HostickaMarNewsletter

This monthly newsletter includes some of the latest events and programs brought to you by Metro.

District 3 includes portions of Washington and Clackamas counties and the cities of Beaverton, Durham, King City, Sherwood, Tigard, Tualatin and Wilsonville.

A Tualatin valley family has agreed to the sale and donation of 40 acres of rare oak and madrone forest on the western slope of the Chehalem Ridge to support Metro's Natural Areas Program. The property is located within the Chehalem Ridgetop target area, one of 27 areas that voters directed the Metro Council to preserve and protect through the 2006 natural areas, parks and streams bond measure.

Oak and madrone forest habitat is rare in the Northern Willamette Valley and is found on only a small percentage of properties within the region's system of protected natural areas. The large, mature Oregon white oak and madrone trees on the site provide valuable habitat to a number of important wildlife species.

Protecting the forested hillsides on the western flank of the Chehalem Ridge will help to protect water quality in Wapato Creek, which flows into the Tualatin River. The views are expansive and stretch down the valley and overlook the planned Wapato Lake Wildlife Refuge. This acquisition is a start toward creating a new public asset in the community.

Metro will manage the property, which is located on SW Burgarsky Road, north of Dixon Mill Road near Gaston. The site's natural resources are currently in good condition with a large part of the area primarily a closed-canopy, diverse forest supporting a mix of large Douglas fir, Oregon white oak and madrone trees.

The Metro Council's 2006 Natural Areas Program funds land acquisition and capital improvements that protect water quality and fish and wildlife habitat, enhance trails and wildlife corridors, and provide greater connections to nature in urban areas throughout the Portland metropolitan area. For more information, visit www.metro-region.org/naturalareas.

Did you ever think that your garden could impact regional water quality? Rain can wash even the smallest amount of chemicals out of the garden and into our regional streams, creeks and rivers. Pesticides may aid in growing the ripest and largest tomato on the block but at a cost to the environment, regional health and your family's well-being.

You can do simple things in your garden to keep it beautiful, healthy and safe for your family, pets and the environment. Metro offers free natural gardening seminars to help residents garden chemical-free. These seminars are held each year from March through June, teaching individuals how to grow beautiful, abundant gardens without harmful chemicals.

Natural gardening seminars are free, but reservations are required as space is limited. Seminars include a range of natural gardening topics including: Four season flower gardens, Growing nature in your garden, Why waste the rain?, Grow a golf course-quality lawn and Gardens of eatin'. Additionally, group seminars are available year-round for garden clubs and other group organizations.

Natural gardening is just one component of improving and sustaining the livability of our region and ecosystem. For more information, visit www.metro-region.org/garden or call Metro Recycling Information at 503-234-3000.

Cast your vote. Shape the future! Metro's Integrating Habitats design competition received more than 107 submissions for buildings that combine design excellence, ecological stewardship and economic enterprise. Now we want to know which ones you like best.

Metro is asking the public to vote for their preferred designs that best demonstrate how habitat can be restored and protected in mixed-use, retail and residential infill development scenarios. To vote, go to www.metro-region.org/integratinghabitats. Winning designs will be featured in the Integrating Habitats Design Guide. Voting closes April 8.

Metro is soliciting gardens for its 10th annual Gardens of Natural Delights tour. Residents who maintain their own gardens using organic and other natural methods can apply to be one of the showcased gardens on Metro's 2008 tour. Beautiful gardens of all sizes, ages and styles are sought to showcase how natural gardening techniques can be successful regardless of the gardener's experience or garden type.

This year's free tour will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 13. Applications are due by 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 1. For more information, visit www.metro region.org/garden, or call Metro Recycling Information at 503-234-3000.

In June 2008, the Metro Council will consider adopting a new program to increase business recycling in the region. Many businesses already recycle, but an estimated 14 percent do not. As a result, more than 100,000 tons of business sector recyclables are sent to regional landfills annually. To reach the state-mandated waste reduction goal, businesses must recycle an additional 80,000 tons of paper and containers annually.

Over the past eight years, Metro and its local government partners have invested $3.5 million to encourage business recycling by providing free technical assistance, which will continue. Increasing recycling rates provides numerous benefits including: less garbage in landfills, conserving energy and natural resources through re-use, and reducing pollution.

The proposed Business Recycling Requirements program would direct local governments to mandate that local businesses recycle paper as well as plastic, aluminum and glass containers, essentially the same materials that can already be recycled at home. The requirements would be phased in, and businesses would have a grace period within which to comply.

Currently, the Metro Council and staff are briefing business associations, government agencies, policy advisory committees, and other organizations on the proposed program. For more information, call Marta McGuire at 503-797-1806 or send e-mail to
mcguirem@metro.dst.or.us.



