Giving Back to Grassland Restoration
Our mission is to conserve native species and habitats through
restoration, research and education. Our vision is a world where all people and wildlands are healthy and interact positively, biological diversity flourishes, and environmental challenges are met with a social commitment to solving problems with scientific principles.
And we need you to support conservation. To join us in our work,
"Give back to the world at least what you've received." - Albert Einstein
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Working Together, Caring Together |
“Here we are, at the top of the world,” Jim announces as we arrive at the summit of the largest meadow on his property. Our view: the quilted green expanse of the Willamette Valley of Oregon.
Jim Merzenich, private landowner and tree farmer, began stewarding the site, now known as Oak Basin, in 1992, when he and his brother, Ed, first began purchasing land in the area.
Jessica Celis has also joined us for the day. In 2020, Jessica left her position as a restoration ecologist with the Institute for Applied Ecology (IAE) to become the botanist for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Upper Willamette Field Office. She now helps guide our restoration work at Oak Basin. Read More
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Oregon's Blue Carbon, Part 3: Forested Tidal Swamps |
Guest Post By Andy Kerr, environmental consultant and owner of the Larch Company
When I hear the word swamp, Oregon does not come to mind. I think of Louisiana (the Atchafalaya Basin), Florida (the Everglades), Georgia (the Okefenokee Swamp), Delaware and Maryland (the Great Cypress Swamp), Virginia and North Carolina (the Great Dismal Swamp), and South Carolina (the Congaree Swamp). I think of Ohio’s and Indiana’s Great Black Swamp, which no longer exists. These are/were great swamps.
I generally pride myself on knowing much about Oregon, natural Oregon, Oregon’s forests, and Sitka spruce in Oregon (which thrives where the coastal fog lingers). Still, I’ve never noticed what Laura Brophy calls Sitka spruce–dominated tidal forested wetland (pictured at left, aka tidal swamp—see Part 1). The reason I’ve never noticed one before is that they are nearly all gone. Given the importance to global ecology of tidal swamps in the Pacific Northwest, this is a wrong that needs to be righted. Read More
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Guest Blog by Steve Cary, Pajarito Environmental Education Center
I confess to being a bit winded after my adrenaline-fueled mid-September adventures in southern New Mexico. Exhaustion is a familiar feeling for me at this time of year. All summer long I am at full attention, going full bore, as I try to maximize my own personal observations while fielding ID requests and BAMONA submittals from so many friends and colleagues, as well as minding the home front: house projects, vegetable gardens, and family travel. All good stuff, but the wind leaves my sails as summer evaporates. Marcy can tell you . . .
Back in Santa Fe now, days are rapidly shortening, temperatures are cooling, landscape plants and vegetables are senescing. And butterfly life seems more normal, which at this time of year here means we’re largely back to the winter hibernators, which I highlighted last time, and a few of the most common, widespread species that just keep going until cold weather shuts them down. And I hope that will be soon because, well, just because. We need a decent winter. Read More
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Staff Spotlight: Scott Harris
Scott is Director of the Conservation Research (CR) Program at the Institute for Applied Ecology, where he leads the “research” component of IAE’s mission. He brings to IAE a wealth of experience in science and ecology. From a recent two-question interview:
IAE: You have extensive experience in aerospace at NASA. Can you pinpoint an experience or circumstance that helped steer your career into conservation?
SH: A famous ecologist once said that "ecology is not like rocket science - it's harder". Well I've done both, and it's true. Ecology is not only harder, but more inspiring, challenging, and fulfilling - at least for me.
IAE: What do you love about working at IAE?
What I love about IAE, besides the cool hats, t-shirts, and cookoffs; is that I have the opportunity to make very direct impacts on conservation of threatened and endangered species.
