14th Annual Slough Celebration Channels Funds to Preserve Watersheds

Bureau of Environmental Services staff celebrate Leadership Award winner Toby Query (center).

Portland, February 8th, 2013. The 14^th Annual Slough Celebration was an evening of merriment and competitive auction bidding which raised almost $23,000. All proceeds support the The Columbia Slough Watershed Council’s work educating the community and improving the health of local watersheds. Bureau of Environmental Services staff members congratulated Leadership Award winner, Toby Query. (Photo credit, Kenny MacDonald)

Leadership Award Winner Rex Burkholder and wife Lydia Rich

2012 Award Winners

Each Leadership and Achievement award winner was honored with a humorous video describing the winner’s efforts.

From The Columbia Slough Watershed Council:

We are a diverse group of stakeholders who work to restore and enhance the 60 miles of waterways known as the Columbia Slough, located in Portland, Gresham, and Fairview. We provide outdoor education, recreation opportunities and restoration in Columbia Slough Watershed.

We recognized seven award winners this year:

2012 Leadership Awards

Rex Burkholder-Metro Councilor
Toby Query-City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services Ecologist

2012 Achievement Awards

City of Gresham-Columbia Slough Water Quality Facility
Elena Mark-Portland Public Schools
Port of Portland-Portland International Airport Deicing System Enhancements
Katy Weil-Metro

2013 Whitaker Ponds Award

Catherine Trzybinski and Chris Lastomirsky: Creativity and leadership in mural project.

Kenny MacDonald of Recorded History was our photographer and video editor. The video team of Susan Barthel, Nancy Hendrickson, Megan Hanson, Sheilagh Diez, Julie Matney and Penny Beckwith developed and directed the stories. The filming work was done by volunteer Jeremy Hogeweide and the video team. Many friends and co-workers of the award winners provided the acting talent.

Elisa Klein

I’ve been a professional journalist and writer since 1987, (and long-time reporter for KOIN-TV.) As a nationally published reporter, with a Master’s Degree in Journalism, I love to report positive news and information. Journalism has also connected me with another non-profit where I served as a leader; the Northwest’s biggest writer’s organization: The Willamette Writers.