Luckiamute Watershed Council

🌲One of our excellent forestry partners, Starker Forests , is hosting five FREE summer tours in July and August! During these tours, you will walk through the forest as you learn about forestry and management practices from a Starker forester. Learn more and register at https://starkerforests.com/news/starker-summer-tours/

If you are a 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿, make sure to register for this Polk Soil & Water Conservation District tour at Lucky Crow Farms in Monmouth!

Are you a beginning farmer or thinking about farming? This tour is for you! Join us for a morning at Lucky Crow Farm as we learn from Eden Olsen about her farm management. Topics to be covered: soil health, farm equipment, funding opportunities, challenges and how to navigate.

We’ll also share resources for farmers and you’ll have the opportunity to connect with the collaborators for this event, including: Polk Soil and Water Conservation District, OSU Extension, Rogue Farm Corps and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Light refreshments and snacks will be provided at the end of the tour.

Register here: https://www.polkswcd.com/lucky-crow-farm-tour.html

The Traditional Ecological Inquiry Program (TEIP) has room for two Tribal Youth interns interested in exploring Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Cultural Fire. Learn more and apply at https://bit.ly/TEIPInterest

TEIP has space for two new Interns! Please spread the word!

Next Monday, July 15, you are invited to join the Marys River Watershed Council at Common Fields in Corvallis for this interactive and engaging presentation by OSU Wildlife Science PhD student, Ellen Dymit!

Ecology Tap Talk: Predator Palates: Investigating Top Carnivore Diets from Sea to Canopy. Monday, July 15, 5:30-7:30 PM, with talk starting at 6. Common Fields in downtown Corvallis.

🌻 Happy Fourth of July, watershed community! Stay cool and safe during this heat wave, and take some time to check out our Summer issue of Meanderings for the latest watershed news and updates! https://www.luckiamutelwc.org/lwc-newsletter.html

🌿 The invasive plant of the month for July is Canada thistle! 🎋 Despite its name, this invasive plant is originally from Europe, not from Canada. This plant is a very common w**d in open, sunny environments - including pastures, farm fields, residential yards, clear-cuts, riverbanks and roadsides. In addition to crowding out native plants and reducing plant diversity, Canada thistle produces a chemical that inhibits the growth of neighboring plants. Hand-pulling is only effective for very young plants, since established plants have deep rhizomatous roots and can spread if even a small fragment of the root system is left behind. For more information and tips for removing invasive Canada thistle, visit https://www.marionswcd.net/plants/canada-thistle/

🎉It's here! This 10-page guide features native plants are both adapted to the Willamette Valley and fire-resistant. From groundcovers and perennials to shrubs and trees, this resource will help you choose plants that increase the resilience of your yard to wildfire. Many of the featured plants are drought-tolerant as well! Download your free copy at https://www.luckiamutelwc.org/native-plants-for-fire-resiliency.html

Thank you so much to Dave Ehlers, Benton Soil & Water Conservation District and all of our event speakers and partners for making Saturday's J2E River to Ridge Biodiversity Tour such a success!

✅Are you an experienced nonprofit leader?
✅Do you have a passion for engaging community partners in meaningful work?
✅Do you care deeply about stewarding the natural resources of our beautiful state?

We have a NEW position description for our next Executive Director, and are now ready for you to apply! https://npjobboard.com/job-seekers/view-listing/open/3182

We've partnered with Luckiamute Watershed Council (LWC) (Independence, OR) to hire an Executive Director.

The Luckiamute Watershed Council (LWC) is a diverse group of volunteers and staff who work together to improve the ecological health of two mid-Willamette watersheds, while fostering a connection between the land and the people who live and work on it. The LWC promotes projects that protect and enhance natural resources through the cooperation and support of many partners, including local agencies, Tribal communities, schools, organizations, landowners, industries and businesses.

