Nature

Creekside Restoration When: Sat Feb 08, 2014 10AM-1PM Where: Fairview Creek Meet at: 431 SE 205th Av Gresham, OR Get Map!

Join Columbia Slough Watershed Council for Plantapalooza 2014! This is one in a series of community focused native planting events. Help restore an acre of stream-side habitat along Fairview Creek in Gresham! This project helps to stabilize the sensitive habitat around the creek and improves water quality in the creek and in our groundwater supply. Plantapalooza 2014 offers volunteers a unique opportunity to participate in a large scale restoration project.

Volunteers will assist in planting hundreds of bare-root native plants. No previous planting experience is necessary. Plantapalooza is a great, hands-on learning opportunity appropriate for families, groups and individuals. Register today!

Creekside Restoration When: Sat Feb 22, 2014 1AM-12PM Where: Wilkes City Park 15400 NE Beech St Portland, OR Get Map!

Assist Columbia Slough Watershed Council’s SERVE (Students Engaged in Restoring Vital Ecosystems) program at this Stewardship Saturday event. The SERVE program exposes local students to hands-on restoration work in the Slough watershed, and now you can help! Improve water quality and habitat conditions by planting and mulching native plant species along Wilkes Creek. Volunteers will also assist in park clean up, fence removal and the management of invasive plant species. Register Today!

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Learn About Local Raptors When: Thu Jan 23, 2014 7:30-9PM Where: Gresham City Hall Council Chambers 1333 NW Eastman Pkwy Gresham, OR Get Map!

Birds of Prey
Join us for a free birds of prey identification class taught by naturalist James Davis. This class will help you better identify local raptors and you'll also learn about the natural history of these amazing birds. The program is suitable for adults and teenagers, and will help prepare participants for the 10th annual Raptor Road Trip on Saturday, Feb. 8, sponsored by Metro, Audubon Society of Portland, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and HawkWatch International.

Laminated Root Rot. Click to enlarge

Laminated Root Rot and Nadaka Nature Park Abel Gebrezgi and Jim Labbe Audubon Society of Portland

INTRODUCTION
Laminated root rot (LRR) is a fungal pathogen, Phellinus weirii, also known as yellowing ring rot. (LLR gets its name from the lamination of the decayed wood (see photo above). This fungus is widespread in Southern British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, northern California and western Montana.). It is one of the most damaging root diseases amongst conifers, especially firs and cedars, in the Pacific Northwest. Douglas fir, Mountain hemlock, Western hemlock, Grand fir, and Pacific silver fir are highly susceptible to infection by this pathogen. Pine species like Western white pine and Ponderosa pine and larch are more resistant to it while hardwoods are immune. The fungus was first discovered in 1914, on Western red cedar in Idaho. The first reported case in Douglas fir was in 1940, at Cowichan Lake, British Columbia.

BIOLOGY The mycelium of LRR doesn’t grow in the soil and the spores do not spread by wind like most fungal pathogens. Infection occurs when roots of healthy trees grow in contact with infected roots.

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After initial contact with a living root, the mycelium grows on the bark, extending only a few inches into the surrounding soil. The mycelium penetrates the host through the injured bark and advances along newly infected roots. Symptoms include crown yellowing and thinning, distress of cones, red-brown staining of outer heartwood, and separation of annual rings. Less discernible is the root rot which eventually decays the roots, destabilizes the tree, and leads to death and toppling. In addition to the loss of mature trees within a stand, LRR creates potential hazards from tree fall especially in small urban parks. The number of cases of the LRR disease has increased substantially with the presence of fire suppression and resulting dominance of Douglas-fir and Grand fir.

Inside this Issue

• Volunteers Needed for Trail Count Project
• Road Work Underway on SE Powell Valley Road
• Musicalu is Summer Fun for Children
• Help Mark Stormdrains
• Are You Ready? Take the 'Be Ready Challenge'
• Get Inspired by Greg's Story
• City Hosts CPR Training
• Healthy Kids' Fair Sept. 7
• Volunteer Mentors Needed at Local Schools
• City Jobs, Meetings and Community Events

Keep up with what’s Happening in your City!

Nadaka Nature Park, through a partnership with Gresham, is awarded a $523,000 grant for park improvements

OUTLOOK PHOTO: JIM CLARK Nadaka Park. Click to enlarge

Source: Gresham Outlook, August 2, 2013 The state has awarded a $523,000 grant to fund improvements at Nadaka Nature Park in Gresham’s Wilkes East neighborhood. "It is unbelievable," said Lee Dayfieid, who cried, laughed and screamed when she heard the news last week that the park, through its partnership with the city of Gresham, won the $523,480 grant from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.

The money means that the little-known and once-neglected forested area in the middle of the city can become a full-blown neighborhood park complete with community gardens, a nature-based play area, picnic shelter and improved walking trail.

Inside this Issue

• Help Guide Gresham's Future Housing Needs
• Volunteer Watching Birds for Survey
• Backyard Burning Season Starts
• Recycle (Don't Toss) at Earth Day Event
• Free Compost, Bring Your Buckets
• Attend City's Graffiti Removal Summit
• Connect With Your City Councilors
• Bike Fun in May
• Rain Garden Workshop, $200 Incentive
• City Jobs, Meetings and Community Events

Keep up with what’s Happening in your City!

Gresham's Hogan Cedar Click for details

Celebrating Gresham’s 5th Anniversary as Tree City USA When: Wed Apr 10, 2013 1:30PM Where: Hogan Cedars Elementary 1770 SE Fleming Av Gresham, OR Get Map!

Join the Urban Forestry Subcommittee in celebrating Gresham’s five-year anniversary as a designated Tree City USA. The event will include reading of the annual Arbor Day Proclamation by Gresham Mayor Shane T. Bemis and planting Hogan Cedar trees, Gresham’s official City tree. A Hogan cedar interpretive plaque will be unveiled and given to Hogan Cedars Elementary School at this event.

Weed Watcher Workshop When: Tue Apr 16, 2012 7PM-9:30PM Where: Gresham City Hall 1333 NW Eastman Pky Get Map!

Weed identification class
What’s the difference between an invasive, non-native, and noxious weed? What makes an invasive plant invasive? Learn about common and not-so common non-native plants in Gresham, and how you can help prevent them from spreading.

Free workshop. No RSVP required

Help us fight off Gresham’s weedy invaders by participating as a Weed Watcher in our Early Detection, Rapid Response Program. By familiarizing yourself with problem weeds in our area, you can help us stop these plants in their tracks.