DO something GREEN on St. Patrick’s Day

By Kris Day

Come plant native trees and shrubs at the Rock Creek Watershed Wide Event in Happy Valley, Oregon on March 17! Friends of Trees, SOLVE, and the Clackamas River Basin Council have joined forces as the Rock Creek Partnership to help restore the Rock Creek corridor as it winds through rural and suburbanizing landscapes on its way to the Clackamas River.

Grubb Labreck Farm, Feb. 2012
The Rock Creek Partnership is restoring creek banks at the Grubb Labreck Farm (Kris Day)

This streamside restoration work will improve water quality by absorbing agricultural and stormwater pollutants, and will help reduce sedimentation by holding streambanks in place, thus creating healthier habitats for fish and wildlife, and ensuring cleaner drinking water for the residents of Clackamas County.

Volunteers at Kuchinka Farm, February 2012
Volunteers helped restore land along Rock Creek at the Kuchinka Farm last month (Kris Day)

The March 17 event will begin with breakfast, live bluegrass music, and a welcome at 9:00 am at Pendarvis Farm, home of the Pickathon Music Festival, located at 16581 SE Hagen Road in Happy Valley (map). Volunteers will be split into three groups and will be shuttled by school bus to nearby project sites to carry out the plantings. At approximately 12:30 pm, everyone will reconvene at the Pendarvis Farm for lunch and to celebrate the day’s accomplishments.

REI will be present to reward volunteers with goodies and raffle prizes, and there will be opportunities to learn more about the Partnership and each of the contributing organizations. This project is funded by Water Environment Services of Clackamas County.

Due to the capacity of the barn at Pendarvis, PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED: http://rockcreekpartnership.org/annual-event/ Sign up soon so that you can be part of this awesome event!

–Day is Friends of Trees’ Rock Creek Partnership Liaison.