Read the spring issue of Our Big Backyard magazine

Explore the Restoring Rivers infographic

From the wilder reaches of the Clackamas River to the urban stretches of the Willamette River, a number of restoration projects in the area in recent years are collectively making a big difference for water quality, fish and wildlife.

Explore the Restoring Rivers infographic

photo of native grasses at Chehalem Ridge

Native grasses fill a gap in the forest at Chehalem Ridge in western Washington County.

Helping native songbirds

Learn more about one of the rarest types of habitat in the Pacific Northwest and its role in declining populations of native songbirds.

Helping native songbirds

Glendoveer Field Guide

Explore Glendoveer Golf and Tennis Center. Even if you're not a golf or tennis fan, enjoy a stroll through the lush nature trail, play a round of FootGolf or grab a bite at RingSide Grill.

Glendoveer Field Guide

Drake Butsch is chairman of the oversight committee that reviews Metro's investments through the 2006 natural areas bond measure.

4 questions with Drake Butsch

Get to know Drake Butsch, the chairman of the oversight committee that oversees how Metro spends money from the 2006 natural areas bond.

4 questions with Drake Butsch

photo of St. Johns Bridge at Cathedral Park

"While I was walking my dog through Cathedral Park with my husband, the sun was setting perfectly behind the river."

Sarah Stills won the photo contest in the spring issue of Our Big Backyard magazine with her photo of Cathedral Park under the St. Johns Bridge in North Portland.

May 5, 2016 7 p.m.

Rivers, creeks and streams course their way throughout the greater Portland metro region.

Read the spring issue of Our Big Backyard, Metro's quarterly parks and nature magazine, to learn more about the work that Metro and other agencies and organizations are doing to restore rivers. From the wilder reaches of the Clackamas River to the urban stretches of the Willamette River, a number of restoration projects in the area in recent years are collectively making a big difference for water quality, fish and wildlife.

Find a copy of the magazine at a local public library branch, the Oregon Zoo, a Metro park, or at various community centers and senior centers. Or read individual stories online on Parks and Nature News or click the image on the right to see a PDF of the magazine.

In the spring issue, you can:

Read about restoration work in local rivers and streams that's improving water quality and fish and wildlife habitat.
Plan an outing to explore Glendoveer Golf and Tennis Center. Read the Glendoveer Field Guide and then enjoy a stroll around the nature trail or play FootGolf.
Learn more about one of the rarest types of habitat in the Pacific Northwest its connection to declining numbers of native songbirds.
Find details about the fun nature classes, such as wildlife tracking for beginners.
Get to know Drake Butsch, the board president of the Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Portland and an avid angler who serves as chairman of the oversight committee overseeing the 2006 natural areas bond measure.
Mark you calendar for Metro free park(ing) days 2016.
And more!

Subscribe to the print edition

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Read individual stories or view a PDF of the magazine on Parks and Nature News