Greetings!

Happy spring to you! We’ve made it to longer days, and our team has been busy over the last month with student field trips, the annual Cycle the Wellfield, Yoga in the Park, and a variety of other community events.



Up next on our calendar is the annual Slough Celebration on June 13 — we hope to see you there! This special event is a time to celebrate our community, the Slough, and the Watershed Council's anniversary. Be sure to keep reading below for additional details.

We are also halfway through our spring fundraising campaign! As the funding landscape remains challenging for nonprofits, we are working to add 25 new monthly donors to sustain our programs and impact year-round. We are incredibly grateful to the 11 individuals who have already signed up as monthly donors, and we are seeking 14 more supporters to help us reach our goal. Could you be one of them?

See the tiers below for prizes available to donors based on their giving level. If becoming a monthly donor isn’t the right fit right now, one-time donations are always deeply appreciated. Plus, now through June 15, every $15 donated earns one entry to win a Propain Gravel Bike valued at $3,500!

Thank you for being part of this community and for supporting the Watershed Council's work.

Warmly,

Amanda Gallegos

Executive Director

More than a transaction, your gift is a lifeline!

Monthly giving isn't just a transaction; it's a life support system for the Slough.

Did you know there are 175+ bird species, 25+ fish species, 25+ mammal species, and countless other creatures living in the Slough?

A monthly donation helps protect all of these species!

The chance to win prizes ends June 15th

Sign up for a monthly donor tier by June 15th for the following prizes:

• TURTLE ($5/month): Receive your choice of Wyld CBD gummies or a 6-pack of Portland Cider (must be 21+)
• BEAVER ($10/month): Be entered to win a Kayak or Canoe package worth $500+, plus Turtle tier benefit.
• HERON ($20/month): Receive two entries to win a Gravel Bike, valued at $3,500, plus the benefits of Turtle and Beaver tiers.

Already a monthly donor?

Enter to win prizes by increasing your giving to a higher tier! Reach out to Maya to adjust your giving level.

Can't commit to a monthly donation? One-time $15 donation enters you to win a bike!


Every $15 you give to the Council enters you to win a customized Terrel CF Gravel Bike from Propain, valued at $3,500. The raffle closes 6/15/26 at midnight, and the winner will be pulled that week.

Slough Celebration is just around the corner!

Columbia Slough Watershed Council is celebrating 24 years as a 501(c)3 nonprofit! Join us for a family-friendly afternoon of celebration, community, and adventure featuring paddling, birding, facepainting, stewardship, outdoor education, free food and drinks, music, a raffle, and more!

This festival-style event will also feature our partner organizations, who will offer information and resources about their work. Come learn about our amazing community!

WHEN: Saturday, June 13, 2:00 - 6:00 PM

WHERE: The Flood Safety District, 1880 NE Elrod Drive, Portland, OR 97211

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

Raffle Sponsors:

Garnish Apparel, Tin Shed Garden Cafe, Equal Exchange, Extracto Coffee, McMenamins, OMSI, One Green World, Party Shirt International, Movement Climbing Gym, Territory Run Co, The People's Courts, Milagro Theater, Stomping Grounds Coffee, Fire on the Mountain, and Bikes for Humanity.

We're Hiring a Stewardship Director!

The Watershed Council team is looking for our next Stewardship Director. This person will lead the Council's Stewardship Program, which works for a healthier watershed for all through habitat enhancement. Job duties include long-term project development and planning, project prioritization, contracting, community organizing, workforce development, budget management, securing project funding, and on-the-ground project implementation.

Key skills we're looking for include:

• Project planning and management
• Ecological stewardship
• Community leadership

Does this sound like you or someone you know?

Apply by June 14th at 11:59 pm

Community Spotlight

A huge thank you to the volunteers who work throughout the year to remove trash and debris from the Slough. From January through March of this year, local volunteers Paul, Jasper, Mark, and Jay spent dozens of hours on the Slough, focusing efforts along the bank between 82nd and 92nd Ave. Together they removed an estimated 5,900 pounds, including, but certainly not limited to, a concrete pipe, 8 tires, and 24 pallets! 

An especially noteworthy find that may be familiar to paddlers of the Slough, is a motorboat that was abandoned in the Upper Slough several years ago. Conditions were just right to dislodge the boat from the mud and ferry the boat via kayak one mile to the nearest boat launch. 

The Council thanks you for your time, energy, and dedication to the Slough!