Columbia Slough Watershed Council

Portland Parks and Recreation Summer Camps at Whitaker Ponds

(Partner Organization Program)

Looking for a great summer day camp opportunity in your area?  Check out Summer Nature Day Camp at Whitaker Ponds led by our partners at Portland Parks and Recreation! Youth ages 5-12 will have the chance to explore beautiful Whitaker Ponds, peek into the world of bugs, discover aquatic habitats and see their surroundings in a whole new way!

Summer Nature Day Camp at Whitaker Ponds is August 12-16

Learn more and register for these programs using the links below.

Antennae Antics (Ages 5 - 6)
Wet & Wild (Ages 7 -  8)
Eco Zoom (Ages 9 - 12)

Click on the appropriate registration link below:

Borrow a boat from us

  ($8 donation you pay at the event) 

Bring your own boat

Columbia Slough Watershed Facts:

• 32,700 acres
• Contains Smith and Bybee Wetlands, the largest urban wetland in the United States
• Lower slough is a refuge for endangered salmon
• 175 bird species
• 26 fish species
• 6 lakes, 3 ponds, 50 total miles of waterways
• 30 miles of flood control levees
• 170,000 residents
• 2 universities, one community college
• Wildlife corridors
• Portland International Airport and Troutdale Airport
• Portland Marine Terminals
• 4,200 businesses
• Columbia South Shore Well Field-part of the City of Portland’s drinking water
• Well Field-part of the City of Gresham’s drinking water
• Critical transportation corridors-I-5, I-205, I-83, and Highway 30
• 250,000 railroad cars pass through
• Water quality listed under 303(d)
• Six golf coursed
• 40 mile Loop Trail-trail system over 150 miles
• Canoe and kayak launches
• 60% Impervious surfaces

The Columbia Slough is a wonderful place.  The Slough waterways were historically utilized by native peoples for seasonal fishing and hunting and safe canoe passage. In 1805, Lewis and Clark expedition members complained they could not sleep due to the noise created by massive numbers of geese and swans, “their noise horid.” The Hudson’s Bay Company began trapping otter and beaver in 1820.  By the 1850s farming had replaced trapping as the main economic activity.

During the early 1920s, levee construction began to prevent the Columbia River’s annual spring floods.  As the area developed, what was once a wildlife-rich mosaic of sloughs, wetlands and lakes was transformed into a highly managed system of channels, agricultural lands, industrial development, and residences.

Today, this urban watershed provides recreation, greenspace, drainage, and habitat.  It is home to 4,200 businesses, 170,000 people, a marine terminal and two airports.  The watershed collects stormwater runoff, rainwater, and groundwater.  Its streams, sloughs, wetlands, grasslands and woodlands provide wildlife corridors and migratory routes for over 175 species of birds. Mink, river otter, beaver, coyote and sensitive species like Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Willow Flycatcher, and Western Pond and Painted turtles use slough habitats. Twenty eight fish species call the Columbia Slough home.

Thanks for your interest in volunteering with the Columbia Slough Watershed Council!

Your first step is to contact us.  We’ll explore the type of commitment you are interested in and then get you set!

Contact Nathan Barrett, Community Connections Coordinator at nathan.barrett@columbiaslough.org or
(503) 281-1132.
Please glance over the types of positions we offer before you contact us so you’ll know where you might fit best.

Congratulations to the Slough Celebration Achievement Award Recipients:

City of Gresham-Columbia Slough Water Quality Facility: Stormwater treatment for over 700 commercial and industrial acres, plus trails, viewing overlooks, interpretive panels, and an outdoor education site.

Elena Mark-Portland Public Schools:  Instrumental in organizing transportation for student field trips throughout the Watershed.

Port of Portland-Portland International Airport Deicing System Enhancements: Comprehensive design and construction to expand capture and treatment of deicing materials for improved water quality in the Slough.

Katy Weil-Metro: Leadership in response to the avian botulism outbreak at Smith and Bybee Wetlands.

Each Achievement Award honoree has a short, humorous video made to reflect their great work in the watershed. Katy Weil’s is above; check out all the videos at: http://www.youtube.com/user/ColumbiaSlough

Congratulations to the Slough Celebration Leadership Award Recipients:

2012 Leadership Awards

Rex Burkholder-Metro Councilor: Long-time advocate for natural areas, conservation education, and the Columbia Slough Watershed.