Indeed, Scott has a diverse work and academic background that informs his direction of IAE’s research program. After graduating with a degree in Aerospace Engineering and working as a research engineer at NASA for 5 years, he left for greener pastures to pursue a career in conservation science. After completing a M.S. in Natural Resources Management from the University of Alaska in 2004, he worked in non-profit conservation and restoration work in Alaska, the Western U.S., and Chile. He developed and managed projects in stream and forest restoration, wildlife research, ecological monitoring, and community-based conservation. Most recently, he completed a PhD in Forest Ecology at Oregon State University, where he examined ways to manage production forests with minimal impacts to biodiversity and species of conservation concern. As Scott demonstrates at right, "straight-line monitoring transects don't stop for anything."
He also brings a unique perspective to IAE’s work as a private landowner conserving and restoring habitat for Fender’s blue butterfly. When not working, Scott and his family find plenty to do on their small farm in Wren. They also spend a lot of time outside – including camping, hiking, skiing, hunting, canoeing, and exploring the natural and cultural history of Oregon.
Scott supervises and supports the Conservation Research staff, oversees research projects, and engages with partners to ensure that IAE substantially contributes to furthering restoration science and practice. That is a mission we can all help accomplish. Welcome, Scott!
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Announcements & Brief Updates |
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Past, present and future of tidal wetlands in the Yaquina Bay Estuary
Virtual Presentation by Laura Brophy, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Thursday Nov. 18, 3:30-4:30 pm
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What did the Yaquina Bay Estuary look like 200 years ago? What might it look like a hundred years in the future? The estuary has always been dynamic, but this period has seen especially broad changes related to human impacts. In this presentation, we'll travel through time so you can visualize the estuary's past, how it has changed, and its potential future -- and we'll talk about what these changes mean to people and wildlife that live here and use the estuary. Click for the Event Page.
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Virtual Plant Materials Conference
January 12 & 13, 2022
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This conference will bring together native plant producers, restoration ecologists and practitioners, and seed researchers to discuss progress and challenges related to increasing the supply of ecologically-appropriate native seed. Author Doug Tallamy will present his work on the nature of oaks and Olivia Messinger Carril will present her work on pollinator networks. The conference will also include expert speakers and seed producer panels from the Pacific Northwest and Southwest.
The Willamette Valley Native Plant Partnership and the Southwest Seed Partnership, two regional plant materials partnerships coordinated by the Institute for Applied Ecology (IAE), have come together to host the 2022 Native Plant Materials Virtual Conference. Registration fee ($40) includes links to live conference webinars on January 12 & 13 (Zoom via Whova), speaker bios, detailed agenda, and networking opportunities. Read More
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IAE's Habitat Restoration Program was fortunate for the help of the Red 8 Team of 11 AmeriCorps volunteers to contribute to our grassland restoration work. This hardy crew of young volunteers recently planted yampah (Perideridia gairdneri), great camas (Camassia leichtlinii) and crown brodiea (Brodiea coronaria) at Herbert Farm and Natural Area, pictured at right. They are moving on sooner than expected to assist with Afghan refugees. Thank you for your service to communities of plants and people!
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Courtesy of Warner Creek Correctional Facility
The season ended with a celebration and Sagebrush in Prisons Certificate ceremony for all participants on Monday, October 25 at Warner Creek Correctional Facility near Lakeview, Oregon. Stacy Moore of IAE presented staff and adults in custody with certificates for their hard work and dedication to this project. Ms. Moore looks forward to next year, as we all know it will be even better.
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Donor Spotlight
This Veteran's Day, we salute the late Captain John Gaylord, IAE staff family member and longtime supporter of IAE's work. John served in the US Air Force and was a Korean War Veteran who became a pilot for Continental Airlines. The Gaylords were Oregon homesteaders, and John and his family would spend summers near Paisley where he orchestrated Mosquito Festival parade floats. His commitment to conservation and restoration was evident to all. He and his wife Jody were regulars at IAE events, and could be seen stopping by the IAE office in their bright red convertible. John will be remembered by all who knew him for his zest for life and generosity. Thank you for your service to both our country and its natural areas, John! You will be missed.
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IAE Board of Directors:
Ken Bierly, President; Brandy Humphreys, Vice President; Cary Stephens, Secretary; Jack Halsey, Treasurer; Jason Bradford, Anne Bradley, Shinji Kawai, Judy Li, Carol Savonen, Sunia Yang
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