OREGON CITY - The Greater Oregon City Watershed Council and the Clackamas Community College Environmental Learning Center are partnering to host a community-led bioblitz on July 8. A bioblitz is an event to take a snapshot of the biodiversity, or variety of life, in a specific place. Students, scientists, naturalists and other community members join together to find and identify as many plants, animals and other organisms as possible in a short period of time.

Sponsored by the Clackamas Water Environment Services, this free event is open to all ages. From 8 a.m. to noon, sign up for an hour-long tour with a local expert taking small groups to explore the Environmental Learning Center. Experts will help community members identify and discover the area's unique wetland habitat. Volunteers will take photos and help document all the creatures and life found at the Environmental Learning Center.

“We are excited to have the community join us in discovering the rich variety of life that calls this place home,” Renee Harber, Environmental Learning Center director, said.

Tom Gaskill, executive director for the Greater Oregon City Watershed Council, said, “The Environmental Learning Center is an extraordinary site where people can see the diversity and abundance of wildlife habitat in an approachable and fun environment.”

Registration is required as time slots are limited. Once registered, resources will be provided to help participants prepare. Wear comfortable outdoor clothes and dress appropriately for inclement weather, this event will be held rain or shine.

Register on Eventbrite. For more information, contact Willow Mikles at willow.mikles@gocwc.org or Samantha Atripaldi at samantha.atripaldi@clackamas.edu.

Clackamas Community College is located at 19600 Molalla Ave., Oregon City.

About the Environmental Learning Center

The Environmental Learning Center has a rich history as an educational resource for Clackamas Community College, regional schools, industry and the community. Located on the former site of a Smucker's processing plant, the center was created to demonstrate what people could do to reclaim industrial sites, address stormwater issues and restore wildlife habitats in urban areas. Each year thousands of people visit to explore the 5-acre site and learn about watershed health. The site serves as an important stormwater facility for the college campus and provides critical wetland habitat for resident and migratory birds, such as the great blue heron, wood duck and merganser.

About the Greater Oregon City Watershed Council

The Greater Oregon City Watershed Council has been working to improve conditions of the watersheds in and around Oregon City for almost two decades. The watershed council's main goals are to conduct habitat restoration, invasive species removal and restoration of native plants and wildlife. They provide technical assistance, education, outreach and work with community partners and stakeholders. They are a nonprofit funded through grants and individual contributions and are only able to carry out this work with the support of the community.