The Greater Oregon City Watershed Council and the Clackamas Community College Environmental Learning Center are partnering to host a community-led bioblitz on June 25. A bioblitz is an event to take a snapshot of the biodiversity, or variety of life, in a specific place. Students, scientists, naturalists, and other community members join together to find and identify as many plants, animals, and other organisms as possible in a short period of time.
Sponsored by the Clackamas Water Environment Services, this is a free event and open to all ages. From 8 a.m. to noon, sign up for an hour-long tour with a local expert taking small groups to explore the Environmental Learning Center. Experts will help community members identify and discover the area’s unique wetland habitat. Volunteers will take photos and help document all the creatures and life found at the Environmental Learning Center.
ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER
The Environmental Learning Center has a rich history as an educational resource for Clackamas Community College, regional schools, industry, and the community. Located on the former site of a Smucker's processing plant, the center was created to demonstrate what people could do to reclaim industrial sites, address stormwater issues, and restore wildlife habitats in urban areas. Each year thousands of people visit to explore the 5-acre site and learn about watershed health. The site serves as an important stormwater facility for the college campus and provides critical wetland habitat for resident and migratory birds, such as the great blue heron, wood duck, and merganser.
ABOUT THE GREATER OREGON CITY WATERSHED COUNCIL
The Greater Oregon City Watershed Council has been working to improve conditions of the watersheds in and around Oregon City for almost two decades. The watershed council’s main goals are to conduct habitat restoration, invasive species removal, and restoration of native plants and wildlife. They provide technical assistance, education, outreach, and work with community partners and stakeholders. They are a nonprofit funded through grants and individual contributions and are only able to carry out this work with the support of the community!