Field Trip: Moving from Pilot Projects to a Landscape Conservation Program

Overview
As we consider the ecological dilemma created by interesting weather events and stressors of rapid urban growth, our watersheds will need to have the resilience needed to flourish in the face of these challenges. This will require that we move from pilot projects to landscape-scale conservation programs capable of acting in a coordinated manner across an entire watershed. The Tualatin River Watershed in Northwest Oregon is home to one of the Nation’s largest and most successful landscape conservation programs. In the past 12 twelve years, this program has successfully restored more than 120 river miles (10 plus river miles annually) across more than 25,000 acres in the rural and urban communities of Washington County.

This tour will provide an opportunity to look under the hood and better understand how this program works. Starting with an interactive ½ day technology exchange session at the Tualatin River Farm, participants will have an opportunity to interact with staff and explore areas of interest including restoration technology, creative financing, communication and partnership development. Moving from pilots to a full-scale landscape conservation program presented many interesting challenges that required out-of-the-box thinking so this program could succeed and grow. In the afternoon participants will tour some example projects and end the day with cold beverages at the local watering hole before returning to Hotel. Be ready rain or shine and dress for outdoors.

Schedule:
9:00 am - Depart hotel
12:00 noon - Lunch (provided)
4:00 pm - Arrive back at hotel