Why rescue mussels?

Freshwater mussels are the most threatened organisms in North America.  Previous surveys by Xerces have shown that Crystal Springs Creek supports large populations of native Floaters (Anodonta).  The City of Portland is working with the US Army Corps of Engineers to restore the Westmoreland Park duck pond to a more natural stream channel and planting native vegetation to help cool Crystal Springs Creek.  This restoration project can benefit native mussels in the long term, but right now, they need our help to be moved out of the areas that will be dewatered during the project, or they will not survive.

Who can help?

Volunteers must be 18 years or older and may register for one or both days. No prior experience is required. Be prepared for a day in and around the water. Closed toed shoes are a MUST! 

What will the work involve?

Volunteers will help survey for and collect native mussels.  Mussels will also be tagged, measured, and relocated out of harms way.

To register: Visit http://www.crystalspringspdx.org/mussel-rescue-and-survey.html or email crystalspringscc@gmail.com

In addition to the projects we recently posted on—Crystal Springs restoration and SE Clay Green Street—there’s also construction continuing on SE Division Street.  Watch out for the paving and sewer pipe construction underway now.

Find Division Street construction updates here.

The Division Streetscape project is part of the larger Tabor to the River program area, where BES and neighbors are partnering to develop a healthy urban watershed that supports natural water functions and a reliable sewer system.  Working together, so far we have planted 720 new trees, built 138 green streets, removed invasive species on 66 acres of habitat, and constructed rain gardens on 42 properties.  100 more green street facilities are in design and construction over the next year and a half.  The Tabor to the River program is saving ratepayers an estimated $63 million by using green infrastructure solutions. 

Find out more about the great things neighbors are doing for cleaner rivers in the latest Tabor the River newsletter and on the program website: www.portlandoregon.gov/bes/tabortoriver

The Division Streetscape is the result of the vision and participation of community members over many years.  Environmental Services and the Portland Bureau of Transportation are constructing significant streetscape, stormwater management and sewer system improvements on SE Division from SE 11th Avenue to SE Cesar Chavez Boulevard. In addition to transportation improvements, the project includes construction of 55 green street facilities, planting 124 new street trees, replacing over 4,900 feet of poor condition sewer pipe and replacing 32 manholes.  All of this will help relieve sewer backups and increase sewer system reliability.

For more information on the Division Streetscape project, including block-by-block views of the project areas, go to: www.portlandoregon.gov/bes/streetscape

Need a break from the construction zone? Be sure to check out the roaming Art of Stormwater exhibit at the 7 Corners New Seasons Market through the end of July, and the Rain or Shine Coffee House starting in August.

OPB posted a great video and article yesterday on the Ecotrope Blog about the Klickitat Neighborhood Greenway Project in Northeast Portland. Environmental Services has installed two dozen green street facilities along 60 blocks of NE Klickitat Street. The project is part of the greater neighborhood greenway network intended to manage stormwater and improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists on low volume residential streets. 

Green streets are one of the many green infrastructure tools used by the City of Portland. By soaking up street runoff, the 1,300 green street facilities across the city make our infrastructure more resilient to large rain events and climate change.  Integrating them into the neighborhood greenways network makes great sense, since their plants and soil also improve air quality, cool city temperatures, provide habitat, and enhance community. Residential green streets have also been great opportunities for neighbors to participate with the Green Street Stewards program.

The 2013 Portland Ecoroof Symposium took place on Thursday, May 2nd. The event marked the 5th consecutive year for the BES Ecoroof Program’s major outreach event. This year’s event continued the ongoing dialogue between the City of Portland, municipal and non-profit partners, and the private sector, focusing on the business case for Ecoroof development in the City of Portland.

The program for this year’s event was developed to reach developers, construction firms, and building design professionals. Presentation topics focused on ecoroof costs and benefits, LEED certification, stormwater management regulations, and low-maintenance no-irrigation design. 

All presentations are now online and available for viewing. They can be accessed individually on the event web page or you can check out the entire program by accessing the event YouTube page. (You can find all the videos from our 2011 and 2012 events as well.)

Click below to see the Keynote Presentation by Michael Berkshire of the City of Chicago, and the Ecoroofs and Healthcare Facilities presentation by Elizabeth Hart of Tremco. 

Many thanks to all the speakers, vendors, sponsors, and volunteers that made the 2013 Ecoroof Symposium a success!

Back in February, we wrote about the new specs for a low cost, low maintenance ecoroof , which can help make ecoroofs more affordable for some home and building owners.  The Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plant Screenhouse is one of the first ecoroofs in the city to use the red cinder design, a simple lightweight approach that reduces the need for maintenance. Here are some update photos from that ecoroof, now with the sedum in full bloom.  The 5,700 ft² project was installed in 2011 and has never been irrigated.

Several of Environmental Services' facilities have ecoroofs, and this innovative design allows us to keep installation and irrigation costs low while providing all the benefits we get from ecoroofs.  To learn more about ecoroofs, visit the Portland Ecoroof Program website: www.portlandoregon.gov/bes/ecoroof.

Screenhouse Ecoroof, July 2013: 

Screenhouse Ecoroof, May 2013: