North Clackamas Urban Watersheds Council

2014 Annual Report

NCUWC, 1900 SE Milport Rd, Suite C, Milwaukie, OR 97222 503-550-9282, info@nuwc.org, www.ncuwc.org, facebook.com/NCUWC

North Clackamas Urban Watersheds Council July 2013 - June 2014 Annual Report

published in December 2014

Special thanks to the following agencies, whose generous grants made this report possible:

Clackamas County Water Environment Services

Oak Lodge Sanitary District Clackamas County Soil and Water Conservation District

Council Coordinator services kindly supported by Pacific Habitat Services, Inc.

Annual Report produced by Tricia Sears, Council Coordinator

NCUWC Board Members 2013-2014

Residents of Boardman Creek – Terry Gibson, Chair

Friends of Rinearson Creek/Rinearson Coalition – Carl Poston, Vice Chair

Jennings Lodge Community Planning Organization – Steve Berliner, Treasurer

Lake Road Neighborhood District Association – Mona Thomason, Secretary

North Clackamas Parks & Recreation District (NCPRD) – Tonia Burns

Oak Lodge Sanitary District (OLSD) – Karen Streeter, Michael Read

Clackamas County Water Environment Services (WES) (CCSD#1) – John Nagy

City of Milwaukie – Mark Gamba, Mike Miller

City of Happy Valley – Michael Morrow

City of Gladstone – Hal Busch

Business - McFarlane’s Bark – Kathleen McFarlane

Friends of Kellogg & Mt. Scott Creeks Watershed – Dick Shook

The Wetlands Conservancy – Kaegan Scully-Englemeyer

Tsunami Crew / 3-Creeks Natural Area – Chris Runyard Oak Grove Community Council – Bob Bohannon Clackamas Community Planning Organization – Pat Russell Historic Milwaukie Neighborhood District Association – Dion Shepard Citizen advocate – Nikkie West, Chair Emeritus

Tricia Sears, Council Coordinator

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NCUWC Committees 2013-2014

Restoration Committee: Chris Runyard; Pat Russell; Terry Gibson; Amy Peccia; Bob Bohannon; Kaegan Scully-Englemeyer; Zev Levine. Not pictured: Tonia Burns, Chair; and Tricia Sears, Coordinator.

Communications Committee: Carl Poston, Chair; Steve Berliner; Kathleen McFarlane; Tricia Sears, Coordinator; Terry Gibson; Pat Russell. Not pictured: Bob Bohannon and Hal Busch.

Executive Committee: Steve Berliner; Terry Gibson; Mona Thomason; Tricia Sears, Coordinator. Not pictured: Carl Poston.

Issues and Opportunities Committee: Dick Shook, Chair; Bob Bohannon; Terry Gibson; Dion Shepard; Hal Busch. Not pictured: Carl Poston and Pat Russell.

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NCUWC Service Area The North Clackamas Urban Watersheds Council’s mission is to advocate for the protection and

enhancement of the watersheds’ fish and wildlife habitat and improve water quality through partnership with public and private entities, habitat restoration projects, community education and outreach, and strategic planning. The Clackamas Board of County Commissioners formally recognized NCUWC as the watershed council representing the Kellogg – Mt. Scott, Rinearson, Boardman, and River Forest watersheds on June 20, 2009.

Watershed Areas

Kellogg - Mt. Scott: 10,300 acres

Rinearson: 330 acres

Boardman: 1,300 acres

River Forest: 800 acres

The total is 12,730 acres in the area covered by the North Clackamas Urban Watersheds

Council. All of it is within Clackamas County.

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Streamside Stewards Program

Total NCUWC SSP Participants November 2014 Oak Lodge Sanitary District (OLSD) = 33 properties

Clackamas County Water Environment Services (WES) = 52 properties City of Milwaukie = 2 properties

In the Streamside Stewards Program (SSP) we recruit and partner with people to restore their streams and the property surrounding the stream. We remove invasive plants and install natives. Our goals are to directly enhance riparian corridors within the watersheds of Kellogg - Mt. Scott, Boardman, Rinearson, and River Forest Creeks. We also work within the sub-watersheds of Philips, Cedar, and Minthorn Creeks.