Toby Query-City of Portland Ecologist: Innovative manager of revegetation and restoration efforts in the Watershed.

Each Leadership Award honoree has a short, humorous video made to reflect their great work in the watershed.  Toby Query’s is above; check out all the videos at:: http://www.youtube.com/user/ColumbiaSlough

Columbia Slough Watershed Council

7040 NE 47th Ave
Portland, OR 97218

Phone: (503) 281-1132
Email: info@columbiaslough.org

Office Hours: (Typically)
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Member access only.  For help please contact: info@columbiaslough.org

Whether you enjoy exercise by foot or on a bike, you have a slough of options with the region’s evolving 40-mile loop (150-mile system) of walking and bicycle paths that connects trails through the Columbia Slough.

An Evolving Trail System

This interconnected system will eventually include a walking path along the entire Slough, and bicycle-pedestrian trails along roadways stretching from Kelly Point Park east to Sandy River Gorge and south to the Springwater Corridor.

Portland Office of Transportation Biking Information
Neighborhood biking/walking maps

Thank you for your interest in working at Columbia Slough Watershed Council.

Open Positions:

Community Involvement Coordinator

(CONFLUENCE AMERICORPS PROGRAM)

Stewardship Director

(See positions description below)

The Council’s board members meet once a month to govern the Council and vote on key decisions. To learn more about board member roles, check out the description and application to be a board member. Space is currently available for new board members.

The Council Meeting Agendas are available for community members to read what is being planned and discussed. If you would like to see past agendas and minutes, please contact: info@columbiaslough.org or (503) 281-1132

“Slough News” is the newsletter of the Columbia Slough Watershed Council. Throughout the year, we provide you with articles about what is happening in your watershed.

Please contact the Council directly if you are interested in resources not found on this site.

Now is the time to support the Columbia Slough Watershed Council!  Put your money to work supporting a healthy future for people, plants, and wildlife.

And as a thank-you, you’ll receive a special gift when you support the Council!

  $35: an “I love the Columbia Slough” window cling
  $75: a Council tote bag
  $150: a Council hat
  $300: an “I love the Columbia Slough” steel water bottle
  $500: a private canoe tour for two

As a non-profit organization, we know our greatest asset is YOU: your enthusiasm, your volunteer time, your knowledge, and your financial support. Your contribution this year will help the Council continue programs and activities in our watershed for years to come. Donations to the Council are tax-deductible as provided by law: our IRS Tax Identification number is 03-0456181.

Yes! I want to support the Council!

To make your payment please give us a call M-F at 503 281-1132 or mail your check directly to:
Columbia Slough Watershed Council
7040 NE 47th Ave
Portland, OR 97218

Electronic donation method coming soon!

Almost two centuries after the Lewis and Clark expedition, it is still easy to imagine you are on your own “corps of discovery,” traveling by canoe or kayak, even in the midst of the industrial landscape.

The narrow, tree-lined Upper Slough evokes an air of mystery as you glide silently beneath a mixed alder, cottonwood, red-osier dogwood and willow canopy. The brushy banks are especially attractive to Wood Duck, Black-crowned Night Heron and the secretive Green Heron.

Paddling the Slough

While it is easily navigable by canoe, culverts and other barriers must be negotiated if you plan to paddle the entire Upper Slough. East of the 142rd Avenue levee, canoeing is best on the south “arm” of the Slough. Downstream the preferred route is along the north “arm.” Two floating docks off Airport Way provide the easiest access to the Upper Slough.

The Lower Slough is a wider, obstacle-free waterway with expansive vistas and open water, lined with black cottonwoods and ash - ideal perching and nesting habitat for Osprey, Bald Eagle and Great Blue Heron and welcome shade on a hot summer paddle. Daily tides mean a will timed trip allows for paddling with the current; the alternative is a muddy take-out and paddling against a stiff current at ebb tide. Kelley Point Park, St. Johns Landfill and Smith and Bybee Lakes Wildlife Area provide easily accessible launch sites. A new launch is planned near Northeast Denver Avenue.

Field Programs

Field Programs are designed for students to study the ecosystem of a site within the Columbia Slough Watershed and its nearby habitats. These trips are intended as a field component for students who have completed a classroom presentation.

