Portland Metro

Municipal Assistance (alphabetically by city)

Beaverton

Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District (THPRD) is a special service district that provides park and recreation services to the City of Beaverton and portions of eastern Washington County. THPRD maintains more than 1,520 acres, 750 of which are wetland/natural areas. Among their parks, the Tualatin Hills Nature Park, a 220 acre parcel amidst an urban environment, offers an impressive display of numerous Pacific Northwest ecosystems. The Natural Resources Department of THPR is involved in many restoration projects. Visit: www.thprd.org

Key staff include:
Terri O'Brien, Volunteer & Special Activities Coordinator
Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District
Department of Natural Resources
15707 SW Walker Road
Beaverton, OR 97006-5941
T:503.645.6433
volunteer@thprd.com

Melissa Higgins, Natural Resources Volunteer Coordinator
Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District
Department of Natural Resources
15707 SW Walker Road
Beaverton, OR 97006-5941
T:503.645.3539
mhiggins@thprd.com

Clackamas

Clackamas County has several native planting and restoration projects. They are very committed to using natives on county land.

Key staff include:
Tom Ortman (coordinator of native plant projects in county parks and on forest land)
Clackamas County - Natural Resources
9101 SE Sunnybrook Boulevard
Clackamas, OR 97015
T:503.353.4425
tomort@co.clackamas.or.us

Karen Streeter (biologist, works on restoration projects)
Clackamas County, Water Environmental Services
T:503.353.4597

Gresham

The City of Gresham is involved in planting natives and invasive species removal. The Department of Environmental Services' Stormwater Division conducts regular volunteer-based native planting events which including some riparian area plantings. Gresham is currently restoring 12.5 miles of streams within the Johnson, Fairview, Kelly and Columbia Slough watersheds. Gresham hosts annual Naturescaping workshops for residents of Gresham, Fairview and Wood Village. Visit: www.ci.gresham.or.us/departments/des/stormwater/index.htm

Key staff include:
Keri Handaly
Stormwater Analyst
Department of Environmental Services
Stormwater Division
1333 NW Eastman Parkway
Gresham, OR 97030
keri.handaly@ci.gresham.or.us
T:503.618-2657

Lake Oswego

The Parks & Recreation Department manages 108 acres of developed park property, 116 acres of undeveloped and passive park lands, and 154 acres of natural parks and open space. Native plant projects include the Springbrook Creek Restoration Project at the intersection of Boones Ferry Road and Kruse Way. Visit: www.ci.oswego.or.us/parksrec/index.htm

Key staff include:
Lisa Hamerlynck
Natural Resources Coordinator
Planning Department
380 A Avenue PO Box 369
Lake Oswego, OR 97034
T:503.697.6575
lhamerlynck@ci.oswego.or.us

Portland

Portland has several departments including Parks and Recreation and the Bureau of Environmental Services that are involved with native plants. Portland also hosts the 9-acre Leach Botanical Garden (operated by Portland Parks and Recreation) which has a large number of Pacific Northwest native plants. The gardens are located in SE Portland at 6704 SE 122nd. See also: www.parks.ci.portland.or.us/parks/leachbotanicalgar.htm

Other places to view native plants in Portland include parts of Powell Butte Natural Area, Forest Park, Mt. Tabor Park, Washington Park and Oaks Bottom. Note, however, that many of these sites have been disturbed and contain English Ivy, blackberry, English Hawthorne and other invasive plant species.

Portland Parks and Recreation's Horticultural Division propagates and grows natives from seed, cuttings and divisions, and gives these to local public agencies for restoration projects, park improvements, and community development programs. The Horticultural Division works in conjuction with the Bureau of Environmental Services to design, install, and maintain native plant landscapes. The Horticulture Department, either separately or with other city departments, is working on the following projects, amongst others: Powell Butte Natural Area, Forest Park, Springwater Corridor, Columbia Wastewater Treatment Plant, and Portland International Raceway.

For more information on services offered by the Horticultural Division see:
www.parks.ci.portland.or.us/services/servicesindex.html#hort

For more information on native plants in Portland see:
www.parks.ci.portland.or.us/gonativefolder/gonative.htm

Key Staff include:
Louise Shorr, Natural Resources Volunteer Coordinator
5701 SE 86th Avenue
Portland, OR 97266
T: 503.823.6131
F: 503.823.1668
lshorr@ci.portland.or.us

Heather McKillip, Horticulturist
6437 SE Division
Portland, OR 97206
T:503.823.1636

Denise Dickens, Botanic Specialist
6437 SE Division
Portland, OR 97206
T:503.823.1636

Mart Hughes, Natural Resource Ecologist
Portland Parks and Recreation
1120 SW Fifth Avenue, Suite 1302
Portland, Oregon 97204
T:503.823.1694

Mark Wilson, Natural Resource Ecologist
Portland Parks and Recreation
1120 SW Fifth Avenue, Suite 1302
Portland, Oregon 97204
T:503.823.1694

The Bureau of Environmental Services works to reduce wastewater, storm-water, and watershed pollution. To this end, they operate wastewater, storm-water run-off and sewage treatment sites that incorporate native plants.

