Love Your Watershed

Traditional Ecological Knowledge Video Series

This two-part video series was produced in partnership with the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde (CTGR), Polk Soil & Water Conservation District and the LWC, with additional funding support by Benton Soil & Water Conservation District and Willamette Habitat Restoration Fund. This series focuses on teaching private landowners how they incorporate Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and partner with CTGR in maintaining oak habitat on their land.The first video begins by defining TEK and its importance to landscape restoration, and describing the cultural significance of many native plant species. The second video explains how landowners can incorporate the principles of TEK into their own land management strategies, and features the story of a Polk County landowner who is managing her cattle ranch to protect Oregon white oak and other native plants important to the Tribes. Click here to view video series!

Virtual Sips 'n' Science Pub Talk: Black Settlement History in Oregon

Date: Wednesday, December 1
Time: 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Via Zoom

We are excited to welcome Troy Tate of Oregon Black Pioneers for a virtual Sips 'n' Science Pub Talk! Troy will be presenting on Black history in Oregon, including in and around the Luckiamute watershed. Click here for details and registration info!

Virtual Sips 'n' Science Pub Talk: Logging the Luckiamute

Ramifications of Splash Dams and Log Drives

Date: Tuesday, January 11, 2022
Time: 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Via Zoom

This presentation by Stephen Dow Beckham examines the use of the Luckiamute River for transportation of forest products between 1853 and 1936. It places the challenges of log transport in the context of changing technologies, particularly the use of river drives and artificial freshets created by splash dams. The illustrated presentation identifies the types of splash dams, their environmental impacts, and the creative responses of lumbermen in the Mid-Willamette Valley to "getting out the cut" of the region's Old Growth forests. Click here for details and registration info!

LWC 20th Anniversary Photo Contest Results

Check out all the winners of our six photo contest categories (Landscapes, Wildlife, Plants, People, Water and Youth Entries), plus the overall Grand Prize winning photograph! Head to our photo contest winners page.

Virtual Workshop: Planning and Planting Your Native Garden

In this virtual workshop, you will learn how to identify your soil types and pick the best native plants for your yard and garden! You’ll also hear about some of our favorite natives, why they are beneficial, and how to maximize your chance of a successful native plant landscaping project! Click here to access our Native Plant Resources page, which contains all the links, slides and information referred to in this workshop.

Virtual Sips 'n' Science Pub Talk Recordings

Although we miss being able to gather together in person during our 2020 - 2021 Sips 'n' Science series, we are excited to be able to offer you full-length recordings of our virtual pub talks! We invite you to grab a brew, glass of wine, cup of tea or whatever your beverage of choice might be, and click on each of the recording links below for a virtual Sips 'n' Science experience!

What Birds Reveal About Floodplain Function
Speaker: Dr. Joan Hagar (aired on October 13, 2020)

The Power of Partnership: 20 Years of Restoration with the LWC
Speakers: Kristen Larson & Jean-Paul Zagarola (January 28, 2021)

Forest Management at Starker Forests
Speaker: Jennifer Beathe (November 16, 2021)

Climate Change & Assisted Migration: Who's calling the shots?
Speaker: George Kral (aired on November 18, 2020)

Tribal Lands Management
Speaker: Lindsay McClary (March 31, 2021)

Virtual Plant ID Walk & Learn

We are excited to announce that you are now able to participate in a virtual Plant ID Walk & Learn from your living room! In this video, Jody Einerson and Brad Withrow-Robinson from Oregon State University Extension Office show you how to identify several native woodland trees, shrubs and herbacious plants commonly found in our watershed. A big thank you goes to Willamette Habitat Restoration fund for providing the funding for this video production!

Thank you to our generous Love Your Watershed sponsors and partners for your support in helping us achieve our goal of connecting our communities to their watershed!

Donate to the Love Your Watershed Program!

**COVID-19 Update**

In order to comply with the latest federal and CDC recommendations and recent state requirements, we are canceling or postponing all of our April indoor and outdoor events. We hope to reschedule some of them for later in the year, and will continue to update our event calendar in the coming weeks. Please click here for a message from LWC Executive Director, Kristen Larson.

Be a Community Scientist!

Date: Any day!
Time: Anytime!
Place: Your home, yard or (once social distancing restricitions are lifted) your community!

Now is a great time to get involved in gathering data and observations of the natural world from your own backyard! The data you collect will contribute to a greater understanding of our natural world. Learn more by clicking here.

Photo: Miriam Haugen, 2018

Get to Know Your Watershed

Date: Any day!
Time: Anytime!
Place: Your internet-enabled computer, laptop or mobile device

The first step to protecting the health of your rivers, lands and communities is knowing which watershed you are a part of, and how your community fits into the bigger picture. Click here to learn how to identify your watershed.

Stay tuned for updates about our events and rescheduling information, coming soon!

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