Oregon WildBlog

Jessica Kieras is an avid swimmer, and delights in open-water swimming, ultra-distance swims, and even cold water swims! She's chronicled many of her adventures in her blog, Oregon Lake Bagging, and joined us to recount her recent 13-mile swim at Waldo Lake. She offered a variety of wisdom for more terrestrially-inclined people, including tips on how to get started.

By Alli Hartz
 

Introducing John Seng, a Summer 2021 Forests and Climate intern working on climate solutions for private forests in Oregon.

Don't judge a book by its cover - lampreys may simultaneously be Oregon's most misunderstood and most important fish species! If you look beyond their boneless bodies and slightly terrifying disc mouth, you'll find there's a lot to respect. These fish (yes, they are fish!) are some of the Columbia River Basin's most ancient inhabitants, with origins dating back several hundred million years. That means they pre-date dinosaurs! This webinar features lampreys, their habitat and the historical relationship between the Nez Perce and the species.

How Salvage Logging in Oregon is Perpetuating Outdated Extractive Approaches to Federal Forestland Management

When we safeguard our rivers and waterways, we’re not just protecting them for people. An incredible diversity of wildlife reap the benefits of Wild & Scenic River designations!

Beavers 

These ecosystem engineers (and Oregon’s state animal) provide a number of benefits to riparian environments such as creating and restoring habitat like wetlands, capturing excess sediment, recharging groundwater, and much more. It has been said that next to humans, beavers do more to shape their environment than any other animal.  

Indigo Creek: Indigo Creek is a textbook example of how important tributaries are to a watershed, and how critical it is to maintain healthy waterways from the headwaters on down. This remote stream feeds into the Wild & Scenic Illinois River, which itself is a tributary of the Rogue River. Indigo Creek is known for its exceptional water quality and near-pristine fish spawning and rearing habitat, and during summer’s low flows it provides 15-20% of the Illinois River’s water.

Kirk Blaine, an avid fly angler and the Southern Oregon Regional Coordinator for the Native Fish Society, discussed some of his favorite Wild & Scenic fishing spots and the role protected rivers play in maintaining healthy native fish populations.

Wins for wildlife and clean energy, but little progress on forestry reform 

Oregon’s legislature has become increasingly dramatic in recent years. The last several sessions have featured high-profile walkouts by the Republican super-minority, which has stalled consideration of important business like climate change legislation and, in the early 2020 short session, preparation for the COVID-19 pandemic. The drama in Salem reached its climax with violent protestors breaching the State Capitol in December of 2020 at the apparent invitation of Rep. Mike Nearman, who opened the door for them.