Aspen Bierwirth, left, and Zoe Fenstermacher, restoration technicians with Lomakatsi Restoration Project of Ashland, "plant" willow stakes by pounding them into the ground on Jan. 5 along Rock Creek in an area off of Obenchain Road northeast of Medford that burned in 2020 in the Obenchain Fire. The willows, which are a hearty native plant that sprouts and grows quickly, are expected to help shade the creek and stabilize its bank.

Lomakatsi Restoration Project grew its numbers last year while helping the forest grow, according to a year-end report.

The Ashland-based nonprofit organization, which provides forest and watershed restoration services, grew to 85 full-time positions last year, up by 17 positions, according to a list of 2023 highlights posted to the Lomakatsi website.

Highlights from last year include:

• 9,500 native trees and shrubs planted along streams to enhance habitat for salmon and other wildlife;

• 50 youths trained and employed;

• 30,800 acres of forest restoration work done, including prescribed burning.

“We are grateful to have secured increasing state, federal and philanthropic investments for the ecologically centered forest and watershed restoration initiatives that Lomakatsi has been helping to lead for nearly three decades,” the organization said.

Lomakatsi employs foresters, ecologists and fire specialists, among others. It partners with tribes, government agencies and other nonprofit organizations.

Among its projects is the 27,000-acre West Bear All-Lands Restoration Project that involves forest fuels reduction work on land adjacent to Talent, Phoenix, Medford and Jacksonville. The project expanded last year to include work on 700 acres of the Jacksonville Woodlands.

Other projects include 5,000 acres in the Fremont-Winema National Forest and 3,000 acres northeast of Medford to restore oak habitat. Other work includes post-fire restoration projects near Ashland Pond along Bear Creek and a new streamside restoration project in partnership with the city of Gold Hill.

More information is available at lomakatsi.org. Reach the organization at 541-488-0208.

Seed and plant swap is set Saturday

The Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center, in cooperation with Pollinator Project Rogue Valley and Bestow, is hosting its second annual seed and plant swap from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27, at the KS Wild office, 562 A. St. in Ashland.

The event offers an array of native seeds, educational information and a plant propagation station where participants can bring plants, starts or propagations to swap.

No signup is necessary. Light refreshments will be provided. Contact KS Wild at 541-488-5789 for more information.

Oregon State Marine Board has online survey

The Oregon State Marine Board wants to hear from people who did and did not go fishing, crabbing, hunting or boating in the state from July 1 through Dec. 31 last year. It’s conducting an online survey through Feb. 29.

The agency, which uses boater-paid fees to pay for on-water law enforcement and other boating programs, also wants people to report any barriers to participation in boating and water activities.

Data from the biannual survey will be used to help the agency prioritize resources based on needs. Boating includes the use of a kayak, canoe, raft, drift boat, paddleboard or sailboat.

Take the survey at Boat.Oregon.gov.

Singing fish help ODFW win first-place award

A trio of animated singing fish helped the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife win first place for the best use of humor in a communications and education campaign.

Both the fish and the department were recognized by the Association for Conservation Information, according to an agency announcement. They were featured in a video created as part of a drought-awareness campaign that ran the last two years. The fish sang about the impacts of drought on fish, wildlife and habitat.

“The streams dried up and they couldn’t move on,” the fish sang at one point during their 30-second performance.

The video eventually directed people to droughtinfo.org. View it at bit.ly/3HyMxKF.