Honoring the Life of Ted Swagerty
President’s Corner Winter 2025
by Janice Reid
This winter, our community received the sad news of the passing of Ted Swagerty, a Roseburg native whose life reflected a deep commitment to service, creativity, and environmental stewardship. Though he recently made his home in Portland, Ted remained connected to the Umpqua and to [...]
President’s Update Fall 2025
Collaboration, Community, and Conservation
As summer transitions to fall, I want to thank each of you for your continued commitment to protecting and restoring the Umpqua. Our work remains strong because of the relationships we build within our community, across organizations, and through the dedication of our members. Doing good work takes a lot [...]
President’s Update Summer 2025
Resilience and courage
Those are the words I woke with recently, thinking about Umpqua Watersheds. As we recognize 30 years of standing up for the places and values we cherish, I’ve been reflecting on what has made this organization endure.
Over the decades, many individuals have given their time, energy, and financial support to this [...]
Proposed ESA Change Threatens Wildlife Protection
**The federal government is proposing to narrow the definition of “harm” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA),** removing habitat degradation from consideration. This means only direct injury or death of species would be considered a violation—**ignoring the critical role of habitat in species survival.**
Here’s why this change is dangerous:—
### 🌲 1. Habitat [...]
President’s Update Spring 2025
Dear Umpqua Watersheds Community,
In challenging times, it is easy to feel overwhelmed.
The onslaught of executive orders aimed at
weakening environmental protections, the
disregard for science-based policy, and the attacks
on public employees and organizations committed
to diversity, equity, and inclusion make it clear that
the road [...]
President’s Update Winter 2024
Dear Umpqua Watersheds Family,
We have a lot to talk about! We certainly appreciate your support over the years and want to assure you that what you have done for this local conservation organization has translated into many accomplishments. We are here because of you! Now for the bad news. We are under no illusion [...]
Introducing Two New Board Members
By Janice Reid..
In the last newsletter, I reported Umpqua Watersheds was growing and introduced our newest member. We are still growing, and I want to introduce two new board members: Chris Lowe and Robert Taylor.
Chris Lowe Chris was born and raised in western Pennsylvania. He and his wife Julie moved from Maryland [...]
President’s Corner
by Janice Reid
Greetings! Umpqua Watersheds continues to grow as an organization, and we continue to add programs, events, activities, and board members. I am pleased to introduce our newest board member and chair of the KQUA Radio Committee, John Dyer V. John is originally from Atlanta, Georgia, where he attended Marist School and Dekalb [...]
President’s Corner
By Janice Reid
There are nearly 1000 non-profits or charitable organizations in Douglas County, Oregon. Umpqua Watersheds is the only non-profit in the county that has fought to preserve older forests. Other conservation or natural resources organizations have more specific missions, including fish or water protection. These organizations are dedicated and work hard for the resource, [...]
President’s Corner-Winter 2023
By Janice Reid
Wow, where did 2023 go? Time is something that we cannot get back, and we must use it wisely. We all reflect on things we are grateful for at Thanksgiving: our friends, family, and health. We often take health for granted until something stops functioning well. Sometimes, we are so focused on [...]
President’s Corner- Fall 2023
While I am not in the Umpqua Valley, my heart aches for the many friends challenged once again by the unhealthy smoke and threatening fires from the recent lightning strikes of last month’s thunderstorm. It reminds us again how the forces of nature can shape our lives, our plans for the future, and [...]
President’s Corner
by Janice Reid
It is so encouraging to have supporters continue to give to Umpqua Watersheds so that the programs, events, and activities can continue. The recent Annual Banquet showed the dedication of so many of you as you stayed even through the rain. Many of the programs at Umpqua Watersheds have been a part [...]
FROM THE PRESIDENT
By Janice Reid
We have a lot to be thankful for in this beautiful valley, especially to our sponsors, donors, and supporters. Big things are happening in every corner of the organization. As you will read in this newsletter, our motion is forward, and our momentum is building. We are especially excited to have Cindy [...]
FROM THE PRESIDENT
As we close another year, we are in awe of how fortunate we are here in our corner of the world. Umpqua Watersheds continues to celebrate, protect, and restore our environment and community. We face many challenges regularly. Ongoing efforts advocating for the Crater Lake Wilderness protection, The River Democracy Act, [...]
PRESIDENT’S REPORT: STATE OF THE UMPQUA
On a recent trip to Minnesota via Canada, we visited the west side of the Olympic Peninsula and Vancouver Island, British Columbia. We had heard about forest harvest practices there and so we were not surprised that very little primary forest remains in this area. Of course, in the Olympic National [...]
Presidents Corner
By Janice Reid
We have many things going on at Umpqua Watersheds. Members of our committees continue to keep abreast of issues on public lands and waterways and provide public comment on these. Community engagement is strong through our environmental education and outreach programs. We are also changing, growing, and adapting. Our volunteer Executive Director, [...]
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
I recall on social media that progressives were being referred to as “snowflakes.” I am not sure where the term originated. However, judging by who was using it and knowing that it was meant as an insult, I believe it means people who melt under pressure or heat. Well, it also has another meaning, and [...]
President’s Report Dec 2021
Lately, I have been reviewing some of the newsletters from 20 years ago. Three aspects jumped out at me:
President’s Update Fall 2021
Greetings! I have taken the baton from Ken Carloni to be president of Umpqua Watersheds. His dedication to the organization is inspiring. He is a founding member and has been involved in the organization ever since. Other than being class president in second grade, the only other time I have [...]
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Ken Carloni
Greetings once again, fellow conservationists! As I noted in our Virtual Banquet, this is the last newsletter in which I will be greeting you as president. New officers will be elected at our June board meeting, and we will announce new officers shortly thereafter.
We have been very active in the last [...]