Direct inquiries to:
Tom Liptan, Landscape Architect.
Tom Identifies companies or agencies preparing to do major land development projects and works with those entities to develop innovative ways to deal with stormwater run-off. He is also involved in "eco-roofs" and "green" stormwater management for the city - also referred to as beneficial landscaping.
Portland Bureau of Environmental Services
1120 SW 5th Ave
Portland, OR 97204
T:503.823.7267
toml@bes.ci.portland.or.us

Portland's Bureau of Environmental Services also runs a Naturescaping for Clean Rivers Program. The Naturescaping for Clean Rivers program offers free workshops on naturescaping for residential homeowners. See their website for a schedule of classes, examples of naturescapes, reasons to naturescape and more. The coordinator is Linda Robinson. Visit: www.cleanrivers-pdx.org/get_involved/naturescaping.htm
naturescaping@yahoo.com

Non-Profit Assistance in Portland Metro

Audubon Society of Portland
Has a Native Plant Sale each spring, classes and field trips for adults and children on a variety of bird and natural history topics, traveling programs, special events, and a vibrant volunteer program.
Audubon Society of Portland
5151 NW Cornell Road
Portland OR 97210
T:503.292.6855
www.audubonportland.org

Berry Botanical Garden
The Berry Botanical Gardens offer many acres of varied gardens that include native and non-native plant species. The Gardens present several workshops each year on gardening with native plants and provide a library and educational handouts related to working with natives. To learn more visit the Gardens or their website.
11505 SW Summerville Ave
Portland, OR 97219-8309
T: 503.636.4112
www.berrybot.org

Ivy Removal Project
Headquartered in Forest Park, Portland, Oregon, the Ivy Removal Project is currently a partnership between Portland Parks and Recreation and Friends of Forest Park with an emphasis on youth development and community volunteer involvement. Also known as the No Ivy League, the project conducts removal, restoration, and education projects in the Park, as well as provides technical assistance, manages research, communication networks, and other activities linking no ivy interests worldwide.
Sandra Diedrich, Principal contact
Field Location:
(Not a mailing address)
2960 Northwest Upshur
Portland, Oregon 97210
T:503.823.3681
www.noivyleague.com

Friends of Trees
An excellent group for hands on experience with planting various native plants, and a good way to met people interested in natives. Friends of Trees has neighborhood and natural area planting programs and the natural area program involves planting native plants at various disturbed sites around the Portland Metro area. See their website for the complete planting schedule and volunteer opportunities.
3117 NE Martin Luther King Blvd.
Portland, OR 97212
T:503.284.8733
www.friendsoftrees.org

Native Plant Society Oregon
Has frequent field trips and events regarding native plants and occasional classes or workshops on naturescaping. Provides a quality, free access on-line bulletin. For a complete list of hikes, classes or related events visit their website and click on both Publications to find the Bulletin and Chapters to learn more about local happenings. The website is: www.npsoregon.org

Naturescaping for Clean Rivers
Developed by Portland Bureau of Environmental Services and East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District, this organization offers naturescaping workshops and information on the benefits of naturescaping.
Linda Robinson, Naturescaping for Clean Rivers Coordinator
2115 SE Morrison Street, Suite 201
Portland, OR 97214
T:503.797.1842
www.cleanrivers-pdx.org/get_involved/naturescaping.htm
naturescaping@yahoo.com

SOLV - Stop Oregon Litter and Vandalism
SOLV is a non-profit organization that brings together government agencies, businesses and individual volunteers in programs and projects to enhance the livability of Oregon. SOLV conducts many native plant plantings each year (particularly in the winter and often in collaboration with other nonprofit or municipal groups) and is involved in restorating public lands, which may include removal of exotics and maintenance of native plant plantings.
SOLV also has grant money for small scale restoration projects. Visit: www.solv.org

TheDirt.org
The brain-child of Laura Nobel, TheDirt provides a free weekly broadcast email service that informs readers of the hands-on events in their community that enhance livability, improve the environmental or support sustainable living practices. Subscribe at: www.thedirt.org

Academics in Portland Metro

The following individuals or entities regularly teach or are available to teach about native plants and naturescaping.

Margie Park
T:503.663.7545

Linda Robinson, Naturescaping for Clean Rivers Coordinator
2115 SE Morrison Street, Suite 201
Portland, OR 97214
T:503.797.1842
naturescaping@yahoo.com

Elaine Hutson, Master Gardener
Mt. Hood Community College Community Education Department. teaches a class twice a year on gardening in the Columbia Gorge called "The Gamut of Gardening".
T:503.491.7428
www.mhcc.cc.or.us/programs/continuinged/main.htm

Kathleen Baughman, Landscape Architect
1405 NE Broadway, Suite #200
Portland, OR 97232-1404
T:503.288.9338
kholman@spiretech.com

Beth Stout
National Wildlife Federation, Backyard Habitat Program Coordinator
T:503.693.8596
stout@nwf.org

Note that Oregon State coordinates the Master Gardener program through OSU extension service. While Master Gardeners typically know little or nothing about naturescaping (previously there was no section on naturescaping in their manual, and most Master Gardeners seem very fond of chemical use), it is now possible, though rare, to find a Master Gardener with at least some knowledge of naturescaping. For more information contact: http://osu.orst.edu/extension/mg/

We also recommend inquiring at local community colleges, PSU and U. of Portland to determine if they offer naturescaping or native plant identification/awareness classes.