Activity Report for the Period 2/12/2018 – 2/23/2018

East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District
Sections:
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
ACTIVITIES
Jay Udelhoven
Completed:
  • External Engagement: Participated in OACD monthly call.
  • Boards/Committees: Prepared for March Board and Budget Committee meetings.
  • Policies/Planning/Budgeting: Worked with supervisors to prepare FY18-19 draft budget; completed revisions of 9 personnel policies.
  • Supervision/Leadership: Participated in equity meeting; met with staff 1x1 and management team.
  • Program Implementation: Reviewed Partners in Conservation (PIC) Grants application and planned for upcoming PIC Committee with staff; reviewed terms of pending conservation easement with staff; reviewed 5 new Small Projects and Community Event grant applications with staff.
Planned:
  • External Engagement: Attend Lower Willamette Basin meeting with other conservation districts.
  • Boards/Committees: Prepare for and host March Board and Budget Committee meetings; attend PIC Committee meeting; prepare for March Personnel Committee meeting.
  • Policies/Planning/Budgeting: Continue strategic planning, budgeting, and policy updates.
  • Supervision/Leadership: Participate in equity meeting; meet with staff 1x1 and management team; attend district manager training held by the Oregon Department of Agriculture.
  • Program Implementation: Attend meeting with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and other conservation districts to discuss implementation of the Fish & Wildlife Tax Incentive Program and the Riparian Lands Tax Incentive Program.
FINANCE & OPERATIONS
ACTIVITIES
Program Supervision / Finance & Budget Lissa Adams
Completed:
  • Continued work on draft FY18-19 budget.
  • Met with CEI and equity team for follow-up #6 and began transition from consciousness raising to implementation phase.
  • Working with SDIS on 2018 insurance coverage.
Planned:
  • Prep for March budget and board meetings.
  • Prepare January 2018 financial reports.
Office Management Lindsay Nelson
Completed:
  • I was out for 3 days this week.
  • Worked on: spreadsheet for HR Software systems, comparison chart for telecommunications system,
  • Read Equity assignments.
  • Researched catering options for PIC Review Committee Meeting.
  • Ordered various supplies for different program areas.
Facilities Management Scot Wood
Completed:
  • I helped out with plant sale pick up prep and day of pick up.
  • I set about shoveling snow and spreading ice melt due to our wonderful weather.
  • I finished up the new overhead irrigation for the bottom heat table in the lower prop house.
  • I have been working with two different nurseries as they remove some of the arborvitae that were presold.
Planned:
  • Now that plant sale is over, I hope to do a bit of reorganizing in the basement.
  • I will continue to work on getting a couple of more contractors to bid the storm water projects out at Headwaters
  • I will begin to do some clean up and maintenance items around the barn.
Marketing & Media Alex Woolery
Completed:
  • Plant sale: final refunds, order checking, social media announcements, customer support, several preparations for pickup day, photos of volunteers, setup and pickup day. Picked up new notebooks and music equipment. Pickup day: helped setup, carry orders, took photos, social media, checked orders and records, managed music, break down and cleanup. Post sale questions and refunds.
  • Met with Matt to discuss Farmland brochure, assisted with edits to draft Mishima press release.
  • Several changes to website to incorporate language about ADA accessability and translation services.
  • Equity group meeting to discuss recent homework.
Planned:
  • Spring workshops - promotion and explore potential advertising/outreach venues.
  • Design Farmland brochure and create mockups of new Land Legacy website content.
  • Continue training staff on using and editing the website.
  • Work on integrating and standardizing ADA language on website.
Information Technology Lissa Adams,
Lindsay Nelson,
Alex Woolery
Completed:
  • Lindsay, Alex and Lissa responded to staff IT issues and questions as needed; see notes in their individual reports above.
  • Lissa troubleshot various IT issues; began setting up new computers for Rural and Urban Lands staff; continued working to onboard new IT contractor.
Planned:
  • Lindsay, Alex and Lissa will respond to staff IT issues and questions as needed.
RURAL LANDS
ACTIVITIES
Program Management Julie DiLeone
Completed:
  • Fine tuning Rural Lands' draft budget.
  • Working with USFS and State Parks on agreements for post fire weed control.
  • USGS sediment study budget estimates range from $45,000 for the most basic up to $70,000 for more complex monitoring per year for 5 years - likely not possible given our current budget contraints.
Planned:
  • Lower Columbia Estruary Partnership Science meeting about "Integrating Climate Change into Habitat Coverage Targets."
