Conservación urbana
Our yards should be safe, healthy places for local wildlife.
Conservation Actions for Urban Yards
When it rains, water from your yard and garden can wash chemicals, animal waste, and soil into storm drains. These drains usually flow directly into our rivers and streams. Many people do not know that these same rivers and streams provide drinking water for many cities.
Keeping our water clean is everyone’s job, including farmers and landowners in the countryside, and people living in towns and cities.
So, what can you do to help protect our rivers and streams?
Use fewer chemicals.
Try not to use pesticides to kill insects or weeds. Instead, you can prune plants or pull weeds by hand. There are also non-toxic products available in stores. Even though these products are less toxic, you must read the label and follow directions for safety. Be aware that some of these products can still harm beneficial insects. These insects will reduce insect pests without the use of chemicals. You can learn how to create a habitat for beneficial insects by searching the resources section on this topic.
Plant native plants.
Native trees, shrubs, and groundcovers are great for providing shade and a buffer around ponds and streams. Visit our Streamside Habitat page to learn about keeping streams and streamside areas healthy. Native plants also attract our native birds and pollinators.
Remove ivy and other harmful plants that spread too fast.
Be a good neighbor and save local trees by removing ivy and other non-native plants that quickly spread to other properties. For more information, check out our WeedWise page.
Make your yard a safe place for animals and YOU.
A healthy yard has a variety of plants that provide food and shelter for birds, bats, pollinators, etc. Creating this habitat also creates a healthy place for you and your family to enjoy. Add nesting boxes and water sources, then sit back and listen to the sounds of nature in your yard. Learn more about nesting boxes and other habitat improvements in our resources section.
Why use native plants in your yard?
For thousands of years, native plants and animals have grown and changed together. This includes insects native to our area. Not only do these insects pollinate plants but they are a food source for our local songbirds. Baby songbirds need insects to survive, and adult birds eat insects, seeds, nuts, and fruits the plants provide.
Planting more native plants of different heights helps attract many kinds of insects, birds, and other animals. Areas with trees, bushes, and shorter plants have deeper roots than regular grass lawns, which makes the soil healthier. This helps rainwater soak into the ground better and hold more water, making it easier for plants to survive during hot summer days.
Native plants are adapted to local weather. They can handle heavy rain in winter and dry heat in summer. They also have built up resistance to our local insect pests, making these plants easier to grow with little effort.
Every yard that includes native plants helps create more space for wildlife. Together, we can make a big difference!
Oregon is home to over
3,600
native plant species with with many facing conservation concerns.
How does the District help me create a habitat in my backyard?
Creating a good habitat in your yard is just as important as improving habitat on a larger scale. The Backyard Habitat Certification Program (BHCP) helps people make their yards beautiful while also being great places for wildlife.
This program is a partnership between the Bird Alliance of Oregon and the Columbia Land Trust. It helps people turn small urban spaces—1 acre or less—into natural habitats. These habitats contribute to the connection between public and private lands, giving wildlife more safe spaces to live and travel.
Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District provides funding to ensure the BHCP services are available to urban residents in many Clackamas County cities. So far, more than 12,000 yards have joined the program, making a big difference for local wildlife, one yard at a time.
After you sign up, a Backyard Habitat Technician will reach out to set up a visit to your property. They won’t just look at your backyard, they’ll check out your whole yard. During the visit, the Technician will point out harmful weeds that should be removed, listen to your ideas and goals for the space, and give advice based on your needs. After the visit, you will receive a custom Site Report. This report will include their recommendations and a list of steps to follow to get your yard certified.
This program is open to yards 1 acre or smaller in the Portland Metro area and Clark County.
What if my yard is larger than one acre?
If your yard is larger than 1 acre or you live outside the Backyard Habitat service area, you can join the Gardening for Wildlife Program by the National Wildlife Federation. Here you will find what you need to do to create and become a Certified Wildlife Habitat.
What if I have a question that is not about habitat
Check out our Frequently Asked Questions or contact a Conservation Specialist for help with your natural resource concern.
Mercados agrícolas
Access to locally grown food without leaving town!
Farmers markets are places where local farmers can sell their food and other products. Supporting local farms, helps producers care for the land and water and keeps the land in agriculture. This is good for the environment, wildlife, and people!
Farmers markets are also fun places for the community to come together. They are great for learning about food, farming, and nature. It’s important for both kids and adults to understand how fresh, healthy food helps us stay strong.
The Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District helps local farmers markets!
Our Farmers Markets Support Grant program helps the markets stay open for farmers to sell their goods. Clackamas County has many farmers markets in both cities and small towns. For more information about our Farmers Market Support Grant Program, please contact Cathy McQueeney at 503-998-9952.
4,156
Farms in Clackamas County
Visit a Farm!
Another way to access locally grown food is by visiting local farms. From Christmas trees to produce, and other farm products it is fun to meet your local farmers. You can find many of the local farms that sell directly to the public at Tri-County Farms.
Urban Conservation Resources
| Título | Categorías | Enlace | hf:doc_categories |
|---|
"
In the past we have asked our yards to do one thing. To be pretty. Now we have to ask them to do two things: Be pretty and ecologically functional.
—Douglas Tallamy
Estamos aquí para usted.
Distrito de Conservación del Suelo y el Agua de Clackamas
