Volunteer in the Crooked River Watershed this Spring 2024

​There are a few ways to volunteer in the field around habitat restoration this Spring. Let us know your interest for one or more activities in the "Sign Me Up" form below. 

​Questions? Contact us at: [email protected].

HARVEST WILLOW CUTTINGS
Monday - March 11, 2024

Willow cutting bundle

Clarno Nursery USFS

Join us in beautiful Clarno, Oregon for one day of harvesting willow cuttings that will be later planted as beaver food this Spring at a Crooked Watershed beaver related restoration site.

Activities include cutting 2,000 willow and cottonwood sticks that you will then bundle and transport for later planting behind recently constructed Beaver Dam Analogues (BDAs). 

• Equipment will be provided, just bring a lunch, work gloves and dress in layers. The level of effort is "modest".
• If time and interest allows, we'll visit a Pine Creek beaver complex nearby and talk about how willow and stream restoration helped to support beaver reestablishment in the subbasin.

• Traveling from the central Oregon area? Carpool with us to the project worksite if you'd like, starting 8am in Madras up to the project site, back to Madras by 4pm. 

> Signup below to join us on Monday, March 11, 2024

(​Why beavers and beaver related stream restoration? Learn more at Western Beavers Cooperative: 
https://westernbeavers.org/building-beaver-habitat-for-beaver-success/)

LATE SPRING MAINTENANCE
Stream restoration around the Crooked River watershed can sometimes be challenging with weather created high flow events, most often come Spring. 

Join a hand crew this May to help us with small repairs as needed while process-based restoration takes hold.  

POST 
Thursday - May 16th 
Looking for a hand crew of 6 to 8 helpers to cleanup tree planting, repair caging and Beaver Dam Analogues (BDAs) constructed last fall, at this multi-year stream restoration site. Activities may include fencing and wire work, grass trimming, shoveling dirt, pounding tposts

PRINEVILLE
Saturday - May 18th
Looking for a small crew of 5 to 6 helpers to cleanup tree plantings and caging at a (formerly) beaver occupied site just outside of Prineville. Beavers have disappeared from this site, but the past 3 years of tree planting work is still growing in place and needs cleanup work, fence maintenance after this season's high flows. 
Activities may include fencing and wire work, grass trimming, pounding tposts and planting willow cuttings.

Stream surveying in Paulina

UPCOMING: STREAM SURVEYING​

Get streamside with small survey crews this year documenting beaver habitat restoration potential and beaver activity signs around small basins in the Crooked River watershed.

Activities include:
- Walking uneven ground 2-3 miles / day
- Logging observations and photos into a handheld device
- Measuring stream sections, capturing GPS points
- Coordinating with other survey crew members
- Use of measuring tapes, GIS maps
- Uploading data to partner organizations

Survey dates can be flexible, but in coordination with other crew members and during the Spring and Fall seasons. 

You should be able to commit to a minimum of 8 survey dates over the season (Spring or Fall).

We will actively provide training, guidance and support in coordination with Western Beavers Cooperative.

Willow cutting and planting in Paulina with CCSWCD

WATERSHED STEWARDSHIP: MORE WAYS TO GET INVOLVED
​​
Crooked River Weed Management Area 
Working on your own time and own pace more your thing?
Volunteer updating community outreach materials to help slow the spread of invasives in the watershed. For more information contact Debbi at (541) 447-9971, or [email protected]

Crook County Soil and Water Conservation District
Join the CCSWCD for one day stewardship projects harvesting willows, planting trees and more. Contact the District for more information about volunteer opportunities at 541-447-3548

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