The ideal candidate for this role:
✅ Experienced nonprofit administrator with demonstrated proficiency in fundraising, budgeting, and financial management.
✅ Engaging leader with versatile communication skills.
✅ Entrepreneurial spirit, keen to tackle multi-stakeholder issues, work with diverse populations, and engage in multi-party decision-making processes.
✅ Tactical manager who can deliver a project on time and within budget.

Does this sound like you? Apply here ➡️ https://npjobboard.com/job-seekers/view-listing/open/3182

Biodiversity tour planned at Philomath farm The Luckiamute Watershed Council and its partners are pulling back the layers on a biodiversity restoration project that has been ongoing at J2E Tree Farm in Philomath.

🌿 The invasive plant of the month for June is horse chestnut! 🐴🌰 Like last month's featured invasive plant (Norway maple), mature horse chestnut trees crowd out and compete with native trees for sunlight, moisture and nutrients. Although they bear the name "chestnut," these trees do NOT produce edible nuts - horse chestnuts are highly toxic and can cause paralysis or even death. Their large leaves, inedible nuts, and falling branches pile up to create slippery and hazardous conditions along roads and sidewalks. The good news is that there are plenty of beautiful and beneficial native trees to plant instead of the horse chestnut - including the venerable Oregon white oak, Pacific dogwood, and cascara. For more information and tips for removing invasive horse chestnut, visit https://www.marionswcd.net/plants/horse-chestnut/

Last Saturday, the Friends of Gentle Woods had another successful volunteer restoration event along Ash Creek. A BIG thank you goes out to the 12 community members who came out on a holiday weekend to pull w**ds and spread mulch along the river banks! Together, they pulled 12 cubic yards of invasive species - including ivy and reed canary grass - and in doing so, uncovered camas, fringe cup, snowberry, baldhip rose and Oregon ash. These native species provide enormous benefits to the health of Ash Creek, and help improve the streamside habitat for local wildlife. Thank you, Friends of Gentle Woods! 💪😊🌿❤

🎉This year's McMenamins Friends and Family Night fundraiser raised a total of $2,263 for the Luckiamute and Marys River Watershed Council's - that's $1,131.50 for each council! A BIG thank you goes to McMenamins Corvallis Pub and to all who were able to come on May 15 to support the Luckiamute Watershed Council and Marys River Watershed Council 🙌 - https://mailchi.mp/luckiamutelwc/thank-you-for-your-support

🎉Check out this GREAT news for the mid-Willamette! 🎉

Mid-Valley River Connections, consisting of the Calapooia Watershed Council, Luckiamute Watershed Council, Marys River Watershed Council North Santiam Watershed Council, and South Santiam Watershed Council, have been recommended by NOAA to receive over $8.7 million in funding. The proposed work will restore fish passage at 18 different sites across the Mid-Willamette region, opening up access to 43 miles of high quality spawning and rearing habitat for a variety of native fish, including spring Chinook salmon and winter steelhead trout.

We are honored to be 1 of 46 projects recommended by the Department of Commerce and Fisheries Service for $240 million in Fish Passage funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act.

Mid-Valley River Connections, consisting of the Calapooia Watershed Council, Luckiamute Watershed Council, Marys River Watershed Council, North Santiam Watershed Council, and South Santiam Watershed Council, have been recommended by NOAA to receive over $8.7 million in funding. The proposed work will restore fish passage at 18 different sites across the Mid-Willamette region, opening up access to 43 miles of high quality spawning and rearing habitat for a variety of native fish, including spring Chinook salmon and winter steelhead trout.

This work builds upon 16 years of close regional collaboration between the Calapooia, Luckiamute, Marys River, North Santiam, and South Santiam Watershed Councils, whose combined service area consists of 31 percent of the Willamette watershed.

