Did you miss one of our virtual Sips 'n' Science pub talks or an online workshop? You've come to the right place! Explore our library of virtual event recordings below!

Smokey the Beaver: How Beavers Build Fire-Resistant Landscapes (November 28, 2023)

Beaver dams and beaver mimicry (e.g. Beaver Dam Analogs) are gaining popularity as a low‐cost, nature-based strategy to build climate resiliency at the landscape scale. Beavers slow and store water in their ponds, canals, and the surrounding soil during wet periods which can then be accessed by riparian vegetation during droughts. As a result, the well-watered vegetation in beaver-dammed riparian corridors is less flammable. Emily's research has shown that these beaver-influenced patches of the landscape stay green and can serve as fire refugia, preserving intact, mature riparian habitat, even during megafires. Perhaps instead of relying solely on human engineering and management to create and maintain fire‐resistant waterways and riparian zones, we could benefit from partnering with beaver’s ecosystem engineering to achieve the same goals at a lower cost. Click here to view a recording.

Sips 'n' Science: Beaver Adaptations & Ecology or... How to Beaver (March 16, 2023)

Beaver, often referred to as nature's engineers, have incredible adaptations that make them masters of working in and modifying aquatic environments to suit their needs. In this presentation, Brian discusses the interesting biology and specializations of beaver, the role beaver play in creating habitat for other creatures, and inventive approaches to managing conflicts with beaver.
Click here to view a recording.

​Sips 'n' Science: Pleistocene Paleoecology in the Mid-Willamette (Jan. 25, 2023)

LWC Project Manager Aubrey Cloud transports us back in time to discover the lost world beneath our own feet. This presentation is a tour of a land both familiar and surprisingly wild. You'll hear about exciting fossil discoveries in our watershed and its neighbors, and learn about local Pleistocene paleoecology; the mammoth-sized hole it has left in our modern world, and the lessons it holds for our future. You are invited to reimagine how you think of the land; to engage with it on its own time scale instead of our own. Click here to view a recording!

Sips 'n' Science: Living with Fire in the Luckiamute - Wildfire History & Futures (Dec. 14, 2022)

The Luckiamute has a long history of wildfire. Knowing this history can serve as a reminder of wildfire dangers that residents face.  It can serve as a guide to prepare our communities to apply fire to restore plant communities or enhance landscape health.  In addition, it can frame community actions to prevent or withstand fires. In this presentation, Aaron Groth covers wildfire history in the Luckiamute, and steps you can take to protect your community, family, home, and property.  Additionally, fire’s role in the restoration of ecosystems across the Luckiamute is considered. Click here to view a recording!

Sips 'n' Science: Kalapuyans of the Central Willamette Valley - History and Culture (Oct. 18, 2022)

​This presentation by Dr. David Lewis addresses various Kalapuyan tribes and bands of the Central Willamette Valley. We look at their original culture, how they stewarded their lands and the adjustments they had to make when settlers arrived. We dive into the removal process, treaties, encampments and payments, and the likely understandings of the Kalapuyans, and work by Indian agents to remove them all to the Grand Ronde Indian Reservation. Finally we address their context on the reservation for the first 20 years. Click here to view a recording on our website.

Sips 'n' Science: Logging the Luckiamute: Ramifications of Splash Dams and Log Drives (Jan. 11, 2022)

Renowned author and historian Stephen Dow Beckham presents the fascinating history and impacts of logging practices in our region. This presentation 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 to view a recording on our website or click here to watch on YouTube.

Sips 'n' Science: Black Settlement History in Oregon (December 1, 2021)

Troy Tate, of Oregon Black Pioneers, takes you on a journey to the time of westward migration by those seeking to manifest destiny. Blacks came along primarily as slaves during this time, and the stories Troy will share this evening will be about the perseverance and resilience of those who were enslaved and gained their freedom, and then went on to make enormous contributions to the state of Oregon. Click here to view a recording of Sips 'n' Science: Black Settlement History in Oregon

Sips 'n' Science: Forest Management at Starker Forests (November 16, 2021)

Jennifer Beathe, forester and outreach manager at Starker Forests, gave an overview of Starker Forests and explained how they work with researchers to learn more about how to grow trees, protect resources and provide for wildlife habitat. Click here to view a recording of Sips 'n' Science: Forest Management at Starker Forests

Sips 'n' Science: Tribal Lands Management (March 31, 2021)

This evening pub talk featured Lindsay McClary, Restoration Ecologist with the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde (CTGR) talking about past, current and future Tribal land management in the Willamette Valley. Click here to view a recording of Sips 'n' Science: Tribal Land Management

Planning & Planting Your Native Garden (Feb. 9, 2021)

I​n 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 view a recording of our Native Plant Workshop

The Power of Partnership: 20 Years of Restoration with the LWC (January 28, 2021)

During this Sips 'n' Science pub talk, LWC Executive Director Kristen Larson and LWC Project Manager Jean-Paul Zagarola explained how the LWC and its partners have approached restoration planning over the past two decades. Also featured are some examples of the many projects implemented over the years and a few on the horizon! Click here to view a recording

Climate Change and Assisted Migration: Who's calling the shots? (November 18, 2020)

George Kral, Forester & Project Developer for Ash Creek Forest Management (ACFM) and co-founder of Scholl's Valley Native Nursery, describes how native plant nurseries provide the raw materials for large-scale restoration and forestry. He also discusses assisted plant migration, and how land managers and nursery owners must adapt to the realities of a changing climate. Click here to view a recording of this Sips 'n' Science pub talk

Sips 'n Science: What Birds Reveal about Floodplain Function (October 13, 2020)

USGS forest ecologist, Joan Hagar, introduces her research into bird diversity at Luckiamute State Natural Area, and how different species use the floodplain forest habitat that is a focus of one of our long term restoration projects. Click here to view a recording of this Sips 'n' Science pub talk

Virtual Plant ID Walk & Learn (May 26, 2020)

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! Click here to view this video on YouTube!