  • NRCS webinar on the latest version of their greenhouse gas inventory and analysis tool on February 28th.
Rural Water Quality Aaron Guffey
Completed:
  • Met with an engineering consultant to discuss alternatives and limitations for an Erosion Solutions design concept.
  • Met with my equity team and watched the equity movie "13th."
  • Met with USGS to hear their initial concept of a project to develop metrics.
  • Assisted at the EMSWCD annual native plant sale.
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. Fulfill the responsibilities of treasurer on the Mt Hood Chapter board.
  • Work with USGS as they provide consultation to develop tools to correlate conservation practice implementation to water quality.
StreamCare Lucas Nipp
Completed:
  • I have been overseeing a crew installing bare root trees and shrubs on StreamCare sites. We have installed about 12,000 plants so far. This included planting a 2300 foot long hedgerow at Headwaters Farm.
  • Snow has postponed this work this week. Hopefully work will resume next week.
Planned:
  • I will meet with my equity discussion group to discuss the recently due homework.
  • Once the snow melts, I will continue to be out with a crew installing the remaining nearly 8,000 plants.
  • I will be doing a short presentation on the Columbia Gorge CWMA at the upcoming Invasive Species and Exotic Pest Workshop in Stevenson next week. Jon will also be presenting on our post-fire weed control efforts.
Technical Assistance Jeremy Baker
Completed:
  • Attended site visit for Urban farm for consultation on weed removal and planning of native revegeation plan.
  • Attended the Multnomah County Farm Bureau Meeting.
  • Wrapping up the conservation plan and CLIP application for urban farm in Troutdale.
Planned:
  • Drafting site visit report and recommendations for new rural landonwer with a small farm in Corbett. Report to focus on existing conditions and recommendations/suggestions to set up their farm.
  • Drafting Headwaters Conseravtion Plan. Meeting with Headwaters team to discuss content, goals and focus moving forward.
  • Attending Small Farms Conference in Corvallis. Focus is on pastured hog and poultry production.
Weed Management Chris Aldassy
Completed:
  • I had a crew out two days planting 11,000 trees and shrubs on previously weedy areas near Dodson.
  • Monitoring and controlling ivy near Latourelle Falls, garlic mustard control near the confluence of Beaver Creek and the Sandy River.
  • Weeds project outreach and planning for planting plantsale leftovers.
Planned:
  • Meeting contractors to plan and prioritize spring weed control.
  • We will be installing plants from the plantsale that weren't sold at small scale weed project sites.
  • I plan on co-ordinating with partners with a stake in the fire response to make sure efforts are not duplicated or left behind.
Weed Management Jon Wagner
Completed:
  • I worked on the final draft of the Diana Pope Natural Area sign. Chris, Andrew and I have been working on building our weed control database. I worked the information tent at plant sale.
  • Chris and I hand pull 10 square meters of ivy at Latourell Falls State Park. We controlled 300 square meters of garlic mustard rosettes at Glenn Otto Park.
  • Chris and I collected monthly water quality samples and conducted the monthly wildlife survey.
Planned:
  • I will present our EWSWCD's weed control response to the fire at the weeds workshop.
  • I will finish the Diana Pope Natural Area sign illustration.
  • Chris and I will plant plant sale leftovers at weed control restoration sites and will continue early season garlic mustard and ivy outreach, surveys and control.
Outreach & Education Chelsea White-Brainard
Completed:
  • Sorted plants by site for StreamCare planting. Worked the outreach tent at Plant Sale.
  • Attended 6th CEI follow-up session with Equity Team and Management Team. Completed second speech for Eco-Voices Toastmasters speaking club.
  • Planned and hosted the 4-County CWMA (Cooperative Weed Management Area) Outreach and Education meeting.
Planned:
  • Start planning rural Spring workshops.
  • Finalize Rural Lands CLIP brochure.
  • Start updating the Rural Lands section of the website.
URBAN LANDS
ACTIVITIES
Program Management Kathy Shearin
Completed:
  • Attended CEI Follow-up #6.
  • Attended OSU's Urban Green Infrstructure Summit.
  • Staffed CWMA booth at the Portland Home and Garden Show.
Planned:
  • Attend CSWC Board meeting.
  • Attend Beaver Creek Partnership meeting.
  • Attend MHCC Retrofit Stakeholders committee.
  • Attend CSWC Annual Gala.
Technical Assistance Whitney Bailey
Completed:
  • Plant Sale set up and distribution.
  • Draft position paper on rainwater catchment.
