​Friday, December 13, 10am-4pm
Friday, December 20, 10am-4pm
(You can choose one or both of the days, registration is required)


Join the Polk SWCD Conservation Crew and the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde's nursery manager, Jeremy Ojua as we prepare plants for the Tribe’s future restoration projects in partnership with the Forest Service. If you have never been to the nursery, Jeremy will be happy to give you a tour!


Lunch and water will be provided. Space is limited. Don’t miss this chance to get involved!


Find out more & RSVP

You are invited to attend our 2025 Collaborative Conservation Community meeting (formerly known as the Local Work Group meeting). We have a new name, location, time, and format for 2025!


Why Participate?

• Give your input on natural resource concerns in Polk County
  
• Panel discussion with local experts and landowners
  
• Connect with other land stewards and service providers​
  
• Be part of our planning process and help shape the future of our programs
  

When: Friday, January 31, 2025, 1pm-4:45pm

• Doors open at 12:30pm
  
• The meeting is 1pm-4pm
  
• Networking and complimentary refreshments to follow - 4pm-4:45pm​
  
• ​Where (This is a hybrid meeting): Monmouth City Hall or Zoom
  

Registration is required. We have limited capacity. Please RSVP on our webpage. These meetings are open to the public; please feel free to share this information with others who may be interested in participating. 


RSVP

It takes teamwork, determination, and a bit of rain to make a meaningful impact during the native planting season, and that’s exactly what happened during two Friday planting events in November. Volunteers for the Polk SWCD and Institute for Applied Ecology joined a crew of AmeriCorps members to plant thousands of native riparian and prairie species, bringing 25 acres of critical grass habitat closer to its former glory.


A Rainy-Day Riparian Planting Event:
The first event, with significant rains coming down, enthusiastic community volunteers gathered at Cornerstone to focus on riparian restoration. Alongside SWCD staff, the group planted a diverse range of native plants critical for supporting stable stream banks and floodplains, improving water quality, and supporting local wildlife.
The planting included various riparian shrubs and trees, such as willows, red alders, and native dogwoods. These species play an essential role in preventing erosion, filtering runoff, and providing habitat for amphibians, birds, and pollinators.
The rain is more of an ally thana hindrance to the plants, ensuring our heavy clay and silt soils had been loosened up enough for easy planting and also provide the freshly installed roots with plenty of water. By the end of the day, the volunteers had successfully transformed the site, setting the stage for long-term ecological benefits.
Volunteer and staff spirits remained high as the crew took in the tangible difference their efforts made by the end of the day – just as the sun began to shine!
Prairie Planting Blitz with AmeriCorps and Volunteers:
The following week brought another incredible opportunity to get hands dirty—this time on a much larger scale. On November 7th, AmeriCorps members planted 1,804 Kincaid’s lupine(Lupinus oreganus) plugs in preparation for a collaborative planting day with volunteers at Cornerstone the following day. This federally listed species is vital for supporting the endangered Fender’s blue butterfly, and the penultimate goal of this restoration partnership between the Polk SWCD and IAE.


Eight AmeriCorps members partnered with more community volunteers for a marathon planting session on the prairie restoration fields just to the west and uphill from the previous week’s work. The numbers alone are impressive:

• 3,087 Willamette daisy plugs another federally listed species critical to prairie health.
  
• 1,500 Delphinium oreganum corms, adding vibrant color and pollinator habitat.
  
• 300 Camassia leichtlinii bulbs, a favorite of early pollinators and cultivated by indigenous peoples.
  
• 300 Wyethia angustifolia bare roots, an Aster known for their resilience and wildlife benefits.
  
• 300 Iris tenax bare roots, the quintessential Oregon iris.
  
• 300 Geranium oreganum bare roots, for added soil stability and ground cover.
  
• 200 Heuchera chlorantha plugs, beloved by hummingbirds and bees.
  
  ​The collaboration between AmeriCorps and local volunteers exemplifies the power of partnerships in restoration. The group’s coordinated efforts ensured that over 6,000 plants found their new homes in just one day!
  
  

During this time for giving thanks, we want to express our gratitude to the Deerpath Fund at the Oregon Community Foundation for their generous $5,478.86 grant.
This funding will support our mission at Polk SWCD to conserve and enhance the quantity and quality of soils, water, and wildlife habitat in Polk County.


We are excited to continue our work engaging with our community and supporting land stewards with technical assistance. A big thank you to Oregon Community Foundation for investing in conservation!