Join the Utility Management Committee, in partnership with the Lower Columbia Section and the Students and Young Professionals on a tour of Clean Water Services’ Fernhill Wetland in Forest Grove. There will be time afterward to socialize with old friends or make new ones at the Grand Lodge in Forest Grove.

Date and Time: June 20, 2024 4:00 tour, 5:15 (approximately) for Happy Hour

Hosts: Utility Management Committee, Lower Columbia Section, Students and Young Professionals and Clean Water Services. Tour led by Jeff Hart.

Fernhill is part of more than 700 acres in Forest Grove owned by Clean Water Services for water resources management. Fernhill utilizes natural treatment systems, or wetlands, to improve water quality by removing nutrients and cooling and naturalizing the water after initial treatment at the Forest Grove facility. In the summer, 5 million gallons of water are cleaned each day at Forest Grove and then Fernhill before flowing to the Tualatin River.

CWS acquired Fernhill in 2006 and in 2014 90 acres of old sewage lagoons were transformed into treatment wetlands by draining the ponds, then drying and excavating more than 200,000 cubic yards of soil into precise contours and depths. Using 15 control structures and 2,400 feet of piping, the water was managed to encourage the growth and establishment of over a million native wetland plants and four billion seeds, planted both for water quality and for habitat. More information is available online at https://fernhillnts.org/

• Address: 1399 SW Fern Hill Rd, Forest Grove, OR 97116
• Park in either of the delineated paved or gravel parking areas

Social will follow at the Grand Lodge Pat’s Corner. 3505 Pacific Ave, Forest Grove, OR 97116

Register Here!