OREGON STEWARDSHIP VIEWING SPAWNING SALMON

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1 OREGON STEWARDSHIP 4015 S. Stage Rd. Medford, OR or or Jim at Fall, 2018 WILDLIFE HABITAT The following birds and animals have been seen at Bear Creek along the Greenway: otter, great blue heron, night heron, green heron, white egret, beaver, and of course salmon and steelhead. One of the best places in Southern Oregon to view birds and some mammals is Myrtle Point Marsh, next to Myrtle Tree Motel along Highway 42. Over the years we have observed bittern, green heron, night heron, great blue heron, white egret, wood duck, mallard duck, cinnamon teal, bald eagle, mink, otter, beaver muskrat, deer, and fox. Elementary students visit the marsh in the spring to study marsh ecology. They return to their classrooms to write about what they observe. VIEWING SPAWNING SALMON Each year, Jim takes Butte Falls first grade students to watch spawning salmon on Big Butte Creek. As they leaned over the railing, Jim cautioned them to be careful not to fall. One of the girls responded, No, we don t want to crush the salmon eggs. SUMMER WORK Installing a brush bundle in Grayback Creek During the summer, gardens and trails have to be maintained. Oregon Stewardship maintains 10 miles of trails that included 3 trails at Denman Wildlife Area, 2 at Gold Beach, 2 at Illinois Valley, 1 on the Sixes River, and 3 miles along the Bear Creek Greenway. Garden work continues at Illinois Valley, Coquille, Gold Beach, and Myrtle Point schools. Tree trimming at Coquille High School

2 BELIEVE YOU CAN ACHIEVE HIGH SCHOOL PROJECTS All high school participants are offered a scholarship for college or vocational training. Thank you to the Dubs Foundation, Jacksonville Garden Club and Middle Rogue Steelheaders for supporting our scholarship program. Coquille High School No Dumping drains to stream stencils are painted on city streets. Wave pansy baskets are planted for winter sales. Willow and osier dogwood cuttings will again be planted along Cunningham Creek. Gold Beach High School High School seniors and fourth graders are studying forest and estuary ecology on Elephant Bar Trail. To the right a student is redoing a garden area that was planted by students over 20 years ago. Students also maintain Rotary and Elephant Bar Trails. Illinois Valley High School Students care for campus gardens, including a native plant garden in the courtyard. However, they would much rather work on trails, including log cutting, than to weed gardens. They maintain Upper Grayback Trail (on right) and Forks Trail on the Illinois River. They continue to plant pine trees along West Fork of the Illinois River.

3 Myrtle Point High School Students cleared brush around the elementary school and repainted benches with Bobcat blue paint. They were also leaders on our annual field trip to Camp Myrtlewood to study forest and river ecology and search for salmon. Warm cookies are served by our host at Camp Myrtlewood. Pacific High School Annual bulb planting at the school entrance occurred in early November. Two students this year are continuing to work on Crooked Fir Trail on the Sixes River. They are designing an interpretative brochure for six stops, numbering the posts, and building a metal brochure box. The goal is to have the brochure and posts in place by late April or early May. Year round maintenance includes work at Ironhead Boat Ramp and Elk River Hatchery. South Medford High School Five seniors worked this fall on Saturdays, removing blackberries and planting native plants along a half mile section of Bear Creek. They earn their senior project hours and make a presentation before graduating in June. They have designed and constructed a 1/8 mile trail on their recent project. They enjoy pizza together after work on Saturdays. We emphasize teamwork and leadership skill with all students.

4 Year 2018 SALMON COUNTS In Bear Creek exposed pipe at Jackson Creek forced most of the fish to spawn downstream, from the mall and above McAndrews Ave. Totals On the Illinois River poaching continues in the Kirby area and below. State police were called twice. Because of low water salmon spawned in the lower reaches. Year Totals * *High Water in the Illinois R. prevented counting. Thanks to Robert Coffan for presenting Monarch Waystations at our annual meeting. Fall Trail Work September 24, 2018 Jim Hutchins Beautiful fall morning as I set foot on the first of three trails, Little Butte Creek Loop. Nick Young Trail will follow, and finally Denman Trail 5 miles total. Very quiet and dry. Acorns crunch under my boots as I move along, cutting a blackberry runner or two. Trail is covered with acorns, indicating a bountiful supply. Only 10 gallons of trash total today, and no damage to benches. However at the entrance to Denman Trail the No Horses sign had been removed. Rosehips and poison oak are colorful, bright orange and red. No hikers today, just one lone jogger and one person dog-walking on TouVelle Rd. Saw three great blue herons trying for fish or frogs in the very low ponds, waiting for fall rains. Acorn woodpeckers were busy harvesting acorns to punch into holes in their granary trees. Quail zooming to brush for cover, broke the silence once or twice. BOARD MEMBERS Eric Dittmer-Professor Emeritus, Environmental Studies, SOU Charles Lane-Professor Environmental Studies, SOU Lynne Dittmer-Retired, Moss Adams Loren Wittenberg-Retired, BLM Hydrologist Carla Hutchins-Retired Office Manager Mark Millner-Partner, Terra Firma Gifts Todd McDonald-Partner, New Brew Media Keith Miller-Professor Emeritus, Zoology, University of Alaska Cathy Fultineer, Sr. V.P. Marketing, Procare Software (Nicolaj Imhof-currently teaching in Germany) In Memoriam Jo Williams

5 Thanks for our sustaining Corporate Sponsors Ish Ranch Estates Gold Beach Butte Falls Additional Businesses and Agencies Who Support Oregon Stewardship Arthur R. Dubs Foundation Ascension Lutheran Church Women Bullitt Foundation Central Art City of Medford Coquille Rotary Curry Anadromous Fishermen Don Hamman, Inc. Fishermen Direct Gold Beach Lions Houshour, Inc. Jacksonville Garden Club Jo Heim Real Estate Kids Unlimited Medford Parks and Recreation Middle Rogue Steelheaders Oregon Fish and Wildlife Oregon Hunters Association Philboyd Origins Rogue Flyfishers Rogue Outdoor Store Southern Oregon Flyfishers Private Citizens & Public Schools Thank you Mission Statement and Vision Statement It is our mission to offer education that encourages the community to provide stewardship for the land of Oregon. We encourage students, adults, and all community members to participate in the grassroots stewardship of our environment. We will do this with integrity, responsibility, balance, and knowledge and with community commitment and stewardship.

6 Oregon Stewardship 4015 S. Stage Rd. Medford, OR Support Oregon Stewardship. We are sustained by membership contributions. We are a 501(c)(3) organization. Your contributions are tax deductible. Thank you. Amount $50 $100 $250 $500 Other Name Address MAIL TO: Oregon Stewardship, 4015 S. Stage Rd., Medford, OR Printed on 100% Recycled Paper