If you were inspired by Metro's recent Nature in Neighborhoods grant recipients, who are transforming an alley into a green parkway, restoring fish habitat and more, why not join them? It's time to fine-tune your own idea to protect and enhance nature. Metro staff needs to know how many viable projects are brewing to anticipate the next full application period. If you have a project ready for consideration, submit your letter of interest as soon as possible.

Neighbors in Northeast Portland are taking on an invasive weed that may be relatively new to the Portland metropolitan area but has wreaked havoc in California, other parts of the United States and France. The Metro Council, on May 19, awarded more than $572,000 in Nature in Neighborhoods grants to seven community projects in Multnomah County. One of the projects received a capital grant funded by the natural areas bond measure approved by voters in 2006. The six other projects will get restoration and enhancement grants that come out of Metro's general fund.

Envision standing underneath a magnificent old oak and looking down into the Willamette River to see salmon and trout making their way into the mouth of Johnson Creek. Now imagine watching an invasive weed new to the Portland metropolitan area clog ponds at the Blue Heron Wetlands and make its way to nearby waterways including Smith and Bybee lakes. Efforts to protect, restore, promote and celebrate nature throughout the Portland metropolitan region received a nearly $1.6 million boost from Metro on Thursday. The Metro Council awarded 17 Nature in Neighborhood grants to a variety of worthwhile projects.