What to Expect

Field activities may include wildlife observation, water quality monitoring, macroinvertebrate sampling, identifying native and non-native plants, and habitat studies. Field programs generally last between 1.5 - 2 hours and can include a service project or deeper scientific investigation.

Many field trips take place at Whitaker Ponds Nature Park, which has an outdoor classroom, pond access and limited indoor study areas. Other sites within the watershed include Salish Ponds Wetlands in Fairview, the Columbia Blvd. Wastewater Treatment Plant grounds, the Children’s Arboretum, and Kelly Point Park.

Groups should come on field experiences dressed appropriately for the weather and with enough adult chaperones to meet a 1:8 adult to student ratio.

Service Projects and Community Action Projects

These may be arranged based on the specific needs and interests of your student group. The majority of students participate in habitat restoration projects including: invasive plant removal, mulching and trail maintenance, and planting native herbs and shrubs.

Cost and Transportation

The Slough School programs are offered free of charge to teachers and students within the Columbia Slough Watershed on a case by case basis. Transportation to field sites is generally the responsibility of the school or group, although some transportation arrangements can be provided by the Slough School.

The Whitaker Ponds Nature Park is accessible by Tri-met bus #75 and is located at 7040 NE 47th Ave in Portland.

Academic Benchmarks Addressed

Slough School activities can be adapted to meet specific learning objectives identified by teachers for each student group.

Activities address academic content standards identified by the Oregon Department of Education, such as:

Life Science:

“Explain the behavior and interdependence of organisms in their natural environment”, “Describe the characteristics, structure and function of organisms”

Geography:

“Explain how humans and the physical environment impact and influence each other”

Scientific Inquiry:

“Design and conduct investigations to answer questions and verify hypotheses”, “Analyze, data collected from an investigation, draw conclusions and explain results.”

If you are interested in creating a plan of study with the Slough School, contact:

Sheilagh Diez , Slough School Education Director
Phone: (503) 281-1132
email: sheilagh.diez@columbiaslough.org

Class Topics

Slough School provides classroom presentations tailored to fit the learning objectives of a specific group or classroom. Programs can be combined to create a unit of interest.

Animal Adaptations- grades K-8.

Identify how animals have adapted to their specific environment. Discuss the characteristics of each environment and identify the adaptations of birds, mammals and fish which work to allow them to live in these environments. Examine pelts, skulls and specimens of local animals.

Animal Tracking- grades 4-12.

Identify the ways in which animals leave signs that they are living in our region. Practice ways in which we can use our senses to tell the story of the animals who share our watershed. May include an exploration into animal tracking, bird language or an animal game.

Aquatic Macroinvertebrates/Water Bugs- grades 2-12.

Discover how organisms who live in the water can tell us about the quality of the water. Life cycles and anatomy of aquatic insects are explored. Students are introduced to different species of water bugs and their adaptations through specimens and slides.

Ethnobotany: Traditional uses of our local plants-grades 2-8.

Learn about some of the Native American groups who originally lived in the watershed and how previous and current cultural groups rely on the native plants of our region. Students examine specimens, plant samples and practical objects made from local plants and animals.

Groundwater- grades 4-12

Learn how local geology affects our groundwater system. Using an interactive model, discover how local choices affect groundwater safety.

Habitats of our Ecosystem- grades 2-5.

An introduction to the different habitats present in Columbia Slough watershed and the larger region. Through hands-on activities, characteristics of various habitats are examined. Students then work to match plants and animals with their respective habitats.

Invasive Species-grades 6-college

Using hands-on examples and slides learn to identify local invasives species, how they affect native habitats and what can be done to prevent their spread in the region.

Riparian Plants- grades 3-8.

Explore the role of plants in our riparian areas along waterways and the impact these plants have on the quality of our water. Students will identify the differences between native and non-native plants and the impacts of both. Characteristics of riparian plants will be identified, using field guides and plant samples.

Water Chemistry- grades 4-12.

Investigate different ways to measure the health of a water body. Students observe, use units, interpret data and form hypotheses as they measure the temperature, pH, turbidity and dissolved oxygen of water samples taken from their school or local field site.

Water Cycle-grades 2-6

Using an interactive whole class activity, study how water travels through the environment.

