Lents ‘Depave’ event to help Johnson Creek’s health

INCLUDES VOLUNTEERING VIDEO | Take a look, and see why volunteers did some really ‘heavy lifting’ at an outer East Portland apartment complex …

Volunteers make quick work of pulling up slabs of asphalt from the unused area of a parking lot directly adjacent to Johnson Creek, in the Lents neighborhood.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

Wednesday morning, April 8, a hearty group of volunteers – dressed to get dirty – headed out to a Depave project at the Stonebridge Apartments, along SE 92nd Avenue in the Lents neighborhood.

The project was being held in cooperation with the Johnson Creek Watershed Council, we learned from that organization’s Executive Director, Daniel Newberry.

“In fact, today’s project is actually right next to the project we did with Depave nine years ago, in May of 2014, at St. Mary Ethiopian Orthodox Church,” Newberry reminded East Portland News. CLICK HERE to read our story about that project.

The concept of what happens at events like this is simple, Depave Program Coordinator Katya Reyna remarked. “After the pavement was cut into manageable pieces earlier this week, volunteers are now ripping up the asphalt to help avert stormwater runoff, help mitigate flooding, and reduce the ‘heat island’ effect.”

Watch these volunteers at work, ripping up pavement to help save the environment:

Before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Depave held events like this frequently. “But now, we’re being more ‘intentional’ with our projects, and with the sites we select, to make sure we do a really good job with each site,” Reyna explained. “And, we’re also being more intentional with community outreach, and involving people who would not otherwise have heard of us.”

Depave Program Coordinator Katya Reyna and Johnson Creek Watershed Council Restoration Project Manager Elizabeth Brosig tell why this project is important.

Also at the location, helping out next to Johnson Creek, was JCWC Restoration Project Manager Elizabeth Brosig, P.E. “The ‘P.E.’ after my name means that I’m a licensed professional engineer,” she responded with a smile, in response to our cheeky question.

“We’ve designed the storm water retrofits for use after Depave completes the first part of this project.

“We’re doing this project here at a low-income senior housing apartment complex right next to Johnson Creek,” Brosig went on. “They have had severe flooding, right at their doorsteps, every year – and we want to help end that.

After hours of hard work, volunteers take a brief break.

“At the same time, because there’s a lot of stormwater that’s been draining directly into Johnson Creek, we’re trying to end the water running off the pavement, collecting pollutants, and then going directly into the creek.”

So, thanks to the work of two nonprofit organizations, the results of the day’s work will solve flooding, and help with Johnson Creek’s “health” at the same time.

With the project completed, it’s time to pack up and head out, ready for the next such challenge.

To learn more about the Johnson Creek Watershed Council, CLICK HERE.

And, to learn more about Depave, CLICK HERE.

© 2023 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™

 

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