As the year comes to a close, we're excited to announce that 2013 is the biggest year yet for green roof installation in Portland. Projects of note include the new Wal-mart at Delta Park, which opened in November with it the largest ecoroof in Portland. Other notably large projects include the Linden Apartments in SE Portland and the Emery at South Waterfront. In all, 40 green roof projects were installed across the city in 2013 for over 130,000 ft². The previous records were in 2008 and 2012, with 120,000 ft² and 116,000 ft² respectively.  

Delta Park Walmart (North Portland) - 37,034 ft²

Linden Apartments (SE Portland) - 17,400 ft² (photo courtesy of Keith McCloskey

The Emery (South Waterfront) - 9,316 ft²

Many of the 2013 projects were funded through the Ecoroof Incentive that began in 2009 and ended last Spring.  (Projects have two years to use the incentive funds, and there are several from the later rounds that have not yet been completed).  Since the late 1990's there have been over 560 green roofs installed in Portland, totaling more than 38 acres. The development of supporting policies like the Ecoroof Floor-to-Area Bonus, the Stormwater Management Manual, and the Ecoroof Incentive were helpful in building the momentum that led to a record-breaking 2013.And things are looking good for 2014 too! Until then, happy holidays and remember - reindeer prefer green roofs! 

2013 closed out with some positive environmental news about the Endangered Species Act and local accomplishments.  Now it's time to look ahead! 

The City Green blog has been up and running for a little over a year now, and we'd love to hear from you. 

What would you like to see more of in 2014? 

Chime in with comments here on the blog (click "add a comment" above) or via Facebook.  Here are some ideas on our list:

1. More about Environmental Services' watershed restoration and green infrastructure projects
2. More news from partner organizations in Portland who are working for healthy watersheds
3. More about what other cities and communities are doing to manage stormwater naturally
4. More about events and opportunities to get involved, and what you can do to help Portland's rivers and streams
5. More information about native and invasive species, local watershed conditions, and stormwater issues

Don't miss out in 2014! 

You can follow the blog and share the news with your friends at www.facebook.com/CityGreenPortland

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Environmental Services and Portland Parks & Recreation have worked together since 2011 in the River View Natural Area to remove invasive plants, close and reroute some trails, and remove trash. This winter, reforestation crews will plant more than 50,000 native tree and shrub seedlings in the natural area. Portland Parks is also developing a natural area management plan that will be ready for public review in March.

The West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District is working withRiverViewCemetery andLewis & ClarkCollege to restore forested and natural areas on these private properties. Environmental Services is helping get these projects started this fall with invasive plant removal to protect forest canopy and keep invasive weeds from spreading into the adjacent River View Natural Area.

Revegetation crews have removed invasives on 22 areas at River View Cemetery. At Lewis & Clark, crews will remove ivy and clematis vines on 23 acres in late December. Next year, invasive removal will focus on blackberry, laurel, holly, ivy, and other invasives on the ground. Conservation district crews will plant native trees and shrubs after invasive plants are controlled.

Want to learn more? Visit the Watershed Revegetation Program and the River View Natural Area websites. 

This Dec. 28th, the Endangered Species Act turned 40 years old.  When it passed in 1973, 99 Senators voted for it, 0 opposed, and President Nixon signed it without controversy. 

Since then, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) has influenced much of Portland's local planning, development and infrastructure. 

It has also spurred City projects and activities by countless Portlanders to help protect and restore the rivers, streams and forests that are home to threatened and endangered species.

Portland has the most ESA-listed species of any major city in the US.  That may seem like bad news, but it actually means we have a lot of our native fish and wildlife left to save right here in the city, thanks to our region's long-standing commitment to protect nature.  For other cities, the ESA didn't arrive fast enough to protect dwindling native species.  Chicago barely knew its passenger pigeon, Atlantic salmon in New York City are forever gone and Bostonians will never again hear the howl of the eastern timberwolf.

Since the first Chinook salmon listing in 1999, there has been an average of about one new ESA listing a year for species found in Portland. 

Portland's City Council started our local Endangered Species Act program in 1998, to coordinate the City's response to the new regulations and to step up to the challenge of reversing the decline of our native species because we know it is the right thing to do.  The program is now housed in the Bureau of Environmental Services' Science Fish and Wildlife Program. 

As 2013 comes to an end, it's a great time to celebrate the national accomplishments of the ESA, like the return of bald eagles. 

It's also time to celebrate our local accomplishments of the past year.  Projects and programs like these help keep our water clean, our forests and floodplains resilient, and our community healthy and prosperous:

• Crystal Springs Culvert Removal and Restoration: Two more culverts removed in 2013 means seven down, only two more to go!
• Invasive species management: Removing invasive plants on more than 550 acres of land in the city over the last year helps our native plants, fish and wildlife thrive. Help from homeowners and volunteers to remove nasty new invaders, like Spurge laurel and pokeweed helps us get ahead of the next threats to clean water.
• Tree planting:  6,755 new street and yard trees planted over the last year, with a special focus on increasing street tree canopy in East Portland with our community partners (stay tuned for more on that soon).
• Completion of the Foster Floodplain Project: More fish, less flooding in Lents!
• The biggest year ever for ecoroofs in Portland.
• And many other great projects, from the new culvert at Stephens Creek to the Community Watershed Stewardship project at St. Mary's Ethiopian Church , and green streets on Division Street and in Multnomah Village. 

It's been a busy year!

With everyone's help, in another 40 years hopefully we will be celebrating Portland's new reputation as the city with the cleanest rivers and the most recovered ESA species. 

For more on the ESA, check out this CBS news editorial:  http://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-endangered-species-act-turns-40/

And the NOAA Fisheries website's special features for the 40 year anniversary.