Wetland Introduction- grades 4-12.

Explore the characteristics of local wetlands including soil, wetland plants and hydrological regime. Use hands-on demonstrations to examine the functions of wetlands and their watershed impacts.

What is a Watershed?- grades 1-college.

An overview activity to learn about watersheds and sources of pollution. Students use historical and current maps of their local watershed to identify changes over time. With a watershed model, students may explore impacts of point and non-point pollution on their local waterways, including the Columbia Slough and groundwater sources. For highschool and college students, we also offer a powerpoint on the industrial and environmental history of the slough.

If you are interested in creating a plan of study with the Slough School, contact:

Sheilagh Diez, Slough School Education Director
Phone: (503) 281-1132
email: sheilagh.diez@columbiaslough.org

The Columbia Slough is a wonderful place to visit and the home to many amazing living organisms, including humans. But, what is a slough? What is a watershed? Read on to learn the answers to those questions…

The Slough is an amazing combination of passages, lakes, and streams in the heart of the city. In addition, roads, businesses and homes are also located in the watershed of the Slough. This growing list of maps are a resource to help you explore the many treasures and resources of the watershed.

Here’s what’s new in the Slough!

For more information about Council events and programs please contact our staff at 503-281-1132 or email info@columbiaslough.org

Slough School

Slough School is the main K-college educational program of the Columbia Slough Watershed Council, created to provide hands-on programs for students to learn about the history and ecology of the watershed and its organisms as well as human impacts on the area.

For information on Tadpole Tales, our program for children aged 3-5 with their parents, click here.

Program Structure

Students in grades K-college who live or attend schools within the Columbia Slough Watershed are the principal recipients of Slough School programming. A variety of academic programs are offered, including classroom presentations, field programs, teacher workshops, and service projects at sites along the Slough.

Geographic Area

A watershed is an area of land in which all water drains to a common body of water, such as a river, lake or slough.

The Columbia Slough is a 60-mile long remnant of lakes, wetlands and slow-moving channels in the southern floodplain of the Columbia River.

The Columbia Slough Watershed includes schools and communities in the St. John’s area, North Portland, and parts of Northeast Portland, Parkrose, North Gresham and Fairview. It reaches from Kelly Point Park in the west to Fairview Lake and the headwaters of Fairview Creek in the east; from the Columbia River in the north to the Alameda Ridge in the south. Slough School activities take place at field sites and classrooms across the watershed.

Location

Slough School is based out of the Council offices at the Whitaker Ponds Natural Area, at 7040 NE 47th Ave. in Portland, Oregon.

If you are interested in creating a plan of study with the Slough School, contact:

Sheilagh Diez, Slough School Education Director
Phone: (503) 281-1132
email: sheilagh.diez@columbiaslough.org

The Slough is an amazing combination of passages, lakes, and streams in the heart of the city. In addition, roads, businesses and homes are also located in the watershed of the Slough. This growing list of maps are a resource to help you explore the many treasures and resources of the watershed.

There are many ways to get involved with the Columbia Slough Watershed Council. Opportunities vary from attending events and workshops, to pulling blackberries and planting native trees, to editing our newsletter, and leading paddling trips.

Here are a few ways to connect with us:

Take a Class:

The Columbia Slough Watershed Council offers free classes and workshops throughout the year including Wetlands 101, Slough 101, and Groundwater 101.

Check our Calendar of Events to see what is coming up.

Come Play with us:

Part of why the Council is so successful is because of our interest in having fun on the Slough. We host paddling trips, tours of the watershed, and hikes.

Check our Calendar of Events to see what is coming up.

Join Our Mailing List:

The Columbia Slough Watershed Council has an email list that keeps you updated on events and happenings through the watershed. We send out emails a few times a month, and you can unsubscribe at any time. To join the list, click here.

If you’d rather stay involved through twice-yearly mailings to your postal address, contact info@columbiaslough.org to sign up for the “snail mail” list.

Volunteer:

The Columbia Slough Watershed Council is always looking for volunteers. Please let us know what your interests are.

Learn more by going to our volunteer page.

The staff works towards our mission alongside Council members, regional partners, and our tremendous volunteer community.

