Columbia Soil and Water Conservation District

09/09/2026

Registration is now open!

Join the Columbia Soil and Water Conservation District (CSWCD) and the Scappoose Bay Watershed Council for a Japanese Knotw**d Workshop on September 12 from 10 am to 12 pm.

During this workshop, participants will learn how to:

- Identify Japanese Knotw**d at different stages of growth
- Learn best practices for management and removal
- Identify other high-priority w**ds found in Columbia County

Location: CSWCD Office
35285 Millard Road, St. Helens, OR 97051

Doors open at 9:30 am. The workshop will run from 10 am - 12 pm, and breakfast will be provided!

The workshop will take place primarily indoors, with a short outdoor demonstration.

⚠️ Space is limited! Please complete a separate registration form for each person attending.

Register here: https://arcg.is/1memaX3

We hope to see you there!

09/04/2026

🏵️Still seeing yellow around Columbia County? Take a closer look!

Tansy ragwort may be starting to dry out for the season, but you can still spot its bright yellow blooms along roadsides, pastures, and other disturbed areas.

And sometimes, you’ll spot these little helpers!

Our Habitat Restoration Program Manager recently found these cinnabar moth caterpillars munching away on tansy ragwort. The black-and-orange caterpillars are a biological control agent that feeds on the leaves and flowers, helping reduce the vigor of this invasive noxious w**d.

Tansy ragwort is widespread in western Oregon and can be especially concerning in pastures because it is toxic to cattle and horses. It also reproduces entirely by seed, so those remaining yellow flowers can still matter even this late in the season.

Have you spotted any cinnabar moth caterpillars around Columbia County this summer?

Learn more about identifying and managing tansy ragwort: https://www.oregon.gov/oda/Documents/Publications/Weeds/TansyRagwortFactsheet.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com

09/03/2026

Columbia County, in partnership with the Oregon State University Extension Service - Columbia County, is conducting a countywide survey to learn more about residents’ knowledge of and interest in backyard composting.

Backyard composting is a small-scale system used at home to turn yard debris and food scraps into nutrient-rich compost that can help plants and gardens grow.

Who: Columbia County residents
Survey deadline: September 17 at 5:00 p.m.
Take the survey: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/g/Y8JGff3ksz

Your feedback will help provide insight into our community’s needs, perspectives, and interest in backyard composting!

09/02/2026

Only a few spots left!

Don’t miss our Japanese Knotw**d Workshop on September 12! Learn how to identify and manage knotw**d and other high-priority w**ds in Columbia County.

Grab your spot before they’re gone!
👉 https://arcg.is/1memaX3

Registration is now open!

Join the Columbia Soil and Water Conservation District (CSWCD) and the Scappoose Bay Watershed Council for a Japanese Knotw**d Workshop on September 12 from 10 am to 12 pm.

During this workshop, participants will learn how to:

- Identify Japanese Knotw**d at different stages of growth
- Learn best practices for management and removal
- Identify other high-priority w**ds found in Columbia County

Location: CSWCD Office
35285 Millard Road, St. Helens, OR 97051

Doors open at 9:30 am. The workshop will run from 10 am - 12 pm, and breakfast will be provided!

The workshop will take place primarily indoors, with a short outdoor demonstration.

⚠️ Space is limited! Please complete a separate registration form for each person attending.

Register here: https://arcg.is/1memaX3

We hope to see you there!

09/01/2026

Skyline Ridge Wildfire Ready Workshop is a free, interactive event featuring four sessions led by local experts who will share practical steps to strengthen your property’s wildfire resilience and help your household stay safe and ready for an emergency.
Learn practical strategies for planning, evacuation, home hardening, defensible space, and fire-resilient landscaping. There will also be a free raffle to give away tools that can help you navigate an emergency and manage your landscape to reduce your fire risk.

This event is presented by West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District, Skyline Ridge Neighbors, Skyline Grange #894, Oregon State Fire Marshal, Portland Fire and Rescue, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, and Multnomah County Office of Emergency Management.

Space is limited; register now: https://wmswcd.org/2026/07/get-wildfire-ready-at-skyline-ridge-workshop-9-19/

We're just a few weeks away from our workshop at Skyline Grange-- and we still have a handful of open spots for this. If you live in NW Portland or rural Multnomah County areas, text a neighbor then register together! You're not going to want to miss this. https://wmswcd.org/2026/07/get-wildfire-ready-at-skyline-ridge-workshop-9-19/

08/15/2026

Join the Scappoose Bay Watershed Council for an Outdoor Recreation Forum!

📅 Wednesday, August 19
⏰ 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
💻 Online via Zoom

Hear from local speakers about outdoor recreation opportunities in our area, including kayaking in Scappoose Bay, the Crown Zellerbach Trail, the St. Helens Botanical Gardens, and McCormick Park.

Featured presenters include representatives from The Paddle Shack, the Crown Zellerbach Advisory Committee, Friends of the St. Helens Botanical Gardens, and Friends of McCormick Park.

🌲 Learn more about ways to enjoy the incredible outdoor spaces in Columbia County!

Registration is required. Learn more and register here:
https://www.scappoosebay-wc.org/event/outdoor-recreation/

Announcing our August Outdoor Recreation Forum! Happening on Wednesday, August 19th from 4 pm to 6 pm via Zoom. We will hear from a variety of local outdoor enthusiasts about kayaking in the Scappoose Bay, the Crown Zellerbach Trail, and St. Helens Parks Friends of groups!

Presenters:

Cody James - Owner/Operator of The Paddle Shack - Scappoose Bay

Gabi Ferreira - Crown Zellerbach Advisory Committee

Ashley Stanley - Leader of the Friends of the St. Helens Botanical Gardens

Emily Wilson - Leader of the Friends of Mccormick Park

Registration is required - https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/y4teiBZzQKO0_WJOarOGcQ

07/17/2026

Do you have Tansy ragwort growing on your property? If so, your neighbors may be talking about you!

With the mild spring, the tansy ragwort has really taken off this year. We are receiving a lot of calls from people complaining about their neighbors. But, the days of w**d inspectors are long gone. So your best bet is to call your neighbor to discuss the issue, and have them call us for tips and recommendations they can take to control the tansy ragwort on their property.

To learn more about tansy ragwort and its impacts on neighbor relationships check out our latest web post.

https://conservationdistrict.org/2026/tansy-ragwort-poisons-livestock-and-neighborly-relations.html

Happy Pulling!

07/16/2026

“To save the salmon, we have to save the beavers.” 🦫