The July First Saturdays event is bumped to the 2nd Saturday due to the Holiday weekend.

July 10: JCWC Volunteer Restoration Event at Freeway Lands, 9am-noon

Join Volunteer Coordinator Amy Lodholz and volunteers for a morning pulling ivy along Johnson Creek. Contact Amy to sign up and get directions to the meeting location, .

July 31 and August 7: Freshwater Mussel Sampling with the Xerces Society, 10am-2pm

Contact Amy to sign up and get directions to the meeting location, .

Saturday, September 4th: As part of the month long Johnson Creek Days event, join us for a volunteer restoration activity. Details on the way. Contact Amy for more info, .

Tuesday, July 27: Johnson Creek Watershed Council New Volunteer Orientation, 1-2pm

Interested in getting involved with the work of the Johnson Creek Watershed Council? Come to the next Volunteer Orientation!

Highlights of this meeting are: Introduction by Volunteer Coordinator Amy Lodholz, Overview of the various volunteer positions the Council offers, Meet new people who share your interest in our mission, Share your ideas and interests -- we want to hear from you, Review upcoming restoration event opportunities, and learn about all the various ways you can help the Johnson Creek Watershed Council!

Can't make the meeting? Don't sweat! Just contact Amy and she will meet you at a better time! Meeting at Roundtable Pizza at 6250 SE Foster Road.

Wednesday, July 7th: Johnson Creek Watershed Council Outreach Task Force Training, 6-7pm

We're currently looking for additional volunteers to join the ranks of our Outreach Task Force. This group of volunteers, when available, help represent us at upcoming events and fairs. Interested in supporting these efforts? Please RSVP to

.

Come and learn some key facts and talking points you should know when representing Johnson Creek Watershed Council.

Johnson Creek Watershed Council Headquarters
1900 SE Milport Rd., Portland, OR

Johnson Creek Days has a full line up of great events for the entire month of September!

From bike rides, family discovery walks, artist demonstrations, and an art show benefit to orienteering runs, there is something for everyone!

Johnson Creek Days - Raising Watershed Awareness in the Month of September

For more info, visit http://www.jcwc.org.

JCWC and the Community Energy Project are partnering to offer—Water to the Weather for Healthy Watersheds—a free workshop in which participants learn the basics about evapotranspiration, water-wise irrigation, and how to reduce nonpoint source water pollution. The class discusses how to use a soil probe, measure your sprinkler system, and how to measure weekly watering needs. This workshop is ideal for those who water outdoors and want to conserve water to protect the environment and reduce their bills.

Everything is free, and participants receive a free conservation kit of materials. To register, email water@communityenergyproject.org or call 503.284.6827 ext. 109.

On Tuesday, July 13th from 7-9 pm, the Johnson Creek Watershed Council will host the third community design charette for the Tacoma Street Light Rail station, a stop on the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail line opening in 2015. These charettes focus on integrating wildlife habitat, sustainable stormwater management, and environmental education features into the design of the Tacoma Street Station. The Tacoma station will be located just south of Johnson Creek; it will provide a unique opportunity to feature and enhance the hydrology and ecology of Johnson Creek.

Any one is welcome to attend the charettes. You do not need special skills or knowledge to attend. All you need is enthusiasm and a desire to help design a light rail station that enhances nearby Johnson Creek.

The charette will be held at the Watershed Council office at 1900 SE Milport Road, Milwaukie, 97222 (enter in back of the building, accessible from the parking lot off of McBrod Avenue). Please RSVP to Matt Clark at or 503.652-7477.

Instead of our regular "Weed of the Month" section, we will be presenting invasive plants commonly found in gardens, along with a native alternative to use instead. Happy gardening!

Rogue: Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)

Characteristics

Tree of Heaven, also called Chinese sumac or stinking sumac, is one of the great misnomers in the plant world. It is a weedy, fast-growing deciduous tree that can reach 25-45 meters (80-150 feet) in height. Its bark is smooth and pale grey, with light-brown twigs.

The alternating leaves are large and compound, typically 20-50 cm (8-20 in) long, though they may reach up to 1.3 meters (4 feet). Leaves may have 15 to 41 leaflets, each 4-13 cm (1.5-5 in) long.

Small, yellow-green flowers appear near the branch tips in late spring, in clusters 6-12 cm (2.5-5 in) long; male flowers have a strong, offensive odor similar to cat urine. Female trees produce seeds in late summer.

Seeds ripen into flat, twisted papery samaras that twirl as they fall to the ground. The roots of Tree of Heaven can readily damage sewer systems and foundations; the leaves are toxic to domestic animals, and contact with the sap may produce skin rashes. How "heavenly."

Spread

Tree of Heaven is a prolific seed producer; a single tree can produce 325,000 to 350,000 seeds each year. Wind can disperse the samaras over a wide range, allowing them to colonize natural areas, yards, and even cracks in pavement or foundations. Seeds sprout and grow readily in almost any environment. Tree of Heaven can also spread through suckering from its extensive root system, once it is established.

The plant's tissues produce a substance (ailanthone) that is harmful to many other plant species; this, combined with very rapid growth, allows it to out-compete existing vegetation. Native to China, Tree of Heaven is widely established in the Pacific Northwest, and may be seen growing in yards, parks, roadsides, driveways, and unkempt hair if one is not careful.

Control

Tree of Heaven is best controlled early; keep an eye out for seedlings, and pull them before they can develop a taproot. Large plants can be cut and stump-treated with an appropriate herbicide. Simply cutting down established trees will only encourage suckering from the cut stump and roots (though repeated cutting of all aboveground growth for several years can eventually exhaust the root system).

Native Replacements

Cascara (Rhamnus purshiana) is a native small tree or shrub that can reach 15 m (50 ft) in height, producing berries that are an excellent food source for birds and lovely fall foliage.

Pacific madrone (Arbutus menziesii) is an evergreen tree with attractive, peeling bark. Either of these would make a welcome replacement for Tree of Heaven (assuming it is growing where you would want a tree).

For more information

• Tree of Heaven at The Weedy Connection
• "Garden Plants Poisonous to People (PDF)"

• Tree of heaven
• Ailanthus altissima
• Cascara