Executive Director Update Spring 2026
by Kasey Hovik
Over the past several years, Umpqua Watersheds has been steadily developing what we call our “Main Street Initiatives,” named for our building on Main Street in downtown Roseburg. These efforts are designed to expand outreach, deepen community engagement, and provide meaningful resources for people throughout the Umpqua Basin.
Our initiatives include the [...]
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 collaboration is still one of [...]
Executive Director Update Fall 2025
A Reason to Believe…
We live in challenging times, when much of what we hold dear as environmentalists, naturalists, and humanists is under attack. Protections created more than 50 years ago to safeguard wildlife, ecosystems, and human health are being dismantled. At the same time, widening inequities deny millions of people the opportunity to [...]
Executive Director Update Summer 2025
Resilience and Perseverance in Challenging Times
In the face of adversity, we are reminded of the strength and heart of those around us. The story of Umpqua Watersheds is one of perseverance, a testament to what is possible when we stand together for the places and values we hold dear.
This past year [...]
Federal Cuts Devastate Umpqua Watersheds AmeriCorps Environmental Education Program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Federal Cuts Devastate AmeriCorps Environmental Education in Douglas County
Umpqua Watersheds Calls on Community to Stand with Umpqua Community Action Network, (UCAN), Students, Service Members, and Our Planet
Roseburg, OR – May 2, 2025 — In an abrupt and devastating move, the federal Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has [...]
Executive Director Update Spring 2025
By Kasey Hovik
In these challenging times, it’s heartening to
share some uplifting news from Umpqua
Watersheds. Recently, we’ve celebrated several
significant milestones that strengthen our
commitment to environmental conservation.
Shining Star
After seven years of
dedicated service as
our Office Manager
and Grant
Celebrating our connections
By Kasey Hovik
Umpqua Watersheds is working hard to educate people of all ages about our natural world and the importance of protecting, restoring and celebrating our wild places. As you can see from the articles in this newsletter, we have a lot of things going on and we work collaboratively with our staff, volunteers [...]
Connecting The Dots
Executive Director’s Update
by Kasey Hovik
One key to creating a sustainable organization is being able to make connections inside and outside of it. For over 29 years, the collective efforts of the dedicated staff, passionate volunteers, and committed members of Umpqua Watersheds have established community connections through a variety of programs that emphasize environmental [...]
Executive Director Update
B y Kasey Hovik
Spring is a time for renewal and an increase in activity in nature and in organizations. This is certainly the case with Umpqua Watersheds as we continue to work on some major projects that will have a tremendous impact on our organization, the environment, and the community we serve. I [...]
Executive Director Update Winter 2023
By Kasey Hovik
On December 2nd, the Umpqua Watersheds Board of Directors and Staff held our Annual Strategic Planning Meeting. It’s a great opportunity to spend time together and reflect on what our committees have accomplished over the past year, how those accomplishments align with the existing Strategic Plan, and what adjustments, if any, to [...]
Executive Director’s Update: Fall 2023
Over the last couple of years Umpqua Watersheds (UW) has increased our focus on building partnerships and increasing collaborations to support our mission and our community. In doing so we expand our capacity, increase our resiliency, and maximize our financial resources. In 2023 I am proud to report that we have [...]
Executive Director’s Update
by Kasey Hovik
It is amazing to me how every year after our Annual Membership Banquet, I come away with so much energy, gratitude, and determination because of the support we receive from our members and supporters. Part of it is that in the process of creating our presentations and looking back over the past [...]
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
By Kasey Hovik
I celebrated my 65th birthday in February. It is a “milestone birthday” because, for many, it marks a retirement age. I have spent time pondering what 65 means to me, and I can sum it up in one word, grateful. I’ve lived in the Umpqua since March 2011, when I met [...]
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
By Kasey Hovik
As we head into a new year, it is always amazing to look back at the events, activities, and hard work that the Staff, Board of Directors, and our committees have accomplished over the past year. Umpqua Watersheds is driven by the work of our committees — Conservation, Wilderness, Outreach, Restoration, [...]
EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS REPORT: AMERICORPS SUPERHEREOS
By Kasey Hovik
Fall is always an exciting time for Umpqua Watersheds and me personally because it starts another term for our AmeriCorps program. We are very proud of all the AmeriCorps who have served with us over the last 12 years. Each year our AmeriCorps members continue our environmental education programs which provide so [...]
From The Executive Director
By Kasey Hovik
On June 1st I retired from Umpqua Community College (UCC). It was my great honor and pleasure to work there. While it was sad leaving UCC, my colleagues, and our students, I am looking forward to the next chapter of my life. Over the past ten years, I have volunteered for Umpqua [...]
FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
To many of us, the past two years have seemed more like five. While we have continued to work hard to fulfill the mission of Umpqua Watersheds and have accomplished so much in the process, not being able to have regular in-person events where we can meet with our supporters has taken a toll on [...]
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT Dec 2021
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT…Kasey Hovik
Umpqua Watersheds (UW) has accomplished many things over the course of 2021. For a second straight year our social fundraisers: the Annual Banquet and Silent Auction, the Umpqua Brew Fest and Outback Concerts had to be canceled due to the pandemic. Yet, thanks to tremendous generosity from our [...]
Umpqua Watersheds Executive Director talks about the Forest Accord
Lone Rock land management crew member Jose Calvillo plants 2-year-old Douglas fir seedlings in the Callahan Mountains west of Roseburg in 2017. Photo credit by MICHAEL SULLIVAN/The News-Review
Robyn Bath [...]
From the Executive Director
Kasey’s Korner…..Kasey Hovik
We live in strange and challenging times. We continue to struggle through the worst pandemic in 100 years while forest fires, floods, devastating storms destroy property, and lives are lost. The ugly divisiveness that is a part of local and national politics wears us down. Our natural world and wildlife face [...]