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The CERT logo for Benton County with green letters and the iconic Benton County Courthouse
Emergency Preparedness Tips #7
Pam Wilson | August 19, 2021

In this post, Pam writes about overall emergency preparedness, the Oregon Resilience Plan, and other practical reminders.

The CERT logo for Benton County with green letters and the iconic Benton County Courthouse
Emergency Preparedness Tips #6
Pam Wilson | August 13, 2021

In this 6th post in the emergency preparedness series, Pam discuss smoke and first aid kits.

The CERT logo for Benton County with green letters and the iconic Benton County Courthouse
Emergency Preparedness Tips #5
Pam Wilson | August 5, 2021

In the fifth emergency preparedness post, Pam focuses on extreme heat, fire, red flag warnings, and emergency alerts.

The CERT logo for Benton County with green letters and the iconic Benton County Courthouse
Emergency Preparedness Tips #4
Pam Wilson | July 30, 2021

Pam shares some of the things she has learned about go-bag preparation in this companion post to Emergency Preparedness Tips #3.

The CERT logo for Benton County with green letters and the iconic Benton County Courthouse
Emergency Preparedness Tips #3
Pam Wilson | July 29, 2021

Do you have a “go-bag”? What is a go-bag? How do you start a go-bag? Where should you keep a go-bag? Pam Wilson shares tips to answer these questions.

The CERT logo for Benton County with green letters and the iconic Benton County Courthouse
Emergency Preparedness Tips #2
Pam Wilson | July 9, 2021

This is the second installment in Pam Wilson’s blog post series to help Benton County residents prepare for emergencies. It outlines six steps you can take this week – that’s about one item per day.

The CERT logo for Benton County with green letters and the iconic Benton County Courthouse
Emergency Preparedness Tips #1
Pam Wilson | July 1, 2021

Whether it’s an ice storm, a wildfire, or another natural disaster, volunteers from Benton County Community Emergency Response Team (BC CERT) have been trained to help their neighbors respond. CERT volunteer Pam Wilson provides tips to get ready for the next event/disaster and to prepare for possible evacuation due to fire.

New Location/COVID Changes
Heath Keirstead | June 8, 2021

As of June 2021, our new office location is 136 SW Washington Ave., Suite 201. Benton SWCD staff are temporarily working remotely to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.  The office is not open to the public at this time.  Please contact individual staff for assistance with your conservation needs. Staff can most easily be reached by email.

Two House Sparrows sitting on a rock wall. Photo: Lip Kee CC BY-SA 2.0
Help Swallows and Bluebirds Thrive
Heath Keirstead | June 3, 2021

If you have nest boxes for swallows or bluebirds, you may have house sparrows too. House Sparrows are considered by many a pest because of their aggressive nesting behavior. Learn what you can do.

a forest with trees of varying heights to demonstrateall the canopy layers that birds use
Tips to Create a Bird-Friendly Garden
Lauren Pharr | June 3, 2021

In this post, Lauren offers 6 tips on how you can design a bird-friendly garden right in your own backyard.

Grow Native with Benton SWCD
Heath Keirstead | June 2, 2021

Winter Native Plant Sale: order online from August 15-December 31 or until all plants are sold, whichever comes first. Then schedule your winter order pick-up for February 4, 5, or 7. Shop now at bentonswcd.org/shop/.

The Impacts of Nonnative Plants on Birds
Lauren Pharr | April 28, 2021

In my blog post The Native Link: The Importance of Native Plants to Birds, I describe the importance of native plants to the ecosystem, and more specifically, how birds benefit from native plants. But what exactly is the problem with nonnative, and more specifically invasive, plants and how do they affect birds and the ecosystem

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