East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District

06/04/2026

We are sponsoring this upcoming event!

June 17 at 6 PM, Lewis & Clark College Council Chamber

Details below:

06/01/2026

Happy Pride Month! EMSWCD celebrates our LGBTQIA+ community members. Q***r allyship is a key piece of advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion as the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community are still being fought for and defended around the country. Please join us in uplifting and affirming q***r joy!

05/29/2026

Passionate about the care of our land and water in East Multnomah County? EMSWCD is looking for community members who care about land conservation, clean water, and healthy communities to serve on our Board of Directors.

Information Session: June 9 from 6 to 7 PM. Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Pnv87MCORjyrNXuHPeV4Xw #/registration

This session will provide an overview of what a soil and water conservation board member does, including key responsibilities, qualifications, and the steps candidates must take to run for office and get on the ballot. Attendees will also hear from a newly elected Director and several current Directors as they share about their experiences serving on a Board. This one's for the residents of Multnomah, Clackamas, Marion, and Lane Counties!

More information on EMSWCD elections can be found on our website:
https://emswcd.org/about/serving-on-our-board/

05/28/2026

Supporting community efforts is key to our mission of helping people care for land and water. At EMSWCD, we are investing in local efforts that underscore the importance of healthy rivers, outdoor and environmental education, local food production using sustainable practices, and resource access for underserved, lower-income, and/or Black, Indigenous, and people of color. It's our biggest investment yet – totaling more than $1.43 million in grants to non-profits and community-based organizations. EMSWCD is empowering our local communities to self-organize for a brighter future. Read more about our PIC grant process and grantees for this year here: https://emswcd.org/announcing-2026-partners-in-conservation-grantees/

Together, we're investing millions in organizations that help advance our mission. Find out if your organization might be eligible and find support for your community project: emswcd.org/grants-and-cost-share/apply/

05/26/2026

05/19/2026

05/15/2026

Some great webinars being hosted next week, catch one or all and increase your knowledge of Emerald Ash Borer, which targets and kills Ash trees.

Tuesday, May 19th at 8am PST: Resistance to EAB is real – here’s what we can do to help restore ash in the future
Wednesday, May 20th at 10am PST: Ash-kicking Outreach in Oregon and Washington
Thursday, May 21st at 10am PST: EAB from crisis to opportunity: managing & growing a resilient urban forest in Minneapolis, MN

Register here: https://www.dontmovefirewood.org/eabweek2026/

05/14/2026

Sharing the story of Pam Oja of Tamura Farms, by , in honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. Full story here: https://ecotrust.org/speaking-with-pam-oja-fourth-generation-owner-of-a-japanese-legacy-farm/
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Xenophobia is cyclical. In the 1800s, growing anti-Chinese racism from white Americans resulted in the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, but the exclusion of Chinese immigrants created a labor shortage along the West Coast. Experiencing famine and wartime conditions in Japan, immigration of Japanese farmers to the U.S. increased during the 1890s to fill this labor gap.

By the early 1900s, more than a quarter of the Japanese community in Oregon worked in agriculture. Established in 1919 by Japanese immigrants in Troutdale, Ore., Tamura Farms is one such farm. Despite the incarceration of Japanese people during WWII, despite the financial challenges of operating a farm, the farm is still owned today by fourth generation descendent Pam Oja. During an interview earlier this year, Pam shared the story of the family farm and her hope for the future of the property.

Photos of Pam Oja and Tamura Farms by Emilie Chen ( #📷 )

05/12/2026

Join us for our next upcoming webinar series Farmland Easements: What Service Providers Need to Know!⁠ This is a lunch & learn series - feel free to attend any or all. All webinars will take place noon-1 PM. Register to receive the Zoom link or webinar recording.⁠
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May 19th:Easements in Lending: Hear from Nick Wymore from Columbia Bank and Andrea Krahmer from Oregon Ag Trust on considerations for existing loans or new loans on properties with easements.
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Hosted by East Multnomah SWCD, Tualatin SWCD and Oregon Agricultural Trust⁠
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Register here: http://tinyurl.com/2026-Service-Provider-Series

05/12/2026

🐟 The fish have returned to Multnomah County Vector Control!

🦟 Gambusia, or , keep ornamental ponds and pools from becoming mosquito breeding sites. These fish are small predators that eat mosquito larvae.

➡️ residents can get FREE mosquito fish from May 15-August 30.

📞 Pick up is by appointment only at our North Portland office! Call 503-988-3464 or email us at [email protected] and schedule a time to pick up some fish.