See below for 2013 Columbia Slough Watershed Council events:

January

• Slough Tour: Water Flow, January 23rd 4:00-5:00 PM
• Groundwater 101 January 26th, 9:00 AM- 1:30 PM

February

• Slough Celebration February 8th, 6:00-9:00 PM
• Slough Tour: Bird Walk February 12th, 8:00-10:00AM

March

• Slough 101 March 9th, 8:45 AM-1:00 PM
• Rain Garden Workshop March 23rd, 9:00 AM-1:00 PM

April

• Bird Walk (Audubon) April 5th, 8:00-10:00 AM
• Brunch With the Birds April 19th, 10:00 AM-1:00 PM
• Bring Your Own Boat Paddle April 24th, 5:30-7:30 PM

May

• Wetlands 101 May 4th, 8:45 AM-1:00 PM
• Site Planning Workshop May 19th, 1:00-5:00 PM
• Evening Canoe May 22nd, 6:00-8:30 PM

June

• Cycle the Well Field June 1st, 8:45 AM-1:00 PM
• Explorando June 15th, 1:00-5:00 PM
• Bring Your Own Boat Paddle June 28th, 5:30-7:30 PM

July

• Great Slough Cleanup July 13th, 9:00 AM-12:00PM
• Moonlight Paddle July 19th, 9:00-11:00PM
• Regatta July 28th, 9:00 AM-1:00 PM

August

• Subs on the Slough August 16th, 11:00 AM-1:00 PM
• Bat Night August 23rd, 7:30-9:30 PM

September

• Aquifer Adventure September 14th, 12:00-4:00 PM
• Bring Your Own Boat Paddle September 18th, 5:30-7:30 PM

October

• Evening Canoe October 2nd, 6:00-8:30 PM
• Owl Prowl October 25th, 7:00-9:00 PM

November

Brew on the Slough November 14th, 6:00-7:30 PM

December

See below for a printable Year at a Glance Calendar.

The Columbia Slough has had a long history of environmental decline. But with the elimination of Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) in 2000 , watershed wide efforts to revegetate the Slough with native plants, and the increasing awareness of businesses and residents, the Slough is cleaner today than it has been in over 100 years.

For more information about Oregon Department of Environmental Quality projects in the slough, please visit their website.

CSOs

Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) occur in some areas of the City where the stormwater sewer and sanitary sewer are combined in one pipe - a combined sewer system. When it rains, combined sewer pipes fill up with both stormwater runoff and sewage. Once the pipes fill to capacity, the excess combined sewage overflows into the local river or slough.

The City of Portland used to have 13 CSO outfalls that discharged combined sewage into the Lower Columbia Slough. But in October 2000 the Bureau of Environmental Services completed its “Big Pipe” project and sewage stopped flowing in to the Columbia Slough for the first time in a century. The elimination of CSOs from the Slough has greatly increased the health of the waterway. Local agencies continue to monitor the Slough to measure the improvements of water quality since the elimination of CSO’s from the Slough.

Fish Advisory

Columbia Slough Fish may be Hazardous to your Health. Fish in the Columbia Slough contain PCBs and pesticides. These chemicals may effect human development, reproduction and immune systems. These chemicals may also increase your chance of getting cancer

People most at risk include: unborn babies, pregnant and nursing mothers, children and people who eat Slough fish often and for many years. Even though the concentrations of PCBs and pesticides in Slough fish are fairly low, they still pose a health risk because these chemicals increase in the body and my cause health problems many years after eating the fish.

PCBs and pesticides accumulate in the fatty parts of fish over the life of the fish. If you do choose to eat Columbia Slough fish, to reduce health risks you should avoid eating the fatty parts or the guts. Bake or broil the fish fillet on a rack so that the fat drips off, and then do not eat the fat drippings.

Water Quality

TMDL is a term from the Clean Water Act that stands for Total Maximum Daily Load. It is an estimate of how much of a particular pollutant a water body can absorb before it becomes a problem. TMDLs are established by Oregon DEQ for every water body that is listed in the Clean Water Act as a water-quality-limited water body .

In 1998 TMDLs were established for the Columbia Slough for pH, dissolved oxygen, phosphorus, chlorophyll-a, bacteria, lead, DDE/DDT, PCBs, dieldrin, and 2,3,7,8-TCDD. DEQ established the temperature for the Willamette Basin (including the Columbia Slough) in 2006.