Discover the Columbia Slough this summer!

Forward

We'll miss you, Kirk!

Kirk Fatland, our Volunteer Coordinator, has stepped down after 3 years with CSWC! Since joining the council staff in 2016, Kirk worked tirelessly to help us achieve our mission of education, restoration, and forming community connections by recruiting and coordinating all of the amazing volunteers it takes to make our programs happen. In one year's time, he helped the Council achieve 4,127 total volunteer hours, which was a whopping 85% increase from the previous year!

We will miss him but know that his positive attitude and spirit will help him excel in his next adventure!

Other Upcoming Events

Moonlight Paddle
Saturday July 13th, 8:30pm-9:45pm

Under the cover of darkness, hunt for beavers, owls, and other nighttime creatures. The full moon (and Council staff) will lead the way through the braided network of Slough channels and inlets. Suitable for adults and teens aged 14+; Suggested donation of $10-35/individual.

*This event is now waitlisted, however, if you have your own kayak, canoe, or paddle board, we encourage you to BYOB (bring your own boat!) in order to bypass the wait list and guarantee yourself a spot on the water! Contact Kaia Hazard at kaia.hazard@columbiaslough.org or call 503-281-1132 to register with your own boat.*

Great Slough Clean Up
Saturday July 20th, 9:00am-1:00pm

It's time for the Council's 12th annual trash-hauling extravaganza! With your help, the Slough gets cleaner ever year! We are looking forward to getting out on our beloved Slough to pick up trash, do some paddling, and making the Slough a nicer place to recreate. Stay tuned to see what kind of wacky things get pulled out of the Slough this year!

After the event there will be a cookout at Whitaker Ponds featuring free food, beer and prizes!

*Registration for this event is now closed*

24th Annual Columbia Slough Regatta
Sunday August 11th, 10:00am-2:00pm

Join the Columbia Slough Watershed Council for Regatta, an on the water paddle festival like no other, Sunday, August 11th from 10am to 2pm. Reserve your boat today!

Regatta celebrates recreation opportunities on Portland’s hidden gem of local waterways, the Columbia Slough. Regatta is not actually a race; this family friendly event is a fun paddle for experienced and novice paddlers alike. The event features complimentary 45-minute canoe and kayak rentals (equipment provided) for registered attendees. Participants with their own human-powered watercraft and safety equipment are also welcome to register and join the fun. Crews will be available to help unload and transport boats. $10-$60/person or $30-125/family sliding scale suggested donation. No one will be turned away due to lack of funds!

Bat Night
Friday August 23rd, 7:30pm-9:30pm

Registration is now open! Whitaker Ponds has a high diversity of bat species who wait to hunt for insects after the sun goes down. Come learn about bats in our classroom to start, and then take a bat walk under the moonlight! This trip is suitable for families with children aged 5+; space is limited to 22 people so please only register if you are able to come! Suggested donation of $7-15 per person.

Get Involved with CSWC

Board Meetings

Interested in becoming more involved in our work? Join us for our monthly CSWC Board Meetings! Our next meeting is scheduled for:

Monday July 22nd, 5:30-7:30PM at Multnomah County Drainage District

Volunteers Needed!

The annual Columbia Slough Regatta returns on Sunday, August 11th from 10am to 2pm. The event draws more than 400 participants for a day of paddling and nature exploration. Volunteers can expect a busy, festival-like atmosphere, and help manage festival set up, registration, parking, and more. This is a great opportunity to network with local organizations and community members, as well as learn about current efforts being made to restore this special waterway. We’ll provide training and snacks all day. All volunteers receive a free event t-shirt and lunch! This is a great event for groups and individuals.

Location: MCDD
1880 Ne Elrod Dr. Portland, OR 97211

To register, click the button below!

For more information contact Kaia at kaia.hazard@columbiaslough.org or 503-281-1132

Report Out

¡Explorando el Columbia Slough!

Thank you to everyone who came out to ¡Explorando! last month! We had such a great time celebrating the latinx cultures of the watershed with you all! Over 300 community members attended despite the clouds and enjoyed an amazing lineup of performers and activities. Our theme of 'Sin Plastico' was a success and the event was 100% plastic free. We saw some beautiful works of art participants created on their free event tote bags! We loved celebrating ¡Explorando! on the Slough itself at the newly developed Whitaker Ponds and we look forward to seeing you there next year!

A special thank you to all of our partners, event sponsors, committee members, and volunteers! Your generous support made this years ¡Explorando el Columbia Slough! a great success!

Community Corner

Help our partners at Columbia Riverkeeper protect the water quality of the Columbia River and the health of those who fish at Bradford Island, an area where toxic pollution was dumped by the US government for decades, by signing their petition. Learn more here.

Sign the Petition

Portland Audubon is now hiring for a Backyard Habitat Program Manager!

This is an amazing program, managed collaboratively by Portland Audubon and Columbia Land Trust, which has enrolled over 5,000 yards in Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas and Clark Counties. This is a great job for somebody with strong managerial, community building.and collaboration skills and a real passion for urban conservation.

The application deadline is July 19th. Find more information and application instructions here.

We are so excited to join Portland Parks & Recreation's Walk with Refugees and Immigrants on 7/21! Join us in solidarity with our global neighbors. After the Walk, Columbia Slough Watershed Council will be tabling at the celebration in Knott Park - see you there!

Click Here for a Full List of Columbia Slough Watershed Council Events

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