Dear neighbor,

The Board of Directors is delighted to announce Amanda Gallegos as the new Executive Director of the Columbia Slough Watershed Council. 

Amanda has been the Council’s Acting Director for 8 months, having stepped up from her role as Event Director last March. During that time, she has demonstrated calm, steady, and effective leadership; passion for the Slough; a commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion; and an approach built on trust and relationships. Amanda’s background includes managing people and large events in the nonprofit and private sectors, and a consistent commitment to a healthy environment.

The Board is thrilled to see her move into this role for good and begin working together to support the Council’s work as a watershed steward, educator, and host for events that connect community members with nature and each other. 

As board member Daryl Houtman, City of Portland, says, “We are so fortunate to keep Amanda’s exceptional skills working for the Council. She’s shown us what great leadership looks like during times of change, and I’m glad we’ll be writing the next chapter with her.”

“I am excited about the opportunity to continue guiding this organization toward a healthier, more equitable future—one that reflects the diverse voices and needs of the communities we serve,” says Amanda.  

Amanda’s first day as Executive Director is Monday, November 3rd. Please join me in welcoming her and consider celebrating the bright future of the Columbia Slough Watershed Council with a recurring donation or a Give!Guide contribution today! 

Sincerely,



Carrie Sanneman

Chair, Board of Directors

Columbia Slough Watershed Council

Join Our Team!

As Amanda Gallegos, former Event Director, moves into her next role, the Council is seeking our next Event Director! 

The Event Director leads the Council’s efforts to connect people to the Columbia Slough and its watershed through inclusive, educational, and recreational events. This role oversees all aspects of the Council’s events program and plays a key role in public engagement, partnership building, and communications.



Key responsibilities include designing and implementing events that inspire participants to support and advocate for watershed conservation. The Director organizes a variety of events each year—including a large-scale festival (Slough Celebration), paddling trips, bird walks, educational bike rides, and supports volunteer and donor events— all of which foster meaningful connections to place and community. The Director must be enthusiastic about creating welcoming, inclusive, and accessible event offerings to all community members.

Applications will be accepted through end of day November 16, 2025! Learn more about this position and how to apply on our website.

CSWC's Give!Guide goal is $20,000, and we need your help to achieve this!

Columbia Slough Watershed Council is participating in Give!Guide, a state-wide campaign to bring attention to amazing nonprofits. Willamette Week organizes this campaign that runs from November 1 through December 31.

On weekly Big Give Days, when you donate $10 or more to a participating nonprofit, you are entered to win a prize from business partners like Powell's, New Seasons, and more.

CSWC's Board is matching all gifts up to $5,000 this first week of Give!Guide!

YOUR DONATION IS DOUBLED TODAY!

BIG COFFEE DAY

Donate $10 or more today for three chances to win a six-month coffee subscription from Nossa Familia. Donors 35 and under have a fourth chance to win! 


PLUS CSWC is raffling off a $25 Gift Card to Prince Coffee for those who give to us today!

CSWC Loves Portland Parks! 

Parks are one of the things we love most about the Columbia Slough Watershed. They’re where we meet friends for a walk, where our kids learn to swim and make art, where seniors stay active, where families gather on sunny days, and where nature thrives in the heart of our industrial watershed. Our parks are more than just amenities, too – they’re core economic assets that contribute to Portland's livability, responsible growth, and retention of the many employers with deep roots in our city.

But right now, the parks we love are at risk. Portland Parks & Recreation faces a loss of nearly half its budget, which would force closures and elimination of programs for those who need them most. Measure 26-260 provides essential funding that keeps playgrounds safe, pools open, bathrooms clean, and trails clear. It also funds free and low-cost programs for every Portlander, and helps protect our natural areas through tree planting, wildfire prevention, and habitat restoration.

The Watershed Council invites you to vote YES on the Portland Parks Levy by November 4th – to keep our parks open, clean, and thriving.

Recycle through BottleDrop & Support CSWC!

CSWC has BottleDrop blue bags with QR codes. Fill the bag with bottles, and when you drop them off at any BottleDrop location, the funds go to our account—an easy way to support our programs while also recycling cans and bottles!

By dropping off bags between Nov 15 and Dec 2, you can earn CSWC up to a 20% match of the funds raised!

Columbia Corridor Industrial

Lands Ezone Project

The Columbia Slough is one of Portland’s greatest hidden treasures — a living wetland that cools our city, supports wildlife, stores carbon, and provides green spaces for everyone to enjoy. However, ongoing industrial growth threatens to erode these vital habitats. CSWC is urging the City to choose the Maximum Resource Protection (“High”) plan to give our wetlands the strongest possible safeguards, and invites you to do the same. Now’s the time to make your voice heard! By submitting a public comment, you can help protect this incredible ecosystem and the communities that live around it. 

Here are some ways you can engage:

• Learn more from the City of Portland and Braided River Campaign.
• Watch a recording of the October 9 Open House, held by Portland BPS
• Read our full letter and feel free to use it as your own template.
• Attend a Public Comment Writing Workshop on November 5 with Neighbors for Clean Air, Verde, 350PDX, and Green Energy Institute.
• Submit a comment by Monday, November 10.

Together, we can keep the Columbia Slough Watershed a thriving ecosystem.

Volunteer Spotlight

Jasper Leiber became a volunteer with CSWC in 2024 and was recently awarded the "Golden Paddle" award for his trash cleanup work in the Slough. He even made a bimaran boat model for his Halloween costume (pictured).

We recently asked Jasper to reflect on his time with the Slough:



"I first got struck by the magic of the slough by a dear friend in 2008 or so. She was in an early Sloughkeeper / Eyes On The Slough program, mostly surveying & reporting flora / fauna (or problems). Since coming back to Portland in 2022, I've been very glad to double down on slough stuff. I'm super intrigued by the magical mix of ecology, industry, history, restoration challenges, and, of course, trash! It's been great doing weekly trash-by-kayak with Paul Taylor since Dec '24, watching the seasons change, seeing the slough getting cleaner and cleaner! Viva La Slough!"

Thank you, Jasper, for your dedication!

CSWC's Event Line-Up

Join CSWC for fall events to help improve the watershed's important natural resources, learn about native plants, and connect with the community! 

You can also find out more information about CSWC and our events on our website.

Rain Gardens 101

Wednesday, November 5, 6 PM - 7:30 PM

Join us, along with the East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District, for a free presentation on rain gardens! Adding a beautiful rain garden to your yard can help protect local streams and reduce flooding. Learn how to assess your property for the best rain garden location and size, choose the right plants, and construct and maintain your rain garden.

November Board Meeting

Monday, November 24, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

CSWC’s Board meetings are open to the public! Join us this month to get involved with the Council’s behind-the-scenes operations. This meeting will be held virtually on Zoom.

P.S. PLEASE REFRAIN FROM UNSUBSCRIBING. While we send weekly emails during Give!Guide, we will go back to our monthly emails once January comes.