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Photo headshot of Kelley Beamer

EMSWCD has a new Executive Director!

We are thrilled to announce the selection by the Board of Directors of our new Executive Director, Kelley Beamer!

Kelley Beamer served as the Executive Director at the Coalition of Oregon Land Trusts (COLT) for more than 10 years and will bring to East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District (EMSWCD) her experience in forging partnerships with diverse communities and advancing land conservation to protect farm and forest lands.

“We are excited to welcome Kelley as our new Executive Director,” says Jasmine Zimmer-Stucky, EMSWCD Board Chair. “Her passion for place-based conservation aligns beautifully with the Board’s recently adopted Strategic Plan. Kelley will bring experience, great communication skills, and time-tested partnerships to the organization. We feel very fortunate to have found a home-grown leader who has worked with urban and rural communities across the state and in our district.” Continue reading →

Public hearing notice regarding conservation easement: June 17, 2025

Bright green rows of new crops stand out against rich soil.EMSWCD works to provide current and future generations of farmers with access to farmland in East Multnomah County and make land for farming more affordable. Through collaborations with existing farmers, our Working Farmland Protection Program helps unlock opportunities for the next generation of farmers and emerging farm businesses to steward these special farm properties.

When our farmland is protected, we all benefit. Local farmland is vital to our community, economy, food systems, and environment. Farmland fuels our rural economy, nourishes people with fresh, locally grown food, and enables us to enjoy the vibrant rural landscapes that make Oregon special.

EMSWCD will hold a virtual public hearing on June 17, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. in connection with the acquisition of a working farmland easement to create a “Forever Farm” for the property located at 36410 SE Gordon Creek Road, Corbett, OR 97080 AKA as tax parcel numbers 1S4E10 -00100 and 1S4E03D -02800. These easements will ensure the agricultural resource values of these properties are protected in perpetuity. These particular transactions will additionally incorporate easement terms that guarantee the farm property remains affordable to and in the ownership of farmers.

Interested persons may submit written testimony before the hearing to Matt Shipkey at matt@emswcd.org, or may attend the hearing by joining the meeting via computer or smartphone at https://meet.goto.com/EastMultSWCD/emswcdpublichearing or by calling United States (Toll Free): 1 (571) 317-3112 with Access Code: 416-726-341.

Additional information on these working farmland easements may be obtained by contacting Matt Shipkey, Land Legacy Program Manager at (503) 935-5374 or matt@emswcd.org

Meeting attendees requiring Americans with Disabilities Act accommodations should call (503)222-7645 x 100 ASAP. To better serve you, five (5) business days before the event is preferred.

a field of invasive garlic mustard is flowering

Garlic Mustard Dumpster

EMSWCD is once again providing a dumpster for disposing of pulled and bagged garlic mustard. The dumpster is located on the Historic Highway, in front of the ball field across the street from the Corbett Water District.

The dumpster is marked clearly as GARLIC MUSTARD DUMPSTER. A tracking sheet is located below the dumpster – please fill out all of the information requested on the sheet so we can track how much time was spent pulling garlic mustard and where it came from. A dumpster will be provided each spring to help the community dispose of garlic mustard.

We are also allowing residents to dispose of tansy ragwort in this dumpster. Please only use this dumpster to dispose of garlic mustard and tansy!

Have any questions? Send an email to Chris    Learn more about pulling invasive garlic mustard

 

Remember: Re-visit pulled sites frequently to make sure no new garlic mustard plants grow and go to seed.

29 New Community Projects Awarded $1.3 Million in Funding

Supporting community efforts is key to our mission of helping people care for land and water. At EMSWCD, we are investing in local efforts that underscore the importance of healthy rivers, outdoor and environmental education, local food production using sustainable practices, and resource access for underserved, lower-income, and/or Black, Indigenous, and people of color. It’s our biggest investment yet, totaling more than $1.3 million in grants to non-profits and community-based organizations. EMSWCD is empowering our local communities to self-organize for a brighter future.

At their April meeting, our Board of Directors approved funding for 29 grant proposals recommended by a review committee of peers and community members. These projects focus on things like:

  • Keeping rivers healthy for people and fish
  • Connecting kids and adults with nature and the land
  • Growing local food using earth-friendly methods
  • Supporting career opportunities in agriculture and the green workforce
  • Critical climate action.

Our community organizations are addressing community disparities and advancing equity by creating benefits for underserved communities through project design, partnerships, and organizational practices. Read the full list of PIC 2025 grantees.

This year’s PIC Grant Review Committee reviewed 43 grant applications requesting more than $2.4 million in funding. Thanks to our expanded outreach efforts, eight first-time applicants received grants, averaging $45,000 each. Learn more about the committee members who helped review and recommend grants here.

Together, we’re investing millions in organizations that help advance our mission. Find out if your organization might be eligible and find support for your community project. Learn more.

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Upcoming EMSWCD Board and Committee Meetings

The East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District (EMSWCD), serving all of Multnomah County east of the Willamette River, has scheduled Board meetings, Budget Committee meetings and Land Legacy Committee meetings for the months of May through June 2025.

Visit this page to see a calendar of upcoming meetings.

EMSWCD and Good Rain Farm partner on the protection of 14-acre Forever Farm

Good Rain Farm and East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District (EMSWCD) have teamed up to create a 14-acre “Forever Farm” in Troutdale. EMSWCD helped facilitate the purchase by Good Rain Farm and added a working farmland easement which ensures the farm will always remain in active farm use, even if the property is sold to a different owner in the future. The easement ensures the farm remains in the ownership of farmers and is affordable to future farmers.

A man with dark hair and glasses stands next to a woman with long brown hair. They are holding up some papers and smiling.

Protecting Good Rain Farm gets big smiles from buyer Michelle Week and Matt Shipkey, the District’s Land Legacy Program Manager

Michelle Week has spent the past five years participating in EMSWCD’s Headwaters Farm Business Incubator Program. The program makes land and equipment more affordable for experienced farmers with limited resources. The 60-acre Headwaters Farm is located near Gresham. The site includes 15 acres along the North Fork of Johnson Creek the district is actively restoring to improve water quality and fish and wildlife habitat.

Good Rain x̌ast sq̓it (hast squeit) translates to Good Rain in the traditional language of the sngaytskstx (Sinixt) the Arrow Lakes Peoples. Farm Founder Michelle Week is of Sinixt ancestry. Weeks believes that through connection to a place we can rebuild a culture of respect, honor, gratitude and reciprocity. Learn more: https://www.goodrainfarm.com/

“Our Working Farmland Protection Program helps protect farmland and supports local farmers and growers to operate sustainable businesses,” explains Kelley Beamer, Executive Director of EMSWCD. “As farmland acreage becomes scarcer and more expensive, we work to preserve farmland and make it more affordable for future generations of farmers.”

Michelle Week holds food sovereignty, empowerment, concern for community and honorable stewardship of the land as the farm’s founding principles. Says Week, “At x̌ast sq̓it Farm we explore our relationship with this land, we decolonize and question our notions of ‘food” and ‘nourishment’. We begin conversation, build awareness, and look forward to a Good Rain that will feed our ecosystems, community and self.”

The Northwest Native Chamber also provided funding for this farmland access project. “Investing in assets, such as farmland or property, is a critical step for Native enterprises to improve long-term access to capital. For many Native-led businesses and communities, the lack of intergenerational wealth — a common barrier due to historical dispossession and systemic inequities—makes such investments essential for creating and sustaining economic opportunities. By securing tangible assets, we assist Native entrepreneurs to build lasting economic resilience, access better financing options, and establish businesses that can thrive for generations. Continue reading →