Volunteers brave cold to plant natives, remove invasives for 2024 Watershed Wide

(PORTLAND TRIBUNE) — Trudging through poor weather, bundled up against temperatures in the high-30s, with thick flakes of snow clinging to everything, hundreds of volunteers across East Multnomah County ventured out Saturday morning, March 2, for the return of an annual event dedicated to cleaning up local waterways and bolstering riparian corridors.

Because when it comes to caring for nature, a little snow won’t deter local volunteers.

“It is always a concern when you look out the window at 8 a.m. and see snow, you start to wonder if people won’t just stay inside,” said Noah Jenkins, Johnson Creek Watershed Council’s riparian program manager. “But it’s pretty amazing to see everyone who turned out.”

The 26th Watershed Wide, hosted by the Johnson Creek Watershed Council, sent crews of volunteers to different spots along the creek from 8:30 a.m. to noon for one of the biggest habitat enhancements of the year. They planted native species, removed trash from the bank, spread mulch, and weeded invasive plants like English ivy and Himalayan blackberries.

It all ended with a catered thank-you lunch at Gresham’s Main City Park, which also allowed volunteers at the 10 different worksites to meet other like-minded folks and learn about the other work that took place.

Read more at PortlandTribune.com

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