Water at Sundown

A Portland environmental organization is helping restore crucial watersheds by investing in projects that have the greatest chance of success. And to bring attention to its work, Ecotrust invites the public to a series of free concerts – including one Thursday night, July 17.

Because healthy watersheds are good for people and salmon, “at Ecotrust, we take a different approach to salmon habitat restoration than what’s been done in the past: We run a public-private competitive grant program that brings together funders around projects in Oregon and Washington watersheds with the greatest potential for recovering salmon — where there is strong community support, effective collaboration, and high ecological value.”

Every week during the Ecotrust Sundown Concert Series, a different environmental resource is highlighted. At tonight’s event, featuring local artists and a street fair, the highlighted resource is water.

From the Ecotrust website:

“This past year, Ecotrust helped fund salmon and steelhead habitat restoration work on the John Day River in eastern Oregon, the third longest undammed river in the lower 48 and the largest undammed tributary remaining in the mighty Columbia River basin.

Along its Middle Fork, the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs are creating a diverse coalition of supporters and partners — including state and federal agencies, regional tribal government, and a local watershed council, among others — to strategically plan where to work and what projects to undertake. Their efforts are transforming an historically dredged river back into one where the stream meanders across its floodplain and native fish thrive.”

Week two at Sundown features local bands Magic Mouth and Brainstorm, performing at the Ecotrust Natural Capital Center, 721 N.W. 9th, Portland, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.

For more about Ecotrust’s unique public-private partnership, visit the Ecotrust website.

Watch a video on the Whole Watershed Restoration Initiative: