April 19, 2013

Portland is the North American host city for this year’s World Environment Day (WED) celebration on June 5th. Northeast Portland groups and neighbors can be part of the celebration by scheduling or attending events in the six weeks between Earth Day on April 22nd and World Environment Day on June 5th. Learn more about WED, add an event, and see the events calendar at www.portlandoregon.gov/WED.

In honor of World Environment Day, the Backyard Habitat Certification Program has set a goal of certifying 50 yards between Earth Day and World Environment Day. The Audubon Society of Portland and Columbia Land Trust created the certification program to help residents restore native wildlife habitat in their backyards by removing invasive weeds, adding native plants and managing stormwater on-site. Go to audubonportland.org/issues/backyardhabitat for more information.

Here are some other ways that northeast Portland residents can work for watershed health this summer:

• See videos and instructions for building a rain garden and disconnecting your downspouts at www.portlandoregon.gov/bes/tabortoriver 
• Learn about hosting or attending a rain garden or naturescaping workshop at emswcd.org
• Learn how to control invasive weeds at www.portlandoregon.gov/bes/invasives
• Become a Green Street Steward. Learn more at www.portlandoregon.gov/bes/GreenStreetStewards.
• Volunteer to mark storm drains with Surfrider. Get more information at portland.surfrider.org.
• Plant trees with Friends of Trees. Find more information at friendsoftrees.org.
• Conduct bird counts with the Audubon Society of Portland. Learn more at audubonportland.org.
• Volunteer with Depave to bring green space back. Get more information at depave.org.

For more information contact Linc Mann, 503-823-5328.