Learn more: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/noaa-recommends-240-million-fish-passage-funding-under-bipartisan-infrastructure-law

🏞️ Have you got your tickets yet? Join us on June 8 to journey through the diverse ecosystems of J2E Tree Farm and discover the rewards of restoring a healthy ecosystem that benefits both humans and wildlife! https://www.luckiamutelwc.org/river-to-ridge.html

Looking for a great way to spend a glorious Thursday evening? Join our friends at the Marys River Watershed Council for a brew at Common Fields at 5:30pm, and learn how salamanders see our world! 🦎

Head on over to Common Fields tonight! Ecology Tap Talk "How Salamanders See Our World," presented by Christopher Cousins and Jasmine Williamson. 5:30 PM

Tonight’s the night to gather your favorite people and head to Friends and Family Night at McMenamin's Corvallis Pub! Between 5 and 10pm tonight, a full 50% of all sales during the event will be donated to the Marys River and Luckiamute Watershed Councils to support watershed health! https://www.luckiamutelwc.org/mcmenamins-friends-and-family-night.html

🦫 or 🐟, which 🍹will you choose? We hope to see you at McMenamins Corvallis Pub next Wednesday, May 15, for Friends and Family Night! 🎉 https://www.luckiamutelwc.org/mcmenamins-friends-and-family-night.html

Join Marys River and Watershed Councils staff, board, and friends at McMenamins Corvallis Pub on Wednesday, May 15!

🤤 Mmmmm... make sure to come out to McMenamins Corvallis Pub next Wednesday, May 15, between 5 and 10pm to enjoy some delicious food and drink - including specialty watershed-themed cocktails! 🍹 50% of all proceeds that night will go to support the Luckiamute Watershed Council and the Marys River Watershed Council!

We're teaming up with Luckiamute and Mary's River Watershed Council! On May 15th, bring everyone you know out for burgers, beers, wine, cocktails, salads, sandwiches, tater tots, the day's specials and more - because at the end of the night, 50% of the evening's total dine-in sales are donated to the beneficiary! The more you order, the more is earned for a good cause! 😁

🐦 Are you looking for a great way to spend Mother's Day? In need of a perfect activity to celebrate a spell of gorgeous weather? Either way, our Spring Bird Walks on May 12 and May 19 fit the bill! Tickets are available, but going fast. RSVP at https://www.luckiamutelwc.org/spring-bird-walk.html! 🌞

🌿 May's Invasive Plant of the Month is Norway maple! 🌱 Many think of invasive plants as smaller w**ds and shrubs, but there are also invasive trees that we need to be aware of! One of those is Norway maple. Originally from Europe, the Norway maple grows very large and produces thousands of winged seed pods that germinate rapidly. These fast-growing seedlings overwhelm native plants and prevent them from getting the sunlight and nutrients they need to survive. Maple trees are a wonderful addition to any yard and attract many kinds of birds and beneficial insects, but please don't plant this detrimental invasive tree! Consider our beautiful native alternatives instead - including big-leaf maple, Douglas maple and vine maple. 🍁 More information on identification and control of Norway maple can be found at https://www.marionswcd.net/plants/norway-maple/

❤ We are SO grateful for the small but mighty group of volunteers who cleared away harmful invasives from a grove of beautiful old Oregon white oak trees along North Fork Ash Creek during Earth Day! 🌎Together, we filled 2 dumpsters with English ivy vines and removed at least 60 invasive European bird cherry saplings that would have grown up to compete with these majestic oaks for sunlight. a BIG thank you also goes to the City of Independence for providing funds for this effort and for lending us tools, and to Brandt's Sanitary Service Inc for donating the use of the dumpsters and safely disposing of the ivy! 👏💪

🎉🦫Today is at Oregon State University! 🦫🎉This is a day to celebrate by giving to some great local causes, including the Letitia Carson Legacy Project! The great news is that thanks to the generosity of several donors, the LCLP has unlocked the first two challenge grants, and they only need six more gifts of any amount to unlock the last one! Help them achieve this goal at https://www.damproudday.org/campaigns/center-for-small-farms

Are you DAM Proud to be a Beav? This Wednesday, April 24, is Oregon State University’s DAM Proud Day, and Beavers everywhere can support the Letitia Carson Legacy Project!