Accomplishments:

Designed and obtained new SSP yard signs.

Continued to secure funding to grow the program.

Developed larger projects with WES and OLSD.

Focused on priority reaches and connecting with contiguous properties.

Conducted outreach for new members and updated records of existing SSP members.

Continued photo documentation of each site as restoration work progresses.

Distributed many SSP yard signs.

Improved the level of detail and clarity of information tracking.

Increased amount of information on the NCUWC website.

87 total properties in the NCUWC SSP!

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Funding & Partnerships FY 13-14

Oak Lodge Sanitary District (OSLD) – Provided up to $40,000 for Streamside Stewards Program; project implementation for site visits, weed control and native restoration; and outreach and education. An OLSD staff person serves on our board.

Clackamas County Water Environment Services (WES) - Provided $41,100 for the Streamside Stewards Program; additional re-vegetation project support; outreach and education. Donated the re-design of the Streamside Stewards Program yard signs. A WES staff person serves on our board.

North Clackamas Parks & Recreation District (NCPRD) – Provided significant in-kind resources including staff time to review projects and proposals as well as partnerships on projects. Donated the re-design of the NCUWC watershed map and a 4 ft. x 5 ft. printed fabric version of it. A NCPRD staff person serves on our board.

City of Happy Valley – Providing $1,000 for NCUWC to work on the Happy Valley owned site as part of the DEQ Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) Restoration Project. Supports us with public service announcements (PSAs) on Happy Valley radio. A city councilor serves on our board.

City of Gladstone – Part of the Rinearson Creek restoration efforts with Cascade Environmental Group to utilize the Portland Harbor Mitigation Program and to establish a permanent trust to protect the area. A city councilor serves on our board.

City of Milwaukie – Partners on projects. Is pursuing the restoration of the mouth and estuary of Kellogg Creek as part of their downtown and Riverfront Park renovation plans A city councilor serves on our board.

McFarlane’s Bark Inc. – Long-time, community-oriented business providing in-kind support. Frequently donates plants and compost. A staff person serves on our board.

The Wetlands Conservancy – Partnered with NCUWC on projects. A staff person serves on our board.

Citizen Planning Organizations (CPOs) and friends groups – Jennings Lodge Community Planning Organization, Oak Grove Community Council, Clackamas Community Planning Organization, Friends of Kellogg – Mt. Scott Creeks Watershed, Friends of Rinearson Creek, Tsunami Crew/ 3-Creeks Natural Area, all have a representative on our board. CPOs serve as the citizen planners of the unincorporated urban areas; advisory to the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners.

Clackamas County Soil and Water Conservation District (CCSWCD) – Provided $4,500 as council support; partnership on projects; technical support; and assists with OWEB grant applications.

NCUWC has many partners - we appreciate all the exciting collaborations we have together.

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Funding & Partnerships FY 13-14

Other – Historic Milwaukie Neighborhood District Association, Lake Road Neighborhood District Association, Residents of Boardman Creek, citizen advocate, all have a representative on our board.

Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) – Grants include 1) Kellogg Riparian Restoration (Project #12-12-007) for $8,725 for July 2012-May 2014; 2) Rowe Middle School Riparian Planting (project #12-12-11) for $7,340 for January 2013 – November 2014; and 3) Rusk/Lake Roads Neighborhood Restoration Project (Project #12-14-004) for $9,715 for May 2014-April 2016.

Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership – Partnered with NCUWC on the Annual Willamette River Tour on July 20, 2013. Additional collaborations are underway.

Johnson Creek Watershed Council – Provides a mailing address and mailbox for NCUWC; partners on projects and events.

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) - Funding $2,400 to NCUWC for restoration of a Happy Valley owned site as a Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP).

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) – Partnered with NCUWC on Living with Wildlife talks in January and May 2014. Provides expert fish and wildlife information.

