Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) is a widespread invasive weed found in all parts of Clackamas County. Unlike the many native thistles found in Oregon, Canada thistle can quickly overrun an area and displace native plants, reduce agricultural yield, and create problems for grazing animals when they infest a field or pasture. They also cost a […]
Its National Invasive Species Awareness Week!
National Invasive Species Awareness Week (February 24-28, 2020) kicks off today! Each year, folks around the country take a week to consider the many impacts that non-native invasive species have on our communities, working lands, natural areas, and pocketbooks. So take a moment to celebrate with the WeedWise Program to learn a little more about […]
February’s Weed of the Month: Scotch Broom
February is the one month of the year that many of us associate with love and romance. We cut out paper hearts for Valentine’s Day cards and wrap-up cut flowers for that special person in our lives. But there is another reason to celebrate. February 14th is also Oregon’s birthday! Way back in 1859, Oregon […]
January’s Weed of the Month: English Ivy
English ivy (Hedera helix) may conjure up images of cozy, country cottages, but don’t be deceived. This invasive weed can destroy buildings, poison pets, and topple trees. The very characteristics that made it a popular ornamental plant – grows quickly, requires little maintenance, provides a “no-mow,” evergreen ground cover — are the things that have […]
Year in Review: A WeedWise Annual Report 2019
We are celebrating another year in the books! With the new year rapidly approaching, we wanted to take a moment to stop and reflect on our many accomplishments and challenges over the past year. We have been doing a lot of reflection as we work on our end of year reporting and plan for the […]
Be our next Clackamas SWCD, General Manager!
The Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District is seeking an experienced General Manager to serve as the chief executive officer of the District. This position acts on behalf of the District Board of Directors and represents the District to public and private customers and partner organizations. The General Manager provides overall leadership for personnel, technical […]
The New Adventures of Tom Salzer
Over the last nine years, the WeedWise program has been blessed with a Clackamas SWCD, General Manager that both understands the adverse impacts of invasive weeds and the importance of managing these weeds to preserve the economic, social, and ecological health of Clackamas County. This month, it is with a heavy heart that we say […]
December’s Weed of the Month: English Holly
English holly (Ilex aquifolium) is a popular evergreen frequently noticed during the month of December when festive decorators “deck the halls with boughs of holly”. For many people, the shiny, dark green leaves and red berries of holly are synonymous with the holiday season. This popular plant, however, is not native to Oregon. In fact, […]
We are Moving!
After several years of preparation, the Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District is relocating to our new permanent home in Beavercreek, OR. The multi-year process to develop a permanent home for the District is nearly complete. Our new Conservation Resource Center will soon be ready for our staff to take occupancy. The WeedWise program is […]
November’s Weed of the Month: Spurge Laurel
The Scourge of Spurge Laurel Spurge laurel (Daphne laureola) is neither a spurge nor a laurel, but rather an invasive plant in the Daphne family. This perennial plant has poisonous berries, spreads aggressively in our native forests, and is increasingly being found in Clackamas County. Native to Europe, spurge laurel was introduced in Oregon as […]