We're restoring 28.5 acres of floodplains and wildlife habitat on a stream outside of Cornelius. The stream flows northeast through farms and nurseries, between the greens of a golf course, and under roads before reaching the Tualatin river. Along the way the waters are slowed by new wood we placed in the floodplain this past summer. Dozens of new native plant species that we planted in the last few years are taking hold...
Read up on the project at our latest blog article: https://tualatinswcd.org/projects/a-healthier-future-for-fern-creek/
We have a new manure spreader to rent for Washington County residents!
This lightweight spreader is perfect for residents who need to spread compost or manure through their pastures. It only requires 18 horsepower to pull (perfect for an ATV) and holds around 56 cubic feet heaped.
Visit our website for more information: https://tualatinswcd.org/tool-loan-program/#manurespreader-tool
#manure #agriculture #farming #washingtoncounty
Our Habitat Program team has been working hard at Forest Hills Farms to turn a wet part of their property into thriving wildlife habitat.
First, a dense wooded area on the property was thinned. Thinning the woodland will improve forest habitat by allowing more light to reach the ground and more space for the trees to grow.
Next, the harvested trees were placed into the floodplain and soon, native trees and shrubs will be planted. These conditions will attract beavers who will construct dams using the new plants. The dams will create a wetland which will support many kinds of wildlife while also improving water quality.
Many thanks for our partners, Forest Hills Farms, Biohabitats and GeoEngineers for helping us implement this project, and to Wachanos Media for videography. Stay tuned for more footage as we watch the area transform!
Have you ever wondered how grass seed is harvested? Our staff tagged along on harvest today to show you! 🚜
1) The grass, fescue shown here, is swathed down into windrows typically when the sun is down.
2) A combine machine moves along these rows and the grass is moved into the combine machine.
3) The combine machine then separates the seed from the straw and puts the seeds in the back of the combine.
4) When the tank is full, a truck pulls up beside the combine machine where the seeds are moved into the truck. These seeds will then go to a drying facility where they will be cleaned and shipped.
Watch the video to see the whole harvest process and keep an eye👀 out in Washington County as harvest season comes to a close.
#agriculture #washingtoncounty #harvest #grassseed
Did you know that you can easily test for organic matter in your soil?🤔 Follow these steps:
1) Place a couple tablespoons of soil into a cup.
2) Pour a couple tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide into your soil sample.
3) Watch for bubbles! More bubbles=more organic matter.
What is happening? When soil is mixed with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), the carbon from the organic matter in the soil bonds with the oxygen (O2) to form carbon dioxide (CO2) bubbles and water. You may even notice the sample getting hot indicating a chemical reaction!🔬
#soil #organicmatter #experiment #washingtoncounty
Wondering what native plants you should plant if you want to support local pollinators? Join us for our free Plants & Pollinators to find out!
Details and registration:
http://ow.ly/TJrw50Gi8mE
#BeeFriendly #Pollinators #Conservation #WashingtonCounty
Soiling Your Undies is a kid friendly activity that can be done to assess the health of your soil and its microbial activity. We're giving away soil testing packets to Washington County residents to help families get a sense of what's happening underground 👀.
Follow the link to sign up and get the dirty details. Supplies limited! https://tualatinswcd.org/event/soil-your-undies-with-us/
Swimming Garter Snake!
Our teammate Mike loves exploring the Tualatin River at this time of year because winter rains makes the river more lively than its usual lazy self. Last weekend, he encountered this impressive garter snake, did you know they can swim??
The Tualatin River is an important source of drinking water in Washington County, but you do you know where it gets its water from? The answer may surprise you! Read our latest blog post to find out.
https://tualatinswcd.org/where-do-we-get-our-water/
#Tualatin #TualatinOregon #TualatinValley #TualatinRiver #TualatinDrainage
Have a weed or pest but aren’t quite sure what it is? Check out our new Weed & Pest Directory!
This directory highlights invasive species that negatively impact the Tualatin River watershed! You can easily identify weeds and pests by their photo or description or search by common locations. You can even discover our 6 priority species which, if found in Washington County, we can treat for you for free!
Visit www.TualatinSWCD.org or follow the link in our bio to explore the directory!
#InvasiveSpecies #InvasiveWeeds #InvasivePlants #Pests #PestManagment #IPM #Habitat #Conservation #TualatinSWCD
✨BIG NEWS✨ We just launched our new website! We are so excited for you to check it out. Learn all about our conservation priorities, our programs and services, and the great projects we’ve been working on with Washington County residents and community partners. Link in bio. Happy scrolling! #TualatinSWCD #Conservation #Watershed #WashingtonCounty
It’s pretty clear where the phrase “busy as a bee” comes from! These honeybees are wasting no time collecting pollen to take back to their hive. And if you think this crew looks productive, you might be surprised to know that many of our native bee species are even more efficient pollinators!
Bumble bees and other native bees have special methods of collecting and carrying pollen that allows for more transfer between flowers.
Be sure to thank a pollinator next time you’re snacking on delicious fruits and veggies!
#Pollinator #NationalPollinatorWeek #Conservation #PNW #Oregon #TualatinSWCD #WashingtonCounty
Bees in your Backyard – Free Webinar
In this webinar, we focus on the main groups of bees that call Washington County home. We investigate how you can tell them apart by their nests, their social behaviors, the types of flowers they like, the time of day they’re active, and their morphological differences. We also discuss how ecologists and scientists monitor bee populations and local community science projects to help these efforts.
How to Make a Worm Compost Bin
How to Create Pollinator Habitat
Get Started with Container Gardening
How to Build a Rain Garden
We All Live in a Watershed!