The LCLP honors one of the first Black women to settle in Oregon. Letitia Carson, formerly enslaved, came to Oregon in 1845 and settled on land that is now part of OSU’s Soap Creek Beef Ranch. A gift of any amount on Dam Proud Day will help us expand our reach and make our long-term vision real: a 21st century version of the Carson homestead for storytelling, living history, land stewardship, community building and healing.

The LCLP is a partnership of Black Oregon Land Trust, Oregon Black Pioneers, the Linn Benton NAACP Branch, Mudbone Grown LLC. and OSU.

Donate here! https://www.damproudday.org/campaigns/center-for-small-farms

You are invited to join the LWC's bi-monthly Board meeting tonight, April 11, at 6pm via Zoom! Come hear the latest watershed news and updates about the ongoing search for our next Executive Director. Meeting information and Zoom link at https://www.luckiamutelwc.org/monthly-meeting-details.html

Photo caption: A honeybee visits a cherry blossom. By Ellen Burgess of Dallas.

🌿 April's Invasive W**d of the Month is periwinkle! 🌱 Also known as vinca, this plant is still commonly planted in home gardens, along roadside planting strips and as an all-purpose groundcover, many times by those who are unaware of its aggressive habits. Vinca is not yet on state noxious w**d list, but both Vinca minor and Vinca major are listed by the City of Portland as category B on their nuisance list. Vincas can displace beneficial native plants when they escape from areas where they are planted - which they often do. The good news is that there are several native plants that can replace vinca as an attractive and beneficial groundcover, including woodland strawberry, early blue violet and hairy honeysuckle. Learn more at https://www.marionswcd.net/w**d-of-the-month-periwinkle/

🌼Hot off the press! Check out our just-released Spring Issue of Meanderings, LWC's quarterly newsletter, and get the latest watershed news and upcoming events! https://www.luckiamutelwc.org/lwc-newsletter.html

If you missed Dr. David Lewis at Willamette University yesterday, you will have another opportunity to hear him discuss his new book, "Tribal Histories of the Willamette Valley,” on November 29 at Oregon State University!

The Kaku-Ixt Ina Haws invites you to celebrate David Lewis’s new publication, Tribal Histories of the Willamette Valley. This book tells the history of the traditional homelands of the Kalapuya, Chinook, and Mollala tribes, undoing colonial attempts at erasing the experiences of these tribes. On November 29th, a presentation about the book will be followed by a Q&A session, book sales, and signings. We hope to see you there!

Please remember that this is a fragrance-free event.

Listen to Dr. David Lewis discuss his new book, "Tribal Histories of the Willamette Valley,” today at Willamette University's Alumni Lounge at 4:30 pm!

New book reveals Willamette Valley Indigenous History - Salem Reporter Dr. David Lewis will discuss his latest book, “Tribal Histories of the Willamette Valley,” at a Willamette University signing on Monday, Nov. 20.

Did you know that beavers can help create more wildfire-resilient landscapes? 🦫 Join us for a free webinar to learn how these amazing animals create natural firebreaks, provide refuge for wildlife, and can help ecosystems recover after wildfire. Sign up today! https://www.luckiamutelwc.org/smokeythebeaver.html

We are all still glowing in the aftermath of this fantastic event featuring Leila Philip, author of Beaverland! Thank you, thank you to Marys River Watershed Council for their partnership that made this event such a success. Thank you also to Grass Roots Books and Music for donating 10% of book sale proceeds to both watershed councils, and a HUGE thank you to Whiteside Theatre for managing the tech and concessions! Finally, thank you so much to the 250+ attendees for coming out on Friday night for Leila's powerful and engaging presentation about her book, and the importance of beavers to the health of our watersheds!

If you missed the event, I encourage you to head to your local bookstore to get a copy of Beaverland: How One Weird Rodent Made America, which contains many of the beautiful and inspiring stories that Leila shared with us!