Oregon 2020 Fires burned managed fires the most
https://fusee.org/fusee-blogs-1/oregons-2020-fires-highly-managed-forests-burned-the-most
Bat Week
October 24th-31st is known as “Bat Week”. As we gear up for Halloween, I wanted to share a few facts about one “spooky” species – bats.
According to Oregon’s Department of Fish & Wildlife, Oregon is home to 15 different species of bats, all of which eat insects. There are a lot of misconceptions [...]
Final Archie Creek Fire update
Free download about the Fur wars
ecologist | author | teacher | historian offers his 2 part book for free.
Upper Rogue River and Natural Bridge Hike
10-17-20 Some of us camped at Natural Bridge (Union Creek area) the night before in a lovely forest on the river and by the Rogue River Trail. We gathered in the morning for a fun day of easy delightful hiking from Rogue Gorge viewpoint to Natural Bridge, about 5 miles one way
. [...]
What a Wonderful Day for a Hike
On Saturday, I got my first real taste of Oregon wilderness. Umpqua Watersheds led a hike to Rogue River/Natural Bridge, and we enjoyed an abundance of natural beauty at every turn. I began learning the names of some of the native flora, and enjoyed seeing the diverse array of trees and other plants all around [...]
Flavors of Autumn
There are so many ways to live lightly on the earth. Each year when fall comes around, I’m eager to partake in one of them – locally grown fruits and vegetables. You don’t have to be vegan or vegetarian to enjoy a meatless recipe. There’s an abundance of non-meat recipes, from hearty soups to salads [...]
New Opportunities to Get Involved
We are excited to announce that we have new opportunities for you and your family to get involved with Umpqua Watersheds! Starting this month, we will be hosting two book clubs and a contest!
Book Clubs
- For the youngest readers, check out our Little Leaves page to find books and art projects that match [...]
NU Fire report from Bob Hoehne
Published September 30th, 2020About 10 miles from Swift Water Park to Steam Boat has been burnt on both side of the river. 3 miles of the 10 not burnt bad. More of a mosaic burn. It is shocking a long with log decks of old growth trees along road. And many of our friends homes burnt , Lets [...]
Serving a Watershed-Based Organization: Why Natural Boundaries Matter
Published September 28th, 2020This is my second term of AmeriCorps and the second term in which my host site is focused at the watershed level. Last year, people often expressed confusion about what a watershed is, and why an organization would establish themselves based on such a region. Put simply, a “watershed” is all of the land area [...]
Viewing the fire aftermath
Published September 27th, 2020I drove Hwy 138 Friday. It’s devastating. It’s charred smoldering remains of the vibrant forest. The once beautiful trees stand as naked skeletons. The North Umpqua Trail is burnt from Apple Creek Rd to Swiftwater Park where the fire burned both sides of the highway. Fall Creek Falls is unrecognizable. Susan Creek Falls was [...]
National Cleanup Day
Published September 25th, 2020We are now a part of National Clean Up Day.
https://www.nationalcleanupday.org/umpqua-watersheds
The Importance of Peace
Published September 21st, 2020Typically, my Home Explorer activities will primarily focus on scientific or environmental exploration, so why did I choose to have the most recent set of activities relate to interconnectedness and peace? Today, September 21st, is the International Day of Peace, and this year, it is falling at a time in most people’s lives that feels [...]
Umpqua Watersheds President Ken Carloni will be on a panel discussion about wildlfires.
Published September 21st, 2020Wildfires in 2020: What set the stage for this historic event and what can we expect in the future?
The fires that broke out and spread across nearly 1 million acres of western Oregon this month are terrifying and devastating. We know from forest research and history that western Oregon’s forest ecosystems naturally burn. But [...]
From one AmeriCorps to the Next…
Published September 15th, 2020By Robyn Bath-Rosenfeld
My last day as Umpqua Watershed’s AmeriCorps was on July 31st, 2020. While we couldn’t have a big goodbye party, or attend Twin Lakes Campout or River Appreciation Day, I still had a lot to celebrate. Today’s article is my service’s highlight-reel, a chance to demonstrate the opportunities my position [...]
Mt Bailey
Published September 8th, 2020We ain’t what we used to be but we UW seniors wanted to give ole 8840′ Mt Bailey a go. It’s 5.7 hard miles RT from the upper trailhead with approximate 2500 ft elevation gain. Two of the younger seniors made it to the summit while some of us elder seniors watched from safely below [...]
Limpy Rock Cave Hike 6-20
Published September 8th, 2020A group of UW members followed leader Tony Cannon on a bushwack to little known caves of Limpy Rock. We descended on interesting knee and ankle jolting terrain. We arrived at the cave and enjoyed the rare Kalmiopsis growing about and above the entrance. We donned headlamps and entered the large eerie cave. I’m thinking [...]
North Umpqua Geologic Formation/Umpqua Sweets Proposed BLM Timber Sale
Published September 8th, 2020In June a group of UW members went up the North Umpqua to the proposed BLM Umpqua Sweets Timber Sale site to see the geologic formations endangered from the sale. We hiked to the arch, an impressive several hundred foot long formation in a beautiful setting that is threatened by logging. In awe we hiked [...]
Ilahee Rock and Wild Rose Point hikes
Published September 8th, 2020A UW group enjoyed the challenge of the Wild Rose Point hike. It’s 2.8 miles RT with 520 ft elevation gain to a rocky bluff atop a 300 ft old lava cliff. Then we crossed the road to hike 1.4 mi RT 500 ft elevation gain up Ilahee Rock to the old fire lookout. We [...]
Executive Director Update
Published September 7th, 2020Executive Director Update…Kasey Hovik
Over the last 9 years, Umpqua Watersheds has hosted eight AmeriCorps superheroes. Young people who have travelled across the country to work for less than minimum wage to provide environmental education and support the mission of our organization. Each service member added their own, unique and considerable abilities to [...]