Metro – Provided funding and partnership in the past and will continue to collaborate in the future.

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) – NCUWC is part of a TNC grant awarded to NCPRD for restoration efforts at Spring Park Natural Area.

River Network – Participated in the July 20, 2013 Annual Willamette River Tour. Working with NCUWC on formalizing additional collaborations.

SOLVE – Partners with NCUWC on projects. Works with Green Teams from local high schools.

Cascade Environmental Group – Contributes to the effort to restore areas along Rinearson Creek and Meldrum Bar Park.

FrogWatch USA – NCUWC launched a local chapter of FrogWatch USA in November 2013. We have one active recording site at a private pond.

NCUWC’s goals are to advocate, educate, and improve the ecosystem.

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NCUWC held our Annual Willamette River Tour on July 20, 2013 with Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership. Approximately 70 people participated.

NCUWC participated in A Watershed Event (AWE) on November 2, 2013 at Rex Putnam High School. Nine board members and the Coordinator participated in this event.

NCUWC had a table at the Milwaukie Film Fest on January 25, 2014. The Coordinator made a brief announcement about NCUWC to the audience.

NCUWC has an OWEB grant for restoration work at Rowe Middle School. On May 21 and 22, 2014, NCUWC partnered with WES, CCSWCD, and Stamberger Outreach Consulting, as well as the Rowe Middle School science teacher, to have two days of invasive plant removal, native plant installation, and stormwater management education. About 300 students participated.

NCUWC hosted a presentation on beavers, with speakers Susan Barnes and Dave Stewart from ODFW, on May 21, 2014 at the NCPRD owned Milwaukie Center.

NCUWC co-hosted two events at the 3-Creeks Natural Area with NCPRD and WES.

1. NCPRD, NCUWC, and WES partnered with 40 volunteers from Air B&B to plant over 1,000 trees and shrubs at the 3-Creeks Natural Area on March 17, 2014.

2. NCPRD, NCUWC, and WES partnered with River Network, Budweiser, and volunteers to remove trash - 1,450 lbs - and invasive plants from the 3-Creeks Natural Area on May 2, 2014.

NCUWC partnered with:

NCPRD, OLSD, FOT, and CCSWCD at the February 15, 2014 planting along the Trolley Trail at Stringfield Park. We also hosted an information table at the planting.

NCRPD at the March 8, 2014 planting at Spring Park Natural Area.

NCPRD, OLSD, FOT, and CCSWCD, mulching event on the Trolley Trail at Stringfield Park on April 5, 2014.

OLSD on the Electronics Recycling Event on April 22, 2014.

NCPRD on a SOLVE clean up event on April 26, 2014 at a NCPRD site on Hull St. at the headwaters of Rinearson Creek. NCUWC also participated in the SOLVE event on April 26th at Kellogg Lake/Kronberg Park.

a large number of organizations for the Celebrating Water event on April 15, 2014. About 800 plants were given to attendees. Five board members and the Coordinator participated.

NCUWC volunteers contributed over 500 hours of their time!

NCUWC Activities

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NCUWC Activities

NCUWC advocated and participated in the Mt. Scott Creek Restoration Project at North Clackamas Park. The Coordinator and several board members attended the grand opening of the project on September 18, 2013.

NCUWC participated in an environmental education event at Gladstone High School on May 16, 2014.

NCUWC met the funding and reporting requirements of involved agencies.

NCUWC is working with WES on a potential effort called the Oak Bluff Project near the 3-Creeks Natural Area.

NCUWC board members volunteer with Schoolyard Farms at the Candy Lane Elementary School in Jennings Lodge.

NCUWC collaborated with the Clackamas County Soil & Water Conservation District to assist Turning Point Church (TPC) with stormwater management and additional site restoration work. We helped TPC navigate the City of Milwaukie land use review process. This “Impervious Parking Lot Removal and Revegetation” project continues into 2015 and potentially into 2016. NCUWC has been working with TPC for several years to remove invasive plants and install native plants along the stream. TPC is also part of an existing NCUWC grant from OWEB.

