Surfrider Portland + Bioswales = Love

Surfrider Portland Vounteers have been helping out on the PortlandGreen Streets Program, which helps reduce
storm water flow into the City’s watersheds.
We help keep bioswales, little island oasis of stormwater bliss on the sides of many of the streets of Portland, free and clear of debris and litter.
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January Green Streets Cleanup – No Rain and Two Loaves of Angelfood Cake

Well, our January Green Streets cleanup is in the bag… or Portland Recycling and Garbage roll carts to be exact.

Nine volunteers turned out to help clean about 15 bioswales in NE Portland. Big thanks to Michael, Shannon, Dane, Damion, Krista, Jonathan and Al!  We collected 3 buckets full of debris from the bioswales we visited, and the sidewalks in between.

Interesting findings included: the insoles from a pair of shoes, a roofing shingle, and two packages of oreo cookies (empty unfortunately).  There were lots of cigarette butts. Lots and lots of them. Pick them up people!

After cleaning things up, we headed back to home base, and chowed down on some delicious angelfood cake and strawberries. Come help at our next Green Streets cleanup, the second Tuesday in February for lots of fun, and of course, some delicious dessert!

For more information on the City of Portland’s Green Streets Program, click here.

To volunteer next month, contact Surfrider Portland’s Volunteer Coordinator Gregg by clicking here.

Saturday, Jan 26: Oaks Crossing Restoration & Cleanup

Join the Portland Chapter on Saturday, Jan 26 from 9am – 12pm for a restoration and cleanup of Oaks Crossing. This area is most easily accessed from Sellwood Riverfront Park - just look for the Surfrider tent! We’ve got hundreds of plants we need to put in, so please come out and help pitch in! All necessary supplies will be provided. We’ll also have coffee, pastries, water and snacks for all participants. This event is being organized in partnership with Portland Parks and Recreation. See you there!

First Green Streets Cleanup a Success!

This past Tuesday evening, November 26th, Matt, Rick, Staj, Michelle and Gregg took part in Surfrider Portland’s first Green Streets Cleanup. The City of Portland’s Green Streets Program seeks to get the public educated and involved in healthy stormwater managment in Portland, through helping maintain the city’s unique Bioswales.

What’s a bioswale you ask? We’ll its one of the most darn tootin “Why didn’t I think of that first?” things around. Instead of having stormwater go down the drain, through a pipe and into a stormwater treatment center, why not have the pollutants naturally filtered out by plants, and have the water seep back down into ground water?  Well, that’s basically how it works.

Portland is actually internationally known for these bioswales, and city planners from around the world come here to check out our”fleet” of swales. The third Tuesday of each month, we’ll be out and about cleaning the swales around the Sumner and Williams streets in NE Portland. There’s about 15 or so swales in this area, and we walk around and pick up trash out of them, and make sure the entry and exits to these swales are nice and clear so they work properly.   Oh and most importantly we eat awesome dessert afterwards. This past month we chowed down on fresh baked chocolate chip cookies with delicious whole chocolate milk. It was out of control!

Come and join us next month!   Contact Gregg to find out more!

National Ocean Policy Briefing: Thurs, Dec 13

Please join us on Thursday, December 13 from 6pm – 9pm at the Leftbank Annex (101 North Weidler Street, Portland) for a briefing on the National Ocean Policy and ocean conservation efforts in Oregon. Guests attending will include the Governor’s office and Congressional staff. Presentations from Surfrider, Our Ocean, American Littoral Society and screening of an Ocean Frontiers film clip. Learn how to take action in support of our oceans and coasts! Sandwiches and refreshments will be provided. Click here for more information and to register for free (encouraged but not required). Contact: Pete Stauffer pstauffer@surfrider.org