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Environmental Services

Volunteer and Educational Tours

Discover fun and meaningful ways to be part of Gresham’s environment. From watching birds and building habitats for critters, to protecting water resources – and visiting City facilities that preserve them.

Volunteer

Habitat Construction

Volunteer building and installing habitat structures for Gresham’s birds, bees and bats. 

  • Experience with power tools is preferred. 
  • Work days can be arranged to fit your schedule.

Donate materials: Nearly all parts of the habitat structures come from donated materials.

Gresham partners with regional organizations to schedule volunteer events throughout the year. 

Partners

Marking Storm Drains

Volunteer marking storm drains with stickers in neighborhoods and commercial areas around town. 

  • The markers remind people not to dump household waste, mop water, paint, etc. down storm drains.
  • Pollutants that enter storm drains are harmful to streams. 

Contact: 

Matt Henry, 503-618-2657 | Matt.Henry@GreshamOregon.gov

Natural Area Stewardship

Volunteer opportunities

The City is working to make our streams healthier and cleaner – and you can help! Our Natural Resources Program hosts tree-planting events along streams during different seasons. These events take place in natural areas around Gresham.

Planting trees helps keep water cool and stops pollution, like pesticides and mercury, from getting into the streams. Clean water is better for fish, like salmon, and it's better for our health too.

To learn more about the City's efforts to reduce stream temperatures and pollutants, read the Total Maximum Daily Load Plan.

Other ways you can help

If joining a group activity doesn't work for you, there are still ways you can help. For example, picking up your dog's waste – especially in natural areas or near streams – helps keep harmful bacteria of the water. This keeps people and animals safer and healthier. Even small actions, like picking up trash or reporting loose dirt or other materials going into a stream can make a difference in keeping our water clean.

For more information about upcoming planting events, or to report a problem, email Mike.Wallace@GreshamOregon.gov.

Local partners

Pollinator Peace Garden

Location

Vance Park
1400 SE 182nd Ave.

Volunteer to help us weed, plant flowers and create a safe habitat for pollinators.  The Water Resources Division is preparing a Pollinator Peace garden for spring education talks on pollinators.

If you are interested in volunteering our would like additional information, contact Outgrowing Hunger or call 971-231-4191.

Educational Tours

Gresham Wastewater Treatment Plant

Ever wonder where the water goes after you do dishes or flush the toilet?  Public and school group tours are available. 

  • Take a 45-minute guided tour through each step of the treatment process.
  • Learn how the solar array and biogas generation allow the plant to be energy net-zero.
  • Tour booklets are available for students in 2nd – 5th grades.

 Educational resources 

Schedule a tour

Call the Wastewater Treatment Plant office, 503-618-3450. The facility is located at 20015 NE Sandy Blvd.

Columbia Slough Regional Stormwater Treatment Facility

Green and beautiful - with an important purpose - this 14-acre wetland was constructed to treat polluted water and provide a home to native plants and wildlife.

  • Take a 45-minute self-guided tour through this restored parcel of land.
  • School groups can check out a backpack of educational materials full of activities such as a scavenger hunt.
  • Materials were developed by a teacher to meet Oregon benchmarks.

 Educational resources 

Schedule a tour 

The wetland is located next to the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant; tours of the facility are self-guided.

  • To schedule an appointment to pick up the gate key and educational materials, call the plant’s main office, 503-618-3450.
  • To schedule an educator to accompany your visit, call the Columbia Slough Watershed Council, 503-281-1132.
  • Wastewater Treatment Plan map

Volunteer contacts