Columbia Slough Watershed Council

Columbia Slough Watershed Council Columbia Slough Watershed Council connects the community with the watershed through education, recreation, and restoration.

To protect and enhance the Columbia Slough and its watershed through community engagement, education, and restoration.

CSWC is now accepting in-kind donations for our end of year fundraiser! 🎁 Can you or your business donate a gift basket,...
08/28/2026

CSWC is now accepting in-kind donations for our end of year fundraiser! 🎁 Can you or your business donate a gift basket, a gift card, a voucher, or another item for a raffle or auction? We’d love to hear from you! All items will help us raise funds for our free programs.

As a thank you, we’ll include your business name or logo on the fundraiser webpage, include your name in campaign emails, and in our Annual Report. Donations accepted now through October 15.

Have an item? Email our Development Manager or DM us!

Good news Slough CrewA stretch of Whitaker Slough that has been difficult to access for years is now open thanks to The ...
08/16/2026

Good news Slough Crew

A stretch of Whitaker Slough that has been difficult to access for years is now open thanks to The Flood Safety District! For the past 5 years, logs and built up vegetation have made it nearly impossible for people to paddle east up Whitaker Slough from the dock at Whitaker Ponds.

This week, The Flood Safety District staff cleared logs and vegetation so we can visit once again.

If you go far enough, you might notice an area full of underwater springs releasing super cool clear water into our middle slough. We like to call that spot Mermaid Cove because there’s a tiny mermaid decoration on a resident’s fence you can spot when you’re there. Thank you to paddle team member Stephen Miller for coming up with the name!

Thanks again The Flood Safety District and have fun everyone!

Join Columbia Slough Watershed Council’s Education Director, Jennifer Starkey, and Reneé Heister of Blue Moon Camera and...
07/20/2026

Join Columbia Slough Watershed Council’s Education Director, Jennifer Starkey, and Reneé Heister of Blue Moon Camera and Machine for a two part outdoor film photography workshop where participants will learn how to use this 100% mechanical classic medium format camera in a beautiful riparian zone. This event is for those 16 and older. Beginners VERY welcome, but all experience levels can sign up.

This series will take place at Whitaker Ponds Nature Park on Sunday, August 2, and Sunday, August 16, both from 10am - 12pm. By registering for this event, you are signing up for August 2nd and August 16th. Please commit to attending both days.

Class Description:

In Part 1 the workshop will cover Holga film cameras, how to load them, focus, and take photos in different lighting, and more - all without batteries or data! Time will be given to participants to explore the park and use a full roll of Kodak Gold 200 film. You will leave the roll of film with Blue Moon to be developed.

In Part 2, on August 16, we will review the developed photos, discuss how to improve focus, etc, and then get on the water for a group paddle and to take more photos. At the end of the 2nd class, participants will receive a coupon to develop their 2nd roll of film at Blue Moon in downtown St Johns. 🎞️

Sign up at columbiaslough.org/events or check out at the linktree in our bio 🔗 📷 🛶

We have a few spots left for this Saturday’s BIPOC Solstice Gathering! Join Misako from Temenos Rising and Columbia Slou...
06/18/2026

We have a few spots left for this Saturday’s BIPOC Solstice Gathering!

Join Misako from Temenos Rising and Columbia Slough Watershed Council for a free transformative gathering designed specifically as a safe and grounded space for the BIPOC community to slow down, receive nature’s nourishment and honor our deep connection to Earth. This is an opportunity to align with the energy of the Summer Solstice to embrace peak energy of the Yang fire.

Misako will offer gentle Qigong (Chee gong), nature connection, and somatic mindfulness practices that invite a deeper connection with our inner landscapes and with Mother Nature.

Please register via link in Linktree.

Event Details: Saturday June 20th, 1-3pm at Columbia Children’s Arboretum. 10040 NE 6th Dr.

How did we land on reducing the lawn by 35% and not more?It wasn’t about removing turf entirely. It was about finding th...
06/17/2026

How did we land on reducing the lawn by 35% and not more?

It wasn’t about removing turf entirely. It was about finding the right balance. The The Flood Safety District demonstration garden still needs to work for people — supporting circulation, visibility, and creating space for people to gather and connect at outdoor events, like Slough Celebration last Saturday! At the same time, any changes needed to match long-term maintenance capacity and feel realistic to care for over time.

Phoenix Habitats also looked for opportunities to incorporate existing ornamental plantings, retaining what was already working and blending it into the new design to add structure, familiarity, and visual appeal.

The result? A thoughtful balance between aesthetics and functionality — where the landscape looks inviting, works better for water, and still meets the needs of the space.

Slough Celebration is tomorrow! We look forward to seeing you at the Flood Safety District from 2-6pm for a day of fun i...
06/12/2026

Slough Celebration is tomorrow! We look forward to seeing you at the Flood Safety District from 2-6pm for a day of fun in the sun ☀️ We are excited to work with El Sombrero Tapatio and Selena’s Custom Kitchen to bring delicious, free food options! There will also be canoe paddles, face painting, bird watching, partner organizations tabling, a raffle, and free drinks from Swire Coca-Cola
🛶
Scroll through to see a sneak peek of raffle items, Slough Celebration T-shirts, and bandanas that will be available at the event! Plus, this weekend is your last chance to win awesome prizes when you donate to the Council. All funds go directly into making more free programs possible!

Once just turf, this place told a familiar story: high water demand, compacted soils, and runoff with nowhere to go. Tod...
06/10/2026

Once just turf, this place told a familiar story: high water demand, compacted soils, and runoff with nowhere to go. Today it is something entirely different: a living system designed to work with water, not against it!
🌱💧
Through partnership between , Columbia Slough, and .habitats this demonstration garden is now functioning as living infrastructure, helping absorb stormwater, rebuild healthy soils, and create habitat.

This transformation shows what’s possible when we rethink our urban landscapes. Come see the site yourself at Slough Celebration this Saturday, June 13th! Check out the link in our bio for a deep dive into this project, and follow along as we share more about how this space was designed to manage water, improve soil health, and support local habitat.

As we near the end of our monthly donor campaign, we want to thank everyone who has already joined the Council as a mont...
06/05/2026

As we near the end of our monthly donor campaign, we want to thank everyone who has already joined the Council as a monthly donor. Your dedication to helping us realize our mission does not go unnoticed!

At the end of each school year, the Slough School Education program culminates in Canoe Weeks paddle trips for 4th-12th grade classes. Over 400 students experience the watershed by canoe, many for the first time! On one do these recent paddles, a student said “I feel like I’m in a fairytale!”, showing just how magical and memorable these experiences are. If you have participated in one of our events, you probably know the magic of the Slough - ducklings, dragonflies, and beautiful natural areas hidden right in the city.

Supporting CSWC with a small monthly gift helps make these fairytale moments happen, providing funds for field trips, paddle clean ups, native plantings, and so much more.

Can you sustain the Slough with a monthly donation? Gifts of all sizes grow their impact over time, we are only 9 donors away from meeting our goal!

Join us today at the link in our bio 💚

Did you know there are 175+ bird species, 25+ fish species, 25+ mammal species and countless other creatures living in t...
06/01/2026

Did you know there are 175+ bird species, 25+ fish species, 25+ mammal species and countless other creatures living in the Slough? 🦅🦉🦫🦆🦇🦝🐢

Monthly gifts aren’t just transactions, it’s a life support system for protecting all these species, including the Great Blue Herons!

We are seeking 14 more supporters to help us reach our goal of 25 monthly donors by June 15th. Can you be one of them?

Monthly donors at all levels are eligible to win prizes! Sign up at the link in our bio today.
Donation link in our bio

Join the summer fun at Slough Celebration. June 13th 2-6pm at 1880 NE Elrod Drive Portland Oregon, 97211. We will be cel...
05/29/2026

Join the summer fun at Slough Celebration. June 13th 2-6pm at 1880 NE Elrod Drive Portland Oregon, 97211.

We will be celebrating our community with an afternoon of free summer fun. Enjoy food from local vendors, cold drinks, and music. Paddle out in a bimaran, join birdwatching, yard games, or win our awesome raffle prizes.

The Columbia Slough stretches the length of east Portland from Fairview Lake ending at Kelly point park. It is home to wildlife and botanicals within the city limits. The Columbia Slough Watershed Council cleans, protects, and facilitates riparian recreation. The annual slough celebration is our chance to say thank you for your participation and support in these efforts.

Feeling like you want to be more involved? Join as a volunteer!

See you there!

Address

7040 NE 47th Avenue
Portland, OR
97218

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+15032811132

Website

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