Oswego Lake Watershed Council

We all live in a watershed. Watersheds go be- yond political and property boundaries to encom- pass all the land that contributes water to a local water body. As residents of the same watershed, we share the benefits and the responsibility for protecting and improving the health of our land and water. Who is the Oswego Lake Watershed Council?

The Oswego Lake Watershed Council (OLWC) is a locally organized, non-profit, non- regulatory watershed stewardship organization established to improve the condition and health of the Oswego Lake watershed and its stream network. The OLWC formed in 2010, and the Council meets regularly to work together on projects that support watershed health. A healthy watershed benefits our communities by Council members currently include: resisting invasive species, encouraging benefi- cial native wildlife, improving air quality, and • City of Lake Oswego filtering and storing fresh water for this and • Lake Oswego School District future generations. Healthy rivers, lakes and • Lake Oswego Corporation • wetlands increase our property values and individual land owners and community benefit the local economy through reduced members • maintenance needs and increased community local businesses • livability. neighborhood groups • local conservation organizations • local government • school districts, and others. Anyone can get involved with the Council by attending monthly Council meetings, working on Council sub-committees, or helping with projects.

Council meetings are held the second Friday of the month from 8am to 9:30am at Gubanc's Pub and Restaurant 16008 Boones Ferry Rd. Lake Oswego, OR Let us know if you plan to attend! Page 2 Oswego Lake Watershed Council

What kinds of projects does the Over the years, Oswego Lake Watershed Council do? human modification of Oswego Lake and Projects. The Council its watershed has had fosters the planning, de- unintended negative velopment, funding, and effects on ecosystem implementation of pro- health and function. jects to enhance, restore, and maintain physical, • Impervious surfaces chemical, and biological Facilitation. Through this such as rooftops, integrity of the Oswego watershed partnership, roads and parking lots Lake watershed. Council members collabo- generate large vol- rate to identify issues, pro- umes of stormwater Action Plan. The Council mote cooperative solu- runoff that carry pollu- develops a dynamic stra- tions, focus resources, tion and cause erosion tegic watershed action agree on goals for water- and downstream flood- plan to foster the conser- shed conservation, en- ing. vation and restoration of hance natural watershed watershed and stream • Heavy metals, oil and functions, and foster com- functions in a holistic way grease from cars, pes- munication among all wa- from ridge top to ridge top ticides, fertilizers, and tershed interests. Healthy rivers, and from headwaters to bacteria are commonly lakes and and including Oswego Landowner Assistance. found in our water- Lake. The Council identifies ways and are known to wetlands landowner participants for be harmful to humans, Monitors Progress. The increase our important projects, devel- pets, fish and other Council monitors water- ops priorities for local pro- wildlife. property values shed health parameters jects, and establishes and progress toward • Removal of native veg- and benefit the goals and standards for achieving the watershed etation from local economy. future conditions in the vision. streamside areas and watershed. invasion by aggressive Monitors Projects. The Outreach and Education. non-native plant spe- Council monitors project The Council promotes cies damages wildlife effectiveness. continuing education and habitat and contributes Watershed Information. outreach to inform people to stream bank erosion The Council researches about watershed process- and collapse. and organizes data that es and functions. • Invasive weeds also provides awareness and Planning. The Council obstruct and damage knowledge of watershed provides a coordinated, public infrastructure health. broad-based review of like pipes and road- Condition Assess- land management plans to ways and must often ments. The Council per- local, state, and federal be removed to main- forms condition assess- decision-makers. tain public services, ment projects that en- while bank erosion Funding. The Council hance awareness and and downstream flood- helps bring state, federal understanding of the wa- ing contribute to prop- and private funding to our tershed and facilitate erty loss and de- local community for eco- adaptive management of creased property system restoration, moni- the dynamic strategic wa- value. toring and education. tershed action plan. Oswego Lake Watershed Council Page 3

You can help Oswego Lake!

• Visit our website www.oswegowatershed.org to sign up for our free e-newsletter and for OLWC information including meetings, publi- cations and more resources for residents • Contact us to schedule a free OLWC presen- tation for your community group • Join us for an Oswego Lake watershed tour • Sign up for a workshops and volunteer events through the OLWC

Be part of the solution at home

Find more detailed how-to information on our website! Watershed friendly house- hold maintenance: Garden naturally: • Soak up driveway spills • Certify your yard through with kitty litter, then the Backyard Habitat Certifi- throw it in the garbage cation Program – visit: • www.tryonfriends.org/ Sweep your driveway protect/backyard-habitat • Reduce your use of toxic garden- instead of washing it ing products • Dispose of household • Use slow-release fertilizers hazardous waste at a disposal facility – drains Soak up stormwater runoff: in the street lead to local streams • Rain gardens slow down and soak up stormwater runoff on your property, but are not safe for some steep or soggy properties • Call your local government to make sure your property is safe • Avoid combined fertilizer Maintain your vehicles to reduce and pesticide products like Even your pets can help: “weed and feed” pollution: • Please pick up after your • Remove invasive weeds • Fix vehicle fluid leaks to keep pets – bacteria from dog and replant with native veg- them from washing into streams waste pollutes our water- etation ways • Wash your car at a car wash or • Keep soil from washing into over grass the storm drains in the street Page 4 Oswego Lake Watershed Council

What Is the Oswego Lake Watershed? The Oswego Lake watershed is all the land, or Water enters Oswego Lake through Springbrook catchment area, that contributes water to Oswego Creek, Lost Dog Creek, Blue Heron Creek, and the Lake. It is comprised of 4,168 acres in Clackamas, (by way of the Oswego Lake Canal). Washington, and Multnomah counties in - Water exits the lake through Oswego Creek, which ern . drains into the . The Oswego Lake watershed provides food, water, Oswego Lake formed naturally when an abandoned shelter, and many economic benefits and ecosystem channel of the Tualatin River was flooded during the services to the 21,550 people and diverse plant and Missoula Floods (also called Bretz Floods) 13,000- animal communities (including bird, fish, mammal 15,000 years ago. and amphibian species) that live there.

The mission of the Oswego Lake Watershed Council is to foster stewardship, education, partici- pation, and financial support for the purpose of the conservation, restoration, enhancement, and Oswego Lake maintenance of watershed functions that achieve Watershed Council and sustain a healthy watershed.

As a result of everyone’s efforts, the OLWC P.O. Box 1015 envisions a healthy, properly functioning watershed. Lake Oswego, OR 97034 This vision is of streams, wetlands, riparian forests, upland forests/trees, Oswego Lake, and other natu- Message Phone: 503-479-5560 E-mail: [email protected] ral resources working together as a sustainable ecological system that supports good water quality, Web site: www.oswegowatershed.org productive habitat for native plant and animal com- www.facebook.com/oswegowatershed munities, and enhanced quality of life.