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Making Tracks


The Newsletter of the Friends of the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge Complex

Joyfully Connecting our Community with the Wonder of the Refuge
 
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The parking lot at Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge will expand to add additional parking spaces and sidewalk access to trails. The expansion is currently delayed because of the weather but is expected to continue for approximately six months. This project will add about 50 new parking spaces. Access to trails and the Visitor Center is not expected to be impacted, though portions of the parking lot may be temporarily closed.

Please click the link provided to read about all of the details. If you have any additional questions please contact the Refuge office directly at (503) 625-5944.

Link to the news release: https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2022-11/tualatin-river-national-wildlife-refuge-will-improve-parking-lot-sidewalk

UPCOMING EVENTS
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President's Perch

by Cheryl Hart, President

On Saturday, March 18, Wapato Lake NWR and partners, will be hosting a Community Welcoming Ceremony and Open House. I hope that many of you will be able to join us and celebrate this refuge that was complexed with Tualatin River NWR in 2013 and recently opened to the public. The event will begin with a ceremony, from 10:00 am – 10:45 am in the Gaston Jr./Sr. High School which will be followed by an open house from 11 AM - 1:00 PM. The open house will feature partners refuge staff are working with to provide quality programs and dynamic connections around the region. At the same time this indoor open house is taking place, you can also take a walk on the refuge, and meet with FWS staff and volunteers. There will be tables set up along the way to share some fun activities for all ages. You will also be able to learn more about this public land and its rich history of connection with Indigenous People and local communities and find out more about how the refuge and Friends as well as other partners, are working to truly make this a welcoming place for all. During the open house at that school, visitors are invited to also take a walk to explore this recently opened refuge, as well as enjoy a meet and greet with refuge park rangers and volunteers on the trail. Among the partners besides Friends who will be participating are:


  • Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
  • I'm Hooked, Inc.
  • Access Recreation
  • Hunters of Color
  • ODFW R3 Program
  • Clean Water Services
  • The Oregon Chinese Coalition
  • Gaston Fire Department
  • Tualatin Soil and Water Conservation District


I hope to see you there!

Cheryl Hart

Focus on Friends

by Bonnie Anderson, ED

"Picture Yourself in Nature" was the theme for the 2nd Annual Friends' Youth Art Contest for the Oregon Chinese Coalition. This past Saturday I had the honor of presenting the ribbons and prizes to the top scoring artists from the contest. After the ceremony and reception the students and their guests were invited on a guided refuge nature walk.

Four judges scored the 55 submissions in January. 18 of the top judged pieces are on display in the Visitor Center including the Best in Show. A huge thank you to the students and their families for participating this year. I also would like to thank our judges, Cheryl Hart, Rebecca Chuck, Virginia Parks and student judge, Stella Wang. Additional thanks to George Burnette, Blair Anderson, Carly Hirschmann and Todd McKinney for all of their assistance with the youth art contest.

Congratulations to all of the students and I look forward to seeing the 2024 submissions. The 2024 theme is "The Healing Art of Nature"


Hope to see you on the trails!

Bonnie Anderson

We are Hiring


The Friends are now accepting applications for a new Habitat Restoration Specialist. The position description can be found here and on the Friends website. Resumes and short cover letters may be emailed to Resume@FriendsofTualatinRefuge.org

Resumes will be accepted until the position is filled.

Youth Environmental Conservation Summit

Cheryl Hart, President and Bonnie Anderson, Executive Director of the Friends have been meeting weekly with area high school students to plan the April 15th Summit. Please feel free to share the information about this event with any high school or middle school student that may be interested in attending. This summit is free to the students. If you would like to support this event please indicate Youth Summit on your donation.


Nature’s Overlook, the Friends’ retail store in the Visitor Center, is seeking a volunteer to be the merchandise Buyer. George Burnett has been doing the buying for the store for over ten years, but is “retiring” from that role. She will provide training and share the knowledge she has learned over the years while finding wonderful products to sell in the store.

The Buyer position can be filled by one person or shared by two or even three people. One way of splitting the position would be for one person to research new products, get approval to carry them in the store, and order them, and a second person to receive the order, do the pricing and tagging, and display the items in the store. We are flexible and open to suggestions! George estimates that she spends 20 hours per month at the busiest times (such as before the holidays) but less than that during most months.

Intrigued by being able to help select the products sold in the store and display them in a way that entices customers to purchase them? The Buyer job may be perfect for you! If you would like more information and a copy of the position description, contact Sharon Miller, the Store Manager, at 503-539-8315. 

Volunteer at the Visitor Center and Friends' Nature Store

We are looking to train Friends' volunteers to greet the public, answer questions about the Refuge, and sell merchandise in the store. If you enjoy the Refuge and like talking with people, this may be the perfect volunteer opportunity for you!

No specific experience is necessary; training will be provided. To work in the store, you must be a member of the Friends of the Refuge, and we ask that you commit to working at least two three-hour shifts per month. For more information or to apply to volunteer, contact Natalie Balkam, FWS Park Ranger, at tualatinriver@fws.gov or 503-625-5944.

Rescheduled Behind the Sign Walk -Third Times a Charm-Right?

Friends Members are invited to join USFWS Biologist Curt Mykut and Friends' ED Bonnie Anderson on an overview tour of Rock Creek. The tour is scheduled for April 1st at 9 AM. No Fooling! We will meet at the Visitor Center and carpool over to the unit. The tour will include a question and answer discussion that may take place back at the refuge, depending on the weather. Please register for the walk here. Members may register to bring one additional guest.
 


We continue to welcome donations of gently used nature related books for our Natures Overlook store. Thank you to everyone that has reached out about donating.

If you have nature related gently used books that you would like to donate to the Friends, please contact Bonnie about making donation arrangements. 

This Week at Interior

March 10, 2023

This Week: the President's Budget request for fiscal year 2024 includes $18.9 billion for Interior; a delegation from Interior attends the Our Ocean Conference in Panama City, Panama; an advisory committee on invasive species discusses prevention, eradication and control strategies; USFWS announces a $120 million investment to restore national wildlife refuges and partner areas affected by climate change; Reclamation celebrates 120 years of managing water in the west; the BLM approves a new power transmission line in New Mexico; $135 million in Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization grants are awarded to six Appalachian states and three Tribes.
 

Friends of the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge Complex

19255 SW Pacific Hwy Sherwood, Oregon 97140

503.625.5944 x 15227

www.FriendsofTualatinRefuge.org


 
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