In Your Watershed

Jul 23 2020

What’s Happening in Happy Valley Park?

Happy Valley artist Sarah Miller creates artwork to highlight how our everyday actions impact the health of rivers and streams.

The River Starts Here partner, Clackamas Water Environment Services, is partnering with the City of Happy Valley and Portraits in Prose, Ink. to educate the community on ways to protect our streams through ART! Local artist Sarah Miller is creating artwork at catch basins and manhole covers in the park to bring awareness to the impacts of stormwater on stream health and what residents can do in their daily lives to reduce these impacts.

  • Happy Valley kids remind us to keep bacteria out of our waterways by picking up pet waste.
  • Happy Valley kids pose in front of a dragonfly mural that highlights local wildlife like American Robins, Salmon and pollinators.

In addition to the storm drain art, you can download the scavenger hunt and find all the painted catch basins in the park, and learn how to keep our streams healthy. Sarah has also created a banner for the off-leash dog park, reminding dog owners to clean up after their pets. You can also photograph friends and family members wearing dragonfly wings in front of the dragonfly wing mural on the outside wall of the restroom building! Post your photos to Instagram & Facebook and use the hashtags #ClackWES #ClackCo #cityofhappyvalley #portraitsinproseink Enjoy your park!

Learn more on Clackamas Water Environment Service’s website.

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May 05 2020

The Big Float X

July 11, 2020
Tom McCall Waterfront Park

A promotional image reading The Big Float X, 10 Years of a Riverlution imposed over an image of people in floats on the Willamette River.

The Big Float is an annual celebration of the Willamette River and a benefit for the Human Access Project. It’s a grand parade/float/ beach party on the Willamette River in downtown Portland. The idea behind TBF is to help people “get into and embrace” their river. And to build support for improving river access and creating a river habitat for humans.

The event includes live music on two river barge stages, beer/ wine garden, food carts, best-of-cruise costume and watercraft contests, kids’ activities, and more. All ages are welcome and life jackets are required.

For more info and to register for TBF go to www.thebigfloat.com

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May 05 2020

Student Video Contest – Deadline Extended

Attention 6th through 12th grade teachers, students, and homeschoolers. Our student video contest for the River Starts Here summer 2020 campaign is live! We have extended the deadline, videos are now due May 31!

Learn more and apply here!

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May 05 2020

Native Plant Sales in 2020

Want to go native in your yard? Create a natural landscape that needs less water, fewer chemicals, and is resistant to pests and diseases. Native plants also attract birds, butterflies and beneficial wildlife to your yard while reducing erosion and protecting water quality.

Washington County residents browsing a collection of native plants.

Check out this Native Plant Finder to find the best plants for your landscape. Then, visit a local native plant sale to get started:

Thank you to Clean Water Services for sharing this blog post.

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