We have several public service announcements (PSAs) on Happy Valley radio.

NCUWC continues to reach out to organizations for additional collaborations.

Featured in these photos: NCUWC partnered with Friends of Trees, OLSD, NCPRD, and CCSWCD for a planting event on February 15, 2014 and a mulching event on April 5, 2014 along the Trolley Trail.

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NCUWC Annual Willamette River Tour On July 20, 2013, NCUWC hosted a tour of the Willamette River in collaboration with Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership and Willamette Riverkeeper. Approximately 70 people participated!

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A Watershed Event (AWE) 2013

AWE occurred on November 2, 2013 at Rex Putnam High School. The event focused on learning what watershed you live in, what a healthy watershed is and why it is important, what people have been doing in the watershed, and what can be done to improve the watershed.

NCUWC provided two interactive display tables focusing on macroinvertebrates, beavers, and watersheds.

The event was hosted by Oak Lodge Sanitary District, NCUWC, WES, Clackamas River Water Providers, CCSWCD, SOLVE, and the Clackamas River Basin Council.

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Celebrating Water 2014

The NCUWC Coordinator and three of our board members staffed the table and talked with event attendees. Two high school students assisted us. NCUWC provided free plants – about 800 - to attendees. Our board member from McFarlane’s Bark, Inc. obtained the donated plants from Little Prince of Oregon Nursery. Overall, approximately 500 people attended the Celebrating Water event.

On April 15, 2014 NCUWC participated in this annual event which is held at Clackamas Community College. The Earth Day event is hosted by the Clackamas River Water Providers and WES, and includes 4th and 5th graders from schools throughout Clackamas County.

Plants were donated by Little Prince of Oregon Nursery.

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Living with Wildlife

NCUWC hosted two meetings about beavers. The first meeting was held at a home along Kellogg Creek on January 16, 2014. Members of our Streamside Stewards Program, with properties along the site of the beaver, attended. The second meeting, open to the public, was held on May 21, 2014. Susan Barnes of ODFW provided expert information to us at both meetings. Dave Stewart of ODFW joined us for the second meeting.

NCUWC made the front page of the Clackamas Review with the article by Ellen Spitaleri, “Experts Say: Make Way for Beavers,” on February 19, 2014.

We have active beavers in ponds and streams within our watersheds. We are beginning to learn the important role that beavers play in the watersheds as a keystone species. NCUWC works with residential property owners, agencies, and others to understand and protect our watersheds.

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Thank You!

Board member Dick Shook won an award, Outstanding Contribution to the Natural Resources Field (nominated by Tonia Burns of NCPRD) given by the Oregon Recreation & Parks Association in 2014. An article about it was published on August 13, 2014 in the Clackamas Review. Thank you to WES for their contribution of staff time for the redesign of the NCUWC SSP signs. Thank you to NCPRD for their contribution of staff time for the redesign of the NCUWC watershed map. Also, for printing the watershed map on waterproof fabric at 4 ft. x 5 ft. Thank you to Happy Fish Restoration Landscaping, our primary restoration contractor, for amazing work transforming sites into functional and beautiful fish and wildlife habitat. Thank you to NCPRD, WES, and OSLD for graciously providing technical support and meeting space. Thank you to Ellen Spitaleri for the Clackamas Review articles “Experts Say Make Way for Beaver,” on the front page on February 19, 2014 and “Volunteers Needed for Cleanup of Natural Area” about the 3 Creeks Natural Area, on October 29, 2014. Also, for publishing our events and joining us. Thank you to ODFW staff Susan Barnes and Dave Stewart for their expertise and staff time. Thank you to KIND for delicious, healthy snacks. Thank you to Board member Steve Berliner for the donation of office space, photos, and countless hours as treasurer.

NCUWC would like to thank everyone for their great work! With so many dedicated people and multiple flourishing relationships, we are excited to move into the future as a growing watershed council! Extra special thanks are noted below.

NCUWC Partners