Executive Director Update Winter 2025
Connections That Carry Us Forward
by Kasey Hovik
As we look back on 2025 and ahead to the opportunities of 2026, I keep returning to a simple truth: our strength lies in our connections. In a world that can feel increasingly divided, Umpqua Watersheds continues to demonstrate that genuine colla
boration is still one of the most potent forces for change.
This past year has shown what is possible when people, organizations, and ideas weave together. From advancing conservation and restoration across the Umpqua Basin to expanding environmental education for learners of all ages, our progress in 2025 reflects not only the dedication of our staff and volunteers but also the shared hope of a community committed to a healthier future.
Our work in wilderness advocacy, the continued growth of KQUA Community Radio, Eastwood Nature Days, and our new partnership as a host site for the Oregon Naturalist Program all reflect this spirit of connection. Each of these programs brings people together, students, families, scientists, land managers, and neighbors, to learn from one another and to deepen their relationship with the land we call home.
Much of this progress is thanks to the extraordinary people who form the heart of our organization. Julie Lowe, our Director of Environmental Education and Outreach, has transformed our ability to connect with youth and families throughout the watershed. After two years of AmeriCorps service, her leadership, creativity, and relationship-building have helped restore Eastwood Nature Days and expand our outreach in meaningful ways. Melanie MacKinnon, recently promoted to Director of Operations, has guided the organization through challenging transitions with steadiness and skill. Her work managing grants, finances, and day-to-day operations has been essential to our resilience.
On the airwaves, Patrick Schneider, KQUA Program Manager, continues his remarkable six-year tenure supporting LPFM 99.7 and helping bring KQUA 90.5 NCE to life. His efforts, paired with the vision and leadership of UW Board Member and KQUA Committee Chair John Dyer, and the KQUA Radio Committee, have positioned KQUA as a growing hub for community voices.
In our wilderness program, Diana Pace has elevated outreach, volunteer engagement, and public participation through countless hours of organizing, leading hikes, and stewarding our Wilderness Committee with passion and purpose. She has worked tirelessly to promote the establishment of the Crater Lake Wilderness.
In restoration and conservation, Dr. Ken Carloni, Board Vice President and long-time Restoration Chair, continues his more than 30 years of service to Umpqua Watersheds. His recent appointment to the Elliott State Research Forest Advisory Board speaks to the depth of his expertise and decades of commitment. Ken’s work on Winchester Dam removal efforts and emerging biochar initiatives continues to build regional momentum for ecological resilience. And Janice Reid, Board Chair and Conservation Committee Chair, has remained a steadfast advocate, spending countless hours writing comments and responding to public land management decisions, including the current Administration’s efforts to weaken environmental protections.
As we reflect on all we’ve accomplished, it’s impossible not to feel deep gratitude for the people who make this work possible. Umpqua Watersheds operates with just two part-time staff members, yet the scale and impact of our programs would suggest an organization many times our size. Their dedication, creativity, and resilience form the backbone of our progress, but what truly amplifies their efforts is the extraordinary community that stands behind them. This year, over 3,000 hours of volunteer service fueled everything from restoration and outreach to events, education, and wilderness advocacy. We are also fortunate to have one of the strongest and most engaged Boards of Directors in our 30-year history. When the energy of our staff, the dedication of our volunteers, the Board’s vision, and our partners’ collaboration unite, the result is powerful enough to move mountains, or at least safeguard watersheds. Because of this remarkable collective effort, we look to the coming year with confidence, gratitude, and a renewed sense of purpose.
Together, we are creating a future worthy of this watershed we love.