	March 2008 Newsletter for District 3 This monthly newsletter includes some of the latest events and programs brought to you by Metro. District 3 includes portions of Washington and Clackamas counties and the cities of Beaverton, Durham, King City, Sherwood, Tigard, Tualatin and Wilsonville. Metro protects 40 acres and views on Chehalem Ridge A Tualatin valley family has agreed to the sale and donation of 40 acres of rare oak and madrone forest on the western slope of the Chehalem Ridge to support Metro's Natural Areas Program. The property is located within the Chehalem Ridgetop target area, one of 27 areas that voters directed the Metro Council to preserve and protect through the 2006 natural areas, parks and streams bond measure. Oak and madrone forest habitat is rare in the Northern Willamette Valley and is found on only a small percentage of properties within the region's system of protected natural areas. The large, mature Oregon white oak and madrone trees on the site provide valuable habitat to a number of important wildlife species. Protecting the forested hillsides on the western flank of the Chehalem Ridge will help to protect water quality in Wapato Creek, which flows into the Tualatin River. The views are expansive and stretch down the valley and overlook the planned Wapato Lake Wildlife Refuge. This acquisition is a start toward creating a new public asset in the community. Metro will manage the property, which is located on SW Burgarsky Road, north of Dixon Mill Road near Gaston. The site's natural resources are currently in good condition with a large part of the area primarily a closed-canopy, diverse forest supporting a mix of large Douglas fir, Oregon white oak and madrone trees. The Metro Council's 2006 Natural Areas Program funds land acquisition and capital improvements that protect water quality and fish and wildlife habitat, enhance trails and wildlife corridors, and provide greater connections to nature in urban areas throughout the Portland metropolitan area. For more information, visit www.metro-region.org/naturalareas. Metro offers free natural gardening seminars Did you ever think that your garden could impact regional water quality? Rain can wash even the smallest amount of chemicals out of the garden and into our regional streams, creeks and rivers. Pesticides may aid in growing the ripest and largest tomato on the block but at a cost to the environment, regional health and your family's well-being. You can do simple things in your garden to keep it beautiful, healthy and safe for your family, pets and the environment. Metro offers free natural gardening seminars to help residents garden chemical-free. These seminars are held each year from March through June, teaching individuals how to grow beautiful, abundant gardens without harmful chemicals. Natural gardening seminars are free, but reservations are required as space is limited. Seminars include a range of natural gardening topics including: Four season flower gardens, Growing nature in your garden, Why waste the rain?, Grow a golf course-quality lawn and Gardens of eatin'. Additionally, group seminars are available year-round for garden clubs and other group organizations. Natural gardening is just one component of improving and sustaining the livability of our region and ecosystem. For more information, visit www.metro-region.org/garden or call Metro Recycling Information at 503-234-3000. Integrating Habitats Peoples' Choice Awards Cast your vote. Shape the future! Metro's Integrating Habitats design competition received more than 107 submissions for buildings that combine design excellence, ecological stewardship and economic enterprise. Now we want to know which ones you like best. Metro is asking the public to vote for their preferred designs that best demonstrate how habitat can be restored and protected in mixed-use, retail and residential infill development scenarios. To vote, go to www.metro-region.org/integratinghabitats. Winning designs will be featured in the Integrating Habitats Design Guide. Voting closes April 8. Show off your garden Metro is soliciting gardens for its 10th annual Gardens of Natural Delights tour. Residents who maintain their own gardens using organic and other natural methods can apply to be one of the showcased gardens on Metro's 2008 tour. Beautiful gardens of all sizes, ages and styles are sought to showcase how natural gardening techniques can be successful regardless of the gardener's experience or garden type. This year's free tour will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 13. Applications are due by 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 1. For more information, visit www.metro region.org/garden, or call Metro Recycling Information at 503-234-3000. Metro considers business recycling requirements In June 2008, the Metro Council will consider adopting a new program to increase business recycling in the region. Many businesses already recycle, but an estimated 14 percent do not. As a result, more than 100,000 tons of business sector recyclables are sent to regional landfills annually. To reach the state-mandated waste reduction goal, businesses must recycle an additional 80,000 tons of paper and containers annually. Over the past eight years, Metro and its local government partners have invested $3.5 million to encourage business recycling by providing free technical assistance, which will continue. Increasing recycling rates provides numerous benefits including: less garbage in landfills, conserving energy and natural resources through re-use, and reducing pollution. The proposed Business Recycling Requirements program would direct local governments to mandate that local businesses recycle paper as well as plastic, aluminum and glass containers, essentially the same materials that can already be recycled at home. The requirements would be phased in, and businesses would have a grace period within which to comply. Currently, the Metro Council and staff are briefing business associations, government agencies, policy advisory committees, and other organizations on the proposed program. For more information, call Marta McGuire at 503-797-1806 or send e-mail to mcguirem@metro.dst.or.us. Need assistance? Linnea Nelson, policy coordinator nelsonl@metro.dst.or.us 503-797-1886