Yesterday's party on the waterfront for World Environment Day was graced by Rose Festival sunshine and lots of fun activities for kids.  Special thanks to the Rose Festival and all the businesses and organizations that participated in activities throughout the day-- and the whole month leading up to WED.  Portland's great work for green infrastructure, healthy rivers and streams and a better environment is seen around the world!  For more photos, visit www.facebook.com/CityGreenPortland

Inspired by last week's World Environment Day, City Green will feature some of Environmental Services' community partners for healthy watersheds.  We'll do an occassional post about some of these champions of Portland's green infrastructure.  These are the people who spend their weekends and evenings to make our rivers and streams healthier. 

Today's partner is....the Mt. Tabor Weed Warriors.  

Many of our city's parks and natural areas are made safer and more beautiful through the efforts of friends and neighbors. At Mt. Tabor Park, the Friends of Mt. Tabor Park (FMTP) Foot Patrol keeps the park safe and clean, FMTP volunteers inform visitors from around the globe about the park at the Visitor Center, and FMTP Weed Warriors restore natural areas by removing invasive plants and planting native plants.

The FMTP Weed Warriors are key partners in the city's effort to remove invasive plants and plant native plants in the natural areas at Mt. Tabor Park (find out more at www.portlandoregon.gov/bes/mttabor). This reduces stormwater runoff to improve watershed health, enhances habitat for wildlife, and safeguards Mt. Tabor's forests. Photos and more information about Weed Warrior events are at www.facebook.com/FMTP.WeedWarriors.  In April, we posted about the amazing trillium comeback on Mt. Tabor, thanks in part to the Weed Warriors' work.

Want a fun way to be active outside, meet friendly neighbors, and help improve Mt. Tabor Park?  Join a Weed Warriors Saturday event! They meet at the parking lot next to the Mt. Tabor Park amphitheater on the last Saturday of every month (March through October). The next opportunity is Saturday June 29, 9 a.m. - noon. Find more information at www.taborfriends.org.

(Photo credit: FMTP Weed Warriors)

The month-long festivities for World Environment Day wrapped up with a celebration of Portland and Oregon's environmental ethic and a sampling of environmental innovations.  Representatives from local companies, colleges and universities, community organizations, tribes and public agencies showcased their work to elected officials from the region and representatives from the United Nations Environment Program's North America Office.  One example is Lucid Energy, a company pioneering in-pipe turbines for city water pipes to generate electricty. 

Photojournalist Gary Braasch included Portland's green infrastructure projects--green streets managing stormwater and natural areas soaking up the rain-- in his photo show about the impacts of climate change and the solutions that communities like ours are using.  To see some of Gary's work, visit www.worldviewofglobalwarming.org/

Artist Kenji Williams brought a slice of his awe-inspiring Bella Gaia performance, which we hope comes back to Portland for everyone to see in its full length!

Environmental Services director Dean Marriott speaks with State Senator Jackie Dingfelder and Mike Houck.

Gary Braasch; Portland State University exhibit. All photos by Bruce MacGregor Photography.

Explorando el Columbia Slough

Saturday, June 22nd / Sabado 22 de Junio

1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.

The Event: Discover city nature with the Columbia Slough Watershed Council during its twelfth annual Explorando el Columbia Slough festival Saturday, June 22nd at Whitaker Ponds Nature Park from 1:00 to 5:00 pm. “Explorando is a free bilingual family-friendly event at Whitaker Ponds Nature Park, 7040 NE 47th Avenue in Portland.

Evento: ¡Celébrase la naturaleza en la ciudad y el ambiente del Columbia Slough! Este festival bilingüe de la familia y el medio ambiente ofrece actividades en español y ingles para todos las edades. Explorando es gratis y incluye: viajes en canoas con una guía, música en vivo, baile folklórico, cuentos e historias bilingües, artes, actividades y más! Whitaker Ponds Nature Park, 7040 NE 47th Avenue, Portland.

Celebrate nature in the city and the environment of the Columbia Slough! This bilingual family environmental festival offers activities in Spanish and English for all ages. Explorando is free, and includes: guided canoe trips, live music, folk dancing, storytelling, arts & crafts, workshops, and more!

¡Explorando! da a la gente de la comunidad la oportunidad de conocer la importancia de mantener las condiciones naturales del Columbia Slough, de disfrutar esas condiciones de las que carecen otros estados”, dice Fernando Vélez, quien ha colaborado y participado en ¡Explorando! desde el inicio del mismo. “¡Explorando! esta ganando popularidad cada año”.

Location: Whitaker Ponds Nature Park, 7040 NE 47th Ave., Portland, OR97217. The park is .2 mile north of Columbia Boulevard.

El Parque natural Whitaker Ponds está localizado en el Noreste de Portland, sobre la avenida 47, a 0.2 millas al Norte del boulevard Columbia. La línea de buses 75 de Tri-met lleva hasta la intersección de esas dos calles.

The event includes canoe trips, hands-on environmental activities, a rock climbing wall, live birds and insects, music and folkloric dances. Local resources for free outdoor recreation activities and tips for low-cost, environmentally-friendly living are available in Spanish and English

Volunteers are needed (Spanish-English bilingual desirable, English only OK). Volunteer opportunities: translation, canoe guides, hands on games and arts and crafts, face painting, food and welcome tent. Sign up for a volunteer shift:

Click here for volunteer information or contact Nathan Barrett at 503-281-1132 

 “Explorando gives people the opportunity to learn about the importance of preserving the nature of the Columbia Slough, of enjoying the plants, wildlife, and water that other areas lack,” said Fernando Vélez, who has collaborated and participated in Explorando since it first started. “Explorando is becoming more popular each year.”

Visit and like our Facebook page for more information

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Explorando is supported in part by Portland’s Bureau of Environmental Services, Portland Water Bureau and Portland Parks and Recreation.

Explorando is produced by the Columbia Slough Watershed Council

Community members across Portland have asked how they can participate in the care and maintenance of the city's Green Streets. Environmental Services has responded with the Green Street Steward Program. If you live, work or run a business in Portland you can qualify to be a part of this pioneering initiative.

Green Streets are small rain gardens that use plants and soil to capture stormwater runoff from the street, allowing it to soak into the ground while filtering out pollutants.  Green Streets also create attractive urban green spaces in our neighborhoods, enhance pedestrian and bicycle safety, and help protect sewer ratepayers’ investments in the piped collection system.

Over 70 Portlanders have signed up as green street stewards, and you can too. Visit the website to learn more!