President’s Corner Spring 2026

by Janice Reid

President’s Message: Showing Up When It Matters Most

One of the hardest parts of this work isn’t speaking up for forests, rivers, and wildlife. It’s asking for help.

Like many community organizations, Umpqua Watersheds is feeling the strain. The need for strong advocacy is growing at the same time that funding is becoming harder to secure. We are spending more time writing grant applications and less time doing the conservation work our members care about: protecting older forests, engaging in public processes, and holding agencies accountable.

Right now, legal capacity is one of our biggest gaps. Federal policy shifts are accelerating decisions that could reshape public lands for decades. Having an environmental attorney available isn’t a luxury anymore; it’s becoming essential. Without that expertise, important opportunities to challenge harmful actions can pass before communities even realize what’s at stake. This isn’t just about one organization. It’s about whether local voices can keep up with fast-moving decisions that affect our watersheds and the places we call home.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your support matters, it does. Financial contributions help. But so do time, connections, and skills! People who understand fundraising, grant writing, or donor outreach are needed. Sometimes, the most valuable help is building the resources that make everything else possible. Community groups like ours work because people step forward when it counts. We’re asking for that help now so we can stay focused on what brought us together in the first place: protecting the lands and waters that sustain our communities.

Thank you for showing up with us.