It's a new year and another opportunity to make some changes at home—inside and out. Below are some ideas to get you started on the path to protecting our watershed in 2012!

• Stay informed. Follow us on twitter or like us on facebook.
• Wipe out. Put baby wipes, cleaning wipes and rags in the trash, not the toilet.
• Get tips on saving water around the house.
• Freeze the grease. Don't clog your pipes by dumping grease, oil or fat down your drain.
• Clean up. Get info on safe cleaning products for healthy families and clean rivers.
• Drop-off drugs. Safely dispose of unwanted and expired medications at several sites.
• Go paperless. Sign up to get you bills electronically and save paper.
• Pick up after pets. Take the Canines for Clean Water pledge and throw pet waste in the trash.
• Dig in. Volunteer to clean up local waterways and plant trees.
• Let it flow. Keep neighborhood storm drains clear and working. Put leaves and organics in your yard debris bin or compost.

If your list of New Year's resolutions included volunteering, why not plant some native trees to protect our watershed? Streams lined with native plants provide cleaner, cooler water, better flood management and habitat for fish and other wildlife. If you'd like to join in and get dirty for a good cause, see the schedule below for upcoming plantings. Click on the location link for more info and to volunteer.

• January 16, Brown's Ferry Park, Tualatin
• January 28, Hedges Creek Marsh, Tualatin
• February 4, Barrows Meadow, Beaverton
• February 4, Pinebrook Creek, Tigard
• February 4, N. Johnson Creek, Beaverton
• February 7, Cedar Mill Wetland, Beaverton
• February 8, Cedar Mill Wetland, Beaverton
• February 11, Nyberg Creek Wetland, Tualatin
• February 11, King City Park
• February 18, Pascuzzi Pond, Tualatin
• February 22, Pascuzzi Pond, Tualatin
• February 25, Durham City Park

It's not quite time to start your spring planting, but now is the perfect time to plan.

• Use our native plant finder to help choose the right plants for your yard.
• Order native plants from East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District. Place your order by Sunday, February 5 and pick up Saturday, February 18.
• Be a Clean Water Hero and get up to three hours of free, on-site, technical assistance to help you create a sustainable stormwater landscape to fit your yard.
• Attend free naturescaping workshops to help plan your landscape.
• Download Metro's Grow Smart, Grow Safe guide to help you find lawn and garden products that are the least hazardous to your family, pets, wildlife and watershed.