It's officially summer! In celebration, we thought you’d enjoy this recent shot from the Mason Flats wetland and water quality facility.

What was once a neglected field filled with invasive plants in the middle of an industrial area has become one of the prettiest water quality facilities in the country (in our opinion)!

The area manages stormwater runoff from a large area of residential and commercial streets in NE Portland.  Runoff is naturally slowed and filtered in the wetlands and ponds. 

To see the progress, here are some shots from one year ago when we completed construction, and the beautiful colors last fall as the native plants and trees started to fill in the site. 

Read more about the Mason Flats project here.

Mason Flats is a restoration area in progress and is not open to the public.  However, it is part of the larger Big Four Corners Natural Area, which has viewing sites and some access points.  Find those, and other accessible natural areas on this map from the Columbia Slough Watershed Council.   Or, join one of these public events on the Slough this summer.