Happy 2024, {{FirstName or 'friend'}}!
We've turned the page into a new year, and while the winter months typically mean rest and hibernation for many animals, trees, and people, we've got our foot on the gas over here at KS Wild. With numerous announcements made at the end of last year, we knew we'd be ready to hit the ground running come January 2024.
As I'm sure you've read in our previous emails, updates to the Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP) are underway and the US Forest Service has announced their next steps for old-growth protection. Both of these announcements create exciting opportunities for us, as engaged community members, to weigh in and help move these projects in the right direction. Check out the Climate Program's digest section below for an action you can take to help northwest forests right now. In addition to this, our ForestWatch program is tracking the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) announcement to log dead and dying Douglas fir trees across southern Oregon. Below, you'll find an opportunity to send the BLM a letter requesting they take a holistic approach to this forest management in a time where climate change is deeply affecting local forests. We've also got an update from the Pacific Wolf Coalition regarding the relocation of Oregon wolves to Colorado, volunteer opportunities to give back to the Rogue River, and insights into our 2024 events calendar. Read on to jump right into a new year filled with updates and activism! |
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| For the wild, Haleigh Martin Communications Manager
PS - We want to extend a huge THANK YOU to all who donated to our year-end fundraiser. Your support helps make projects like the ones mentioned here possible and successful. |
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Tree branch in front of a snowy mountaintop. Credit: Holly Christiansen |
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Climate Program: Act now to protect northwest forests! |
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The Northwest Forest Plan (NFP) continues to be the largest, truly science-based forest and ecosystem management plan in the country. Created in 1994, the plan covers 17 national forests totaling 24 million acres across western Washington, Oregon, and northern California. To date, the NFP has been successful in improving the region's streams and waterways, protecting salmon habitat, and conserving old-growth forests. |
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Now, as the NFP goes through its amendment process, The Forest Service wants to hear from you about how you want to see National Forest lands throughout the Pacific Northwest managed to conserve older forests, reduce wildfire risk, include tribal engagement, and create abundant wildlife habitat in a changing climate! Sign the petition below to help protect the future of northwest forests!
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ForestWatch:
Take Action! BLM proposes to log dead and dying low-elevation Douglas-fir trees: Let's make that sure they get it right |
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Photo: Douglas fir dieoff in southern Oregon. Credit: Danny DePinte |
KS Wild has a long history of opposing "salvage" logging on public lands. Often, post-fire forests simply need to recover on their own. But what's going on with the widespread low-elevation Douglas-fir dieoff is not natural—rather its the visible effect of climate change induced drought and heat domes. Now the BLM is proposing to log its way out of climate change. Join us in taking action to change the agency's policy on total fire exclusion, stop creating low elevation timber plantations, and start embracing oak woodland habitat.
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Rogue Riverkeeper: Trash cleanups for the Rogue |
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It's no secret that some parts of the Rogue basin feel the weight of human impacts more than others. Keeping trash and invasive plants out of our creekside riparian areas and the Rogue River is a huge effort but is important for maintaining watershed health as well as our own enjoyment of the outdoors and public lands. We participate in numerous large trash clean-ups/weed pulls each year. Mark your calendars to join us in 2024! |
| Trash pulled from Bear Creek during one of the SOLVE Bear Creek Stewardship Day trash cleanups. Credit: Unknown |
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January 19th & 20th: Join a group of engaged community members in a trash cleanup on BLM public lands. Josephine County will be dropping a dumpster to be filled, and folks will be gathering both days to fill the dumpster and clean the area. Get more information about this event here.
April 20th & September 28th: The SOLVE/Bear Creek Stewards event occurring annually during Earth Week and Public Lands Day aims to remove large amounts of garbage from numerous sites along Bear Creek. Stay tuned for updates. May 18th: Join us for this popular multi-agency trash cleanup along the Rogue River. Sign up for updates by clicking here.
If you have a community clean-up event that we can help promote to our supporters, let us know by sending an email to info@rogueriverkeeper.org. |
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Internal Highlight: Pacific Wolf Coalition tracking wolf dispersal across the West |
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When you think of the distance traveled by OR-7 (the Wolf) more than a decade ago, it’s no surprise to see his progeny embark on long journeys of their own. Recently, we were thrilled to learn that southern California’s first wolf pack in modern history included a breeding female who is a direct descendent of OR-7 and the Rogue Pack! |
| Adult male wolf. Credit: USFS |
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Located more than 500 miles south of the Rogue basin, the Yowlumni Pack is situated within Giant Sequoia National Monument and is named in honor of a local Tribe. Our friends at the Center for Biological Diversity shared an update on a good year in wolf recovery across California; and with confirmation of the Yowlumni Pack in the southern Sierra Nevada, the Golden State now has seven active wolf packs. The closest to the Klamath-Siskiyou is the Whaleback Pack, north of Mt. Shasta.
While southwest Oregon’s wolves are contributing to natural dispersal further south into California, northeast Oregon’s wolves are playing part in another type of dispersal. However, this one is being engineered by humans.
