News & Events

This is the place to get up to date information on the new and exciting happenings in the Hood River Soil and Water Conservation District and the Hood River Watershed Group.

Think about birds before spring mowing and pruning

CORVALLIS - For the birds' sake, home gardeners should be careful when mowing and pruning in the spring and early summer, according to Dan Edge, Tara and Doug Robinson, wildlife biologists at Oregon State University.

Trees, both dead and alive, shrubs, grass, riparian areas, bare ground and ground cover may all provide nesting habitats for wild birds in the late winter through early summer. Keep in mind bird nesting cycles when pruning and mowing in spring and summer. Follow this link for a full article from OSU Extension Service providing some hints from OSU wildlife biologists to help home gardeners avoid destroying bird nests and nesting habitat during nesting season.

The Spotted Winged Drosophila (SWD) is a new, invasive pest that can be found in Oregon, California and Washington. SWD may infest a variety of fruits that are grown both commercially and in backyard gardens. Infested fruits are ruined due to the damage caused by fly maggots as they consume the fruit and accelerate the rate of rotting. This fly also has the capacity to inflict great economic losses to Oregon’s vibrant small and stone fruit industries. The fact that SWD favors intact, ripening fruit that is still on the plant, as opposed to favoring overripe and fallen fruit on the ground as in other drosophilid vinegar flies, makes suzukii a particulary nasty problem. To stay informed with the most current scientific knowledge of Spotted Wing Drosophila fruit fly biology, management, and effects on crops please regularly check the OSU Spotted Wing Drosophila website: http://swd.hort.oregonstate.edu.

After four years in the making, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) has released its plan for the conservation and recovery of Oregon's native salmon and steelhead populations in the Lower Columbia River and is seeking public comment. ODFW and other partnering agencies presented the plan and held their first public meeting and open house during the Hood River Watershed Group's April 27th meeting.

The Plan outlines steps to rebuild natural populations of salmon and steelhead in the Lower Columbia that have experienced drastic declines over the last 100 years. The Plan's goal is to help salmon and steelhead populations grow to levels where they no longer need protection under the federal Endangered Species Act. To learn more, and provide comments on the plan, please visit: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/CRP/lower_columbia_plan.asp.

It's Now Illegal to Trash that Computer or TV!

The new year brings an important reminder to all Oregonians: Beginning Jan. 1, 2010, it's illegal to dispose of computers, monitors or TVs in the garbage or at disposal sites such as landfills, transfer stations and incinerators.

This disposal ban is part of the same law that created Oregon E-Cycles, which provides free recycling of computers, monitors and TVs at any of the program’s 220 collection sites statewide. The law states that anyone violating the ban could receive a penalty of up to $500 for each violation. Each computer, monitor or TV disposed of improperly is considered a separate violation. Visit Oregon E-Cycles to find a conveniently located collection site or call the toll-free hotline at 1-888-5-ECYCLE (1-888-532-9253).

Remember, mandatory pre-registration is required to get an appointment. Please call our contractor, PSC Environmental Services at 1-800-547-2436. Your load will be hand-checked in and documented for your disposal records. The first $400 worth of disposal is FREE. For more information, contact the TriCounty program at 541-506-2636 or visit www.tricountyrecycle.com The website also lists the free collections for households and businesses throughout 2010.

The Hood River SCWD has completed their 2008/09 Annual Report! Inside you will find stories about the past year's successes, experiences and happenings of the SWCD, the Hood River Watershed Group and their many partners. Also inside you'll find the 2010 Plant Sale Order Form! Click here to download your own copy today!

Upcoming Events

August 5th: Soil & Water Conservation District 7:00-9:00pm at the OSU Extension Office

July 27th: Hood River Watershed Group PICNIC 5:00- dusk at Tollbridge Park