To whom it may concern:

I am writing this letter to express my support for Try / On Life Community Farm. I have visited the farm several times and have been very impressed with the sustainable community vision they have been implementing. As an activist I am very happy to see the cross pollination that is occurring at the Try / On Life Community Farm between residents and the wider community through classes, events and neighborliness. As a professionally licensed environmental engineer who specializes in stormwater issues, I am concerned about the potential impacts on the watershed should the land become a typical urban development.

Although Try / On Life Community Farm is a fairly new organization, they have held an amazing array of community events and classes on their site, many of which directly address environmental sustainability. Volunteers, residents, university students, professors, and people from all walks of life have come together to participate in the unique community while learning about organic farming, natural building, biodiesel, spiritual matters, community organizing and social change. The stature of this community hub will only grow as times goes on and more aspects of the vision are implemented.

Try / On Life Community Farm is a unique venue located in an environmentally sensitive patch of land -- the Tryon Creek Watershed. Despite being in a heavily urbanized area, Tryon Creek remains as one of the few remaining free flowing tributaries to the Willamette in Portland. Unfortunately, development in the watershed has raised the creek's temperature, increased nutrient levels and decreased the amount of available dissolved oxygen, all of which have a detrimental effect on endangered salmonoids. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has determined that the water quality of Tryon Creeks violates state standards for temperature. Water quality in the creek is ranked "poor" using the Oregon Water Quality Index. Because of this, I am very thankful that the Try / On Life Community Farm is taking positive steps to heal the land and positively impact water quality by disconnecting downspouts, restoring areas with native plants, and concentrating on conscientious pesticide-free farming. The watershed does not need another high density development -- for the sake of the salmon and our own survival, the city and county need more examples like the Try / On Life Community Farm to demonstrate true environmental sustainability.

This year I plan to help Try / On Life Community Farm with the stormwater management on their site. We plan to work on some living roofs, stormwater infiltration and treatment swales, and further native plantings in order to minimize the impact of its activities on the Tryon Creek watershed. All projects will be monitored in order to gauge their effectiveness and so that the information may be shared with others.

I wish Try / On Life Community Farm continued success and encourage everyone reading this letter to drop in for a visit to observe first hand the positive work and community that is occurring there.

Jeff Maag, PE
Environmental Engineer