The mission of the Rock Creek Watershed Partners is to protect and restore a healthy watershed by motivating and enabling a community of active stewards in the basin. We accomplish this by building organizational capacity and providing support to groups and individuals who practice good stewardship.

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Vision

We envision vibrant human and natural communities coexisting in our watershed.  Our streams contain clean, cool, clear water; are buffered by wide swaths of trees; support diverse native fish, wildlife, and plants; and are enjoyed by people through an extensive system of well-designed trails in parks and open spaces.  Large networks of citizens and businesses take responsibility for improving and maintaining water quality, quantity, habitat, and compatible recreational uses.

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Recent accomplishment and activities

This past June the board member of RCWP participated in our first annual board retreat. We evaluated our progress, refined our vision, and were re-inspired. Perhaps most importantly though, we recognized all that we’ve accomplished over the past two years; here’s just a few:

• All board members participated in our first annual retreat to set goals, evaluate our progress, and get re-inspired.
• Hired second-year Americorps volunteer, Amanda Wilson, for Community Stewardship Coordinator position
• Led 3 watershed tours highlighting natural history, cultural history, restoration work, and water quality of streams in our watershed.
• Led 3 work parties at Noble Woods Park in Hillsboro to remove 20 cubic feet of ivy near the Baseline parking lot and cut ivy on over 40 trees throughout the park
• Led 4 work parties at Cedar Mill Wetland to remove teasel, plant and mulch trees, maintain the trail, and admire the work of resident beaver.
• Received grant from the Oregon Community Foundation for coordinator position
• Created new logo and brochures

Tour of Beaverton Creek at Milikan Way, August 2006

And here are some of the items we’re currently working on:

• Revising our 2 year action plan
• Working with students as the community partner for a grant writing class at PSU (students will find and write grants for us!)
• Coordinating our second annual fundraising auction: Watershed Tales
• Recruiting members for our creek groups and board
• Develop database to track volunteers, projects, and donations

Past Accomplishments

In addition to the achievements of our member groups listed below, the Rock Creek Watershed Partners have:

• Restored natural areas throughout the watershed with Hillsboro Parks and Rec, Tualatin Hills Parks and Rec, SOLV, and The Wetlands Conservancy
• Hosted a naturescaping workshop at Tualatin Hills Nature Park
• Co-hosted a landowner workshop with Three Rivers Land Conservancy
• Hosted a nature walk with Tualatin Hills Nature Park
• Hosted a bird walk with Backyard Bird Shop
• Presented our new display board for Earth Day at Tualatin Hills Nature Park

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One of our stellar volunteers removing ivy at Noble Woods Park

Break time along Rock Creek at Noble Woods Park

Friends of Rock, Bronson, and Willow Creeks