Streamside Planting Program
On this page:
Why it’s important:
The Tualatin River was once known as Oregon’s most polluted waterway. It has improved since the 1980s as the result of streamside planting and wetland management. As conditions improve, coho and steelhead are returning to the watershed.
You can help ensure we have cool, clean, and abundant water for future generations with a streamside planting project.
Tualatin SWCD streamside planting program:
We offer a voluntary streamside planting program to people in the Tualatin River watershed to cool and clean our waters, and provide wildlife habitat for the region.
Why we plant trees and shrubs along streambanks:
Benefits of enrolling:
- Project costs are covered
The total cost of the project is covered by Tualatin SWCD, including project planning, labor and materials.
- Soil rental payments
Farmers can receive payments for participating in land conservation to offset revenue from farm acres taken out of production.
- Cash bonuses
Additional payments may be made for projects that neighbor existing planting projects. Tell your neighbors!
- Long-term success
Our team of specialists will use best practices to reduce the weeds and bring back a healthy plant community. Projects last at least 10 years to include time for monitoring and maintenance.
- Our shared future
You’ll know that you’re keeping your property livable for the people and the hundreds of wildlife species that depend on the waters of the Tualatin River watershed to survive.
Eligibility:
Start with a site visit. Anyone living in Washington County can contact Tualatin SWCD for a FREE site visit from our team of specialists. We will talk with you about your unique property, provide recommendations about what you can do for conservation, and discuss our program offerings.
In our stremside planting program, we install thousands of native plants on either side of a stream. Our average project size is 10 acres. However, each project is unique.
To be eligible for our no-cost streamside planting program the property must meet all of the following requirements:
LocationIt is a private property or community land located in rural Washington County, Oregon (click here for program details for urban areas!).
Perennial streamThe Tualatin River or a stream flows through the property year-round.
Project planting areaThere is room for an average of 50-ft planting areas on one or both sides of the stream (for most of the stream).
Current shadingThe stream currently lacks sufficient shading from native trees and shrubs.
PermissionsYou own the property or can receive landowner permission to do the work.
Learn more about the program: Download our Streams Program Flyer [PDF]
What to expect:
If you meet the eligibility requirements, we will work with you to determine the size of the project area and funding source, and then we will rank and review your project for funding consideration.
Note: Throughout the project you retain access and ownership of the property. We are not a regulatory or reporting agency, but we can help you understand and take voluntary actions to comply with rules that affect you.
Our Funding Partners
We work with many partners to provide this program. Thanks to Clean Water Services, Farm Services Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Oregon Water Resources Department and Oregon Department of Forestry.
Questions? Would you like to schedule a site visit? Contact us!
