The Portland City Council today approved grants totaling $95,000 for 13 community watershed health projects in Portland. Community groups can apply annually for grants of up to $10,000 through Portland’s Community Watershed Stewardship Program.

Grants support innovative projects that improve watershed health and protect water quality. The stewardship program encourages community groups and citizens to get involved in watershed improvement projects and expand watershed stewardship efforts.

“Portlanders strongly support engaging our citizens in projects that protect water quality and make Portland’s watersheds healthier,” said City Commissioner Nick Fish. “For the average residential sewer ratepayer, the grants represent an investment of about 24 cents a year and every grant dollar invested leverages three dollars in volunteer time and in-kind contributions.”

Since it began in 1995, the Community Watershed Stewardship Program has granted more than $867,000 for watershed projects and has generated more than $3.3 million dollars in volunteer time and other in-kind contributions. More than 40,000 community volunteers have worked on projects funded by stewardship grants. Projects have enhanced nearly 65 acres of natural area and restored more than 52,000 feet of stream banks.

City Council approved grants for 13 projects in fiscal year 2014-2015:

• Friends of Malden Court Community Orchard ($9,995)
• Green Lents Johnson Creek Cleanup ($4,500)
• Verde Cully Residential Rain Gardens ($9,825)
• Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA) Illahee Gardens ($4, 700)
• Holy Redeemer School Stormwater Management ($8,000)
• Trinity Full Gospel Pentecostal Church Rain Garden ($6,000)
• Linnton Neighborhood Association Hoge Creek Project ($4,975)
• Russian Speaking Network of Oregon Naturescaping for Better Environmental Education ($5,580)
• Depave - Faith Community Church Parking Lot Stormwater Retrofit ($9,875)
• Micro-Enterprise Services of Oregon MLK Rain Garden Phase II ($6,000)
• Momentum Alliance Environmental Camp and Restoration Project ($8,000)
• SOLVE Trillium Creek Restoration Project ($9,550)
• Tryon Creek Watershed Council Restoration Mentors ($8,000)

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

The Bureau of Environmental Services works with Portland residents and businesses to protect water quality, public health, and the environment through wastewater collection and treatment, sewer construction and maintenance, stormwater management, and stream and watershed restoration.

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