Colorado voters passed a ballot initiative in 2020, enabling their wildlife agency to reintroduce wolves on the state’s western slope. When neighboring states chose not to relocate wolves, Oregon’s Department of Fish and Wildlife agency stepped in this year and offered up 10 wolves from northeastern Oregon. OPB teamed up with public media from Colorado to talk about the issue, and partners from the Pacific Wolf Coalition were interviewed about the Oregon-Colorado wolf relocation effort. There are mixed feelings within the conservation community about Colorado’s wolf reintroduction, especially in Oregon where we stand to lose 18% of the population to Colorado’s effort. KS Wild is working with wildlife partners across Oregon who are tracking ODFW’s efforts in this relocation effort and on state wolf plan updates. Stay tuned for more updates on Oregon’s wolf management plan revisions and efforts by the livestock industry to water down protections for gray wolves in Oregon.
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The Volunteer Corner: Give us feedback and help us throw some rocking events! |
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January 16th at 9 am at the KS Wild office or join remotely via Zoom
Join our team of volunteers who are helping to organize the 2024 Wild & Scenic Film Festival! Our team meets every month, and we leave the meeting with a specific task to execute. The meeting is open to everyone, regardless of experience level, and you can attend the meeting either in person at the KS Wild office or remotely on Zoom. We have a lot of fun organizing this big event and would love for you to join us. If you'd like to attend, RSVP with Allee via email at allee@kswild.org or phone at 541-488-5789 Ext. 1014.
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| Friday, January 5th from 5-7pm
First Friday January: Exploring Interconnectivity, a Group Art Exhibit |
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A group exhibit of works by Bruce Bayard, Ron Hodgdon, Peter Van Fleet, Daniel Verner, and Doug Wallace. The five artists meet weekly to discuss art issues and their creative process. This show reflects the creative diversity that can be achieved through personal and group exploration of the arts using various mediums. Check it out at our office at 562 A St. in downtown Ashland on Friday from 5-7pm! Refreshments and local wine will be provided. |
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Wednesday, January 24th from 5-6:30pm Winter Speaker Series: Shadows Tribe & How They Live: Great Grey Owls |
Are you interested in learning about some of the amazing wonders of the Klamath-Siskiyou bioregion? You don't want to miss this opportunity to expand your horizons and gain valuable insights at during our educational series with naturalists and experts who will share their knowledge, insights, and storytelling. |
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Great gray owl in flight. Credit: Mel Clements |
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The Great Gray Owl has earned its mystique. It is the tallest owl in North America, yet it eats very small prey and lives in areas across the western U.S. Latest estimates indicate there are fewer than 300 left in California where it is on the state endangered species list. During this online educational event with birder Henry Fuller, we will learn how they live, where they live, and what you can do to see this phantom of the forest. Click here to learn more about this event.
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Friday, January 26th from 9-10:30am Meet & Greet Coffee Hour at the KS Wild Office |
Whether you're new in town or a seasoned KS Wilder, we invite you to bring a mug and join us for a cup of coffee at the KS Wild office to learn about our active campaigns, upcoming events, and ways you can become involved in environmental activism for our public lands here in the Klamath-Siskiyou bioregion of southern Oregon and northern California. Our doors will be open at 562 A St. in downtown Ashland from 9-10:30am and coffee will be provided! Click here to learn more. We hope to see you there!
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May 27th - May 31st 5-Day, 4-Night Raft-Supported Hike Along the Rogue River Trail |
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Our guided raft-supported hike is the most comfortable way to experience the Rogue River Trail. You hike with a daypack while the rafts shuttle all our gear. ARTA’s friendly guides provide delicious meals and water along the trail. Join us on this amazing adventure! Click here to learn more. |
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ARTA hikers at camp. Credit: H. Christiansen |
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September 7th - September 10th Rogue Riverkeeper Whitewater Rafting Fundraising Trip |
Spend four days and three nights whitewater rafting and camping along the iconic Wild & Scenic Rogue River with our partner, professional outfitters ROW Adventures. This trip down the Wild & Scenic Rogue River is ALL INCLUSIVE, meaning your river guide, raft, camp supplies, and delicious meals are included. Additionally, ROW will donate $200 per guest to RRK. The trip typically fills up fast, so inquire today! Fill out the interest form below to be added to the list to be amongst the first informed of next steps to reserve your spot on the trip, or call ROW Adventures directly at (208) 765-0841 and mention Rogue Riverkeeper for your discounted rate! Click here to sign up or learn more. |
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| Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center 562 A St. Ashland, OR 97520 |
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KS Wild understands that diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential components of not only an effective conservation movement, but of resilient communities. We continue to seek the best practices of inclusion for our board, staff, supporters, event participants, and the general public.
We acknowledge we work on the ancestral lands of the Native tribes that lived and still live in what we call the Klamath-Siskiyou region. We encourage action as a way to honor, support, and stand in solidarity with present day Tribes. Click here to take a moment to learn more about and support these Indigenous communities.
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