Apr 24 2012
Earth Day at Wapato Greenway
Wapato State Greenway, an Oregon Parks & Recreation Department property located on Sauvie Island, received a spring cleaning this Earth Day weekend. Multiple organizations organized volunteers to help restore and improve this diverse landscape for both wildlife residents and human visitors. The International Order of the Blue Gavel, an association of past commodores, helped OPRD organize and conduct a clean-up at the picnic and dock area, refreshing gravel on trails, and installing a new dock ramp at Hadley’s Landing. West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District and SOLV helped OPRD sponsor a noxious weed pull, tackling garlic mustard, shiny geranium, stinky Bob, scotch brome, and blackberry inhabiting the oak meadows.
If the sunshine and satisfying work weren’t reward enough, volunteers were given a special treat. At the culmination of the volunteer day, Audubon Society of Portland representative Mary Coolidge released a rehabilitated Red-tail Hawk. This adult male hawk came in to Audubon’s Wildlife Care Center three weeks ago from Reeder Road, where it was found on the ground dehydrated and emaciated. Audubon’s staff Veterinarian and WCC volunteers worked to get his weight back up and to ensure that he was in good flying condition to be released back to Sauvie Island on Earth Day.
