Greetings!

Bats, birds, and mermaids — oh my!

August was a busy month here at the Council, filled with opportunities to get outside and connect with our local waterways and wildlife. We hosted bat walks, joined the Bird Alliance of Oregon for a birding paddle, and brought back a beloved annual event: our film photography workshop.

And what’s this about mermaids, you ask? A local secret, Mermaid Cove can be found by paddling east from the Whitaker Ponds boat launch. Continue reading below for more details on this hidden wonder!

School (including Slough School) may be back in session, but we hope you find time to explore somewhere new to you, including Mermaid Cove, and join us for one of our many events this September. We have tree walks, a group run, forest bathing, and more!

See you outside!

Mermaid Cove Reopens!

If you've paddled with us at Whitaker Slough before, you know we always take a left, to the west, out of the dock. But now you can go right and explore a magical place called Mermaid Cove!

Through word-of-mouth from community partners about what it was once like, Council staff heard stories about ground-fed springs up the Whitaker Slough in a whimsical place called Mermaid Cove. We developed a growing curiosity about how to regain access to this area, which has been blocked by large logs from boat access.

After a paddle up the Slough to investigate, the Council staff found that the logs were deeply embedded in the Slough's sediment; we started brainstorming who, how, what tools, safety, and the project's timing. 

Leaning into our partnership with the Flood Safety District, we started the conversation with their operations and environmental team to seek guidance. Safety, effectiveness, environmental/habitat disturbances, and community access were at the forefront of our minds. 

Needing to get eyes on the work ahead of us, both parties met on the water to scout the log blockage. Little did we know there was not just one blockage, but 3-4 more to be found upstream on the Whitaker Slough.

The Flood Safety District took action the very next day. The logs have been cleared, and the east is waiting to be paddled! 

Both the Flood Safety District and CSWC are eager for all to access paddling east on the Whitaker Slough and to once again explore the magical Mermaid Cove. 

Next time you’re paddling on Whitaker Slough, go east and explore. Maybe you’ll find a real-life mermaid, your favorite bird, or the enchanting ground-fed springs!

A thank-you to the Flood Safety District for their collaboration, labor, and feats, and a huge thank-you to Pamela Slaughter from POCO for sparking curiosity and sharing the stories of Mermaid Cove.

Free Yard Tree Giveaway

CSWC has partnered with Portland Parks and Recreation's Urban Forestry program to give away free yard trees to Portland residents!

Trees are not only a great source of shade on hot summer days, but also provide habitat for wildlife, help improve air quality, and more. You can help the watershed today by planting a free yard tree!

You're eligible if:

• The trees will be planted at an address within Portland city limits
• The trees can be planted in a front, side, or backyard
• You will allow Urban Forestry to check on the trees during the summer as part of a study

Priority registration for trees is still open until September 8th! Fill out the interest form to get first pick of available trees!

Slough Bingo Night

Join CSWC for a bingo night fundraiser at Level Beer! The first round of bingo is free; after that, it's $2 per bingo sheet or 3 for $5. You can get as many bingo sheets as you want. We'll have five rounds total, with prizes for the winners of each round. Bring your family, bring your friends, have a drink, and let's bingo!

WHEN: Tuesday, September 22, 7 - 8:30 PM
WHERE: Level Beer, 5211 Northeast 148th Avenue

Join us for our Annual Volunteer & Donor Appreciation Event

It's time for CSWC to show our gratitude to folks who have donated their time and/or money to the organization! You are the ones who make all of our programs possible: From being a bimaran captain to picking up tons of trash to providing monthly gifts that sustain our work, we are so grateful!

Join us at Double Mountain's Overlook location on Oct 1 from 6-8 pm for a cheers to your support! We'll have fun activities, a raffle, a free drink on us, and more.

WHEN: Oct 1, 6-8 PM

WHERE: Double Mountain Overlook Taproom

Support CSWC with In-Kind Donations!

We are accepting in-kind donations for our end-of-year fundraiser!

Do you or your business have a gift basket, vouchers, gift certificates, or other items for a raffle or auction? Donate items and your business name/logo will be included on our fundraiser webpage, in campaign-related newsletter emails, and in print materials such as our Annual Report. All items help raise funds for our free programs!

Donations accepted until October 15, 2026.

Have an item? Contact CSWC's Development Manager, Maya.

Partner Spotlight: Loco por a Aventura

Loco por la Aventura is a Latino-led nonprofit in Portland building equitable bridges between the outdoors, education, and community wellness - for the Latino community and beyond. CSWC has been partnering with them for years, offering bilingual bird walks, canoe paddles, and events like Explorando together.

Their Basecamp location is a space where education, preparation, resources, and community can come together before and between outdoor experiences. To continue growing and serving the community, Loco por la Aventura is raising funds for an improved security door to ensure the safety of its space. As long-term partners, we encourage you to support their work and help make this improvement possible. They are continuing the vital work to make the outdoors a more inclusive space!