we will be implementing the weed control aspect of the USFS fire response.
  • I have been consulting the Sandy Basin WC on their weed control efforts at MHCC.
  • Had a crew install stakes at a restoration site along 1500 ft. of the Sandy River.
Planned:
  • I'll be working to finalize our Native Plant presentation.
  • Jon and I will be working to control Spurge Laurel.
  • I'll have a crew out to control English Ivy.
Weed Management Jon Wagner
Completed:
  • Lucas and I completed the monthly water quality sampling and wildlife surveys.
  • Chris and I surveyed burned sites at United States Forest Service trailheads to assess crew time for partner weed control with the United States Forest Service. Chris and I manually removed ~500 spurge laurel from control sites in the Buck/Gordon Creek drainage.
  • I finished assigning water quality levels to most of the sampling data categories in our water quality samples of Johnson and Beaver Creek. I have been working with Chris to plan winter and spring weed control and to prepare for a native plants presentation. I finished the 2017-18 Diana Pope Natural Area wildlife survey report. I finished three outreach dry-erase board animations about: StreamCare, fish passage, and native landscaping.
Planned:
  • I will be on vacation with my family.
  • I will finish preparing for native plants presentation. I will plan winter and spring weed control. I will make a comic explaining the benefits of beaver on natural systems.
  • Chris and I will revisit spurge laurel control sites to remove large spurge laurel with the Uprooter tool and shovels.
Outreach & Education Chelsea White-Brainard
Completed:
  • Designed and sent mailer promoting the upcoming Rural Native Plants workshop, presented by Chris and Jon. Workshop to be held on January 9th at the Columbia Grange.
  • Worked with Jon on whiteboard videos to be used on social media to promote Rural Lands programs.
  • Coordinated with CWMA (Cooperative Weed Management Area) partners to translate invasive weed fact sheets into Spanish.
Planned:
  • Continue promoting Native Plants workshop through social media, email, and community calendars.
  • Work on overhauling the CWMA website.
  • Begin working on my racial autobiography as part of our equity initiative through CEI (Center for Equity and Inclusion).
URBAN LANDS
ACTIVITIES
Program Management Kathy Shearin
Completed:
  • Kathy was out of office during this reporting period.
Technical Assistance Whitney Bailey
Completed:
  • Met with a community garden to discuss options for rain barrels or other on-site water storage.
  • Met with Portland Community Gardens staff to discuss future partnership possibilities around pollinators and grants.
  • Attended IJC meeting.
Planned:
  • Site visit to a community garden needing assistance with soil quality and lesser celandine.
  • Site visit to HOA with stormwater runoff issues.
Outreach & Education Angela Previdelli
Completed:
  • Attended Equity Grant Makers meeting; attended 4th CEI equity training with equity team.
  • Reviewed five SPACE Grant applications.
  • Plant Sale testing for online store.
Planned:
  • Meet with Birch Community Services for SPACE Grant site visit.
  • Final Plant Sale testing and preparations.
Outreach & Education Katie Meckes
Completed:
  • Attended Grant Butte meeting on December 7th and toured house on property.
  • Delivered outreach presentation at St. Johns Neighborhood Association meeting.
  • Planning assistance and speaker coordination for the 2018 Connect Conference.
Planned:
  • Continue Plant Sale testing & preparations.
  • Recruit for additional contract workshop presenters.
  • Outreach display planning.
CONSERVATION LEGACY
ACTIVITIES
Program Management Andrew Brown
Completed:
  • Andrew was out of office during this reporting period.
Grants Suzanne Easton
Completed:
  • Suzanne was out of office during this reporting period.
Land Legacy Matt Shipkey
Completed: Completed:
  • Finalized certain due diligence items and other analysis for property in contract.
  • Conservation proposal developed for working farmland easement project. Developed critical path for disposition of District property.
  • Developed Board materials for property in contract.
  • Provided support for partner transaction EMSWCD is funding.
  • Attended conservation working group meeting as well as a conservation easement training seminar.
  • Development of additional farmland program outreach materials. Explored potential partnerships with several farmland private equity capital entities.
Planned:
  • Complete equity assignments.
  • Advance outreach materials.
  • Secure Board decision as to whether to close on property in contract.
  • Advance disposition of Distruct property. Advance new working farmland easement project.
Headwaters Farm Rowan Steele
Completed:
  • Rowan was out of office during this reporting period.