This project was a collaboration between Environmental Services, Portland State University (PSU) and the Portland Development Commission. WIF funds matched funding from these partners to develop a multi-block green street design for SW Montgomery Street from Pettygrove Park through the PSU campus. The concept plan forms the basis for a new urban street design that will create a sense of place for the area, connecting the expanding PSU district with surrounding businesses, housing, and a variety of amenities including parks, retail, entertainment. A unified green street along Montgomery will help meet stormwater management and watershed health goals, and provide an ecologically-sustainable learning environment for students and the surrounding community. Two blocks of the concept plan have been implemented - the Urban Center Plaza and the block between SW Park Avenue and Broadway.
Hawthorne Hostel Stormwater Demonstration
This project showcases actions citizens and businesses can take to promote healthy watersheds. Project elements include rainwater harvesting and reuse, a stormwater planter and living wall, stormwater swale, naturescaping and porous pavers.
Oaks Bottom Revegetation
This project removed invasive plants on eight acres of the Willamette River escarpment near the east end of the Ross Island Bridge, and restored native plant communities. The project also included controlling invasive plants in the Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge below the escarpment to enhance habitat and protect water quality.
Foster Place Riparian Rehabilitation
Environmental Services worked with the Johnson Creek Watershed Council and one landowner to remove non-native, invasive plants on 2.5 acres and along 850 feet of Johnson Creek. This area has good forest canopy and proper management can enhance fish and wildlife habitat and stream function.
Columbia Slough Invasive Species Management and Education
WIF funded two consecutive years of K-8 and community education and stewardship projects in the New Columbia housing development and surrounding Portsmouth neighborhood in partnership with the Urban League, the Housing Authority of Portland and area schools.
Johnson Creek Riparian Rehabilitation
Environmental Services and the Johnson Creek Watershed Council to worked with streamside property owners to map and control the noxious weeds Japanese knotweed, Yellow flag-iris, and False brome.
Friends of Trees Natural Area Restoration Capacity Building (Community Grant)
WIF support increased Friends of Trees natural area planting events over 12 months and supported site monitoring and maintenance for the first of a four-year commitment.
SOLV Team Up Watershed Restoration (Community Grant)
WIF supported restoration and maintenance of selected natural areas in the Tryon Creek Watershed with outreach, stewardship, and volunteer coordination for restoration events and maintenance of a bioswale in southwest Portland.
Verde Columbia Sedge Meadow Restoration (Community Grant)
WIF supported the second year of a 5-year project to restore sedge meadows at Smith and Bybee Lakes. The project included planting 5,000 sedge plugs and controlling reed canary grass on two acres of the Smith and Bybee Lakes Natural Area. Verde crew members and students also participated in invasive species training.
Audubon Society of Portland Backyards and Beyond (Community Grant)
Audubon implemented three projects to protect migratory birds. The projects included removing invasive plants and restoring native vegetation on five acres along Balch Creek to restore bird habitat, creating a migratory bird rain garden at the Audubon Sanctuary, and neighborhood association outreach on stewardship of birds and other wildlife.
Portland Public Schools Best Practices for Storwmater Maintenance (Community Grant)
This project refined "best practices" maintenance strategies for stormwater facilities on Portland Public School property, promoted community partnerships and education around stormwater facility functionality and maintenance, increased Portland Public School capacity to maintain facilities, and created job training opportunities.