  • Attend Urban Green Infrastructure Summit.
Planned:
  • Meet with the City of Fairview to discuss collaboration opportunities.
  • Update website sections: CLIP, Naturescaping, and Conservation Corner.
Outreach & Education Angela Previdelli
Completed:
  • Post Plant Sale wrap up.
  • Kicked off Yard Tour 2018. The day will be Saturday, May 12th.
  • Hosting Plant Swap at Nadaka Nature Park on Saturday.
  • Approved four SPACE Grants.
Planned:
  • Volunteer outreach and coordination for Yard Tour.
  • Start reviewing applications of Yard Tour hosts.
Outreach & Education Katie Meckes
Completed:
  • Most of my time was spent on Plant Sale finishing preparations and day of event tasks.
  • Took some time off for Holiday and in exchange for working Saturday.
  • Responded to emails, calls, and began to get caught up on items unrelated to plant sale.
  • Scheduled a return field trip visit to EMSWCD for KairosPDX Kindergarten class to learn more about rain gardens and storm water.
Planned:
  • Scheduling a Career Visit to EMSWCD for MESA students in April. Oregon MESA is a pre-college academic programs that equips underrepresented students with the 21st-century skills rooted in Science, Technology, Engineer, Math (STEM).
Outreach & Education Josie Moberg
Completed:
  • Helped with plant sale orders and site prep for Saturday.
  • Printed, cut, folded self guided tours and laminated scavenger hunts. Continued helping with misc. site/resource prep for Saturday.
  • Helped with day-of activities, working at the t-shirt/EMSWCD outreach stand.
  • Continued communications with workshop hosts/attendees, database updating with new info, etc. to ensure smooth-running workshops.
  • Outreach (emailing newspapers, posting to Facebook, etc.).
Planned:
  • Translat registration page on our website for the upcoming trial run Pollinators workshop (en Español).
  • Finalize rain garden kids activity.
CONSERVATION LEGACY
ACTIVITIES
Program Management Andrew Brown
Completed:
  • Working on the draft FY18-19 budget for the Conservation Legacy programs.
  • Worked on the 2018-2023 EMSWCD strategic plan, including the 5-year budget projections.
  • Assisted Matt and Rowan with advancing various Land Legacy and Headwaters projects, and Rural Lands staff with various GIS projects.
Planned:
  • Advance the 2018-2023 EMSWCD strategic plan draft.
  • Finalize the FY18-19 budget for the Conservation Legacy programs.
  • Review the 2018 PIC grant applications and participate in PIC Review Committee meeting.
Grants Suzanne Easton
Completed:
  • Equity work: completed reading/movie assignments; met with staff group to discuss; attended CEI training #6.
  • PIC 2018: continued review of applications and consultation with staff and some external contacts to inform assessment; check-in with PIC Review Team; met with Jay/Andrew for final Review Meeting preparation.
  • Conducted PIC 2018 site visit: Food by Design, Kenton Women's Village.
  • Participated in annual Plant Sale pick up day.
Planned:
  • PIC 2018: Complete application review and prepare for Review Committee meeting on March 1st.
  • Meetings: meet with PIC grantee/applicant Janus Youth about program restructuring; meet with new Depave Executive Director, Erica Mattison.
  • Complete SCI contract documents for Ag in the Classroom.
  • Equity: meeting with staff group.
Land Legacy Matt Shipkey
Completed:
  • Agenda and materials finalized for March LLC meeting.
  • Various outreach activities - postcard mailed, 1x1 meetings, brochure development.
  • Stewardship activities at recent farm acquisition.
Planned:
  • Oxbow broker agreement executed, property listed.
  • Purchase and Sale Agreement/Option executed.
  • Recent transaction press release and social media announcement.
  • Outreach brochure substantially finalized.
Headwaters Farm Rowan Steele
Completed:
  • Got early-season Headwaters Farm facilities online (germ chamber and bottom heat system) and made some repairs to related systems (water and double poly).
  • Attending the Small Farm Conference and a statewide Beginning Farmer Meeting coordinated by the Oregon Community Food System Network.
  • Worked on draft Headwaters Incubator Program budget for FY 18-19.
Planned:
  • 2018 bulk amendment purchase will be arriving from Marion Ag.
  • Hosting an all-day training for incubator farmers that includes topics of bookkeeping, farm financing, and cooperative development.
  • Stuart, Headwaters Farm’s Operations Assistant, will be joining staff for another season and we’ll be working to get him caught up and familiar with immediate tasks.