The Klamath River, named 2024 River of the Year by the conservation organization American Rivers, flows last year past the site of the former Copco 2 dam. The dam was removed last year and three other dams on the river are to be removed this year, although sediment washed downstream as part of the project has muddied the river.

The conservation organization American Rivers has named the Klamath River as the 2024 River of the Year in celebration of the biggest dam removal project in history.

The organization, based in Washington, D.C., also recognized several organizations involved in the project as 2024 River Champions. They are the Yurok Tribe, Karuk Tribe, Klamath Justice Coalition, Berkshire Hathaway, state of California, state of Oregon, Klamath River Renewal Corporation and Ridges to Riffles Indigenous Conservation Group.

The River of the Year honor recognizes significant progress and achievement in improving a river’s health. The River Champion award recognizes leaders who advance collaborative solutions for healthy rivers and clean water.

“On the Klamath, the dams are falling, the water is flowing and the river is healing,” said Tom Kiernan, president and CEO of American Rivers. “The Klamath is proof that at a time when our politics are polarized and the reality of climate change is daunting, we can overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges and make incredible progress by working together. ”

Three fish-blocking dams are being removed this year on the river and a fourth was removed last year to improve river health and fish populations, including populations of salmon, trout and steelhead. The breaching of the Iron Gate, Copco 1 and JC Boyle dams in January sent heavy sediment downstream, so the river recently has been running muddy.

“The plight of the river galvanized national attention in 2002 when an estimated 70,000 salmon were killed by toxic cyanobacteria growing in the reservoirs behind the dams,” according to an American Rivers announcement. “Local Indigenous families mobilized following this traumatic event, starting a campaign to remove the dams.”

Ultimately, the Yurok and Karuk tribes, the states of California and Oregon and conservation organizations signed the Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement, along with dam owner Berkshire Hathaway, the parent company of PacifiCorp.

“The 2024 River Champion Awards spotlight the power of Indigenous leadership, grassroots advocacy and collaboration,” Kiernan said. “Rivers and waters across the country face many challenges. We must carry forward the lessons from the Klamath, and the examples set by these leaders, to protect and restore rivers nationwide.”

For more information, visit www.AmericanRivers.org.

Day-use visits to state parks last year were a near record

Last year was the second busiest year for day-use visits to Oregon State Parks, the agency announced. It also was the fourth-busiest camping year.

Day-use areas saw 52.2 million visits, just behind the historic record of 53 million in 2021. And camper nights numbered 2.9 million, slightly below the record high of 3 million in 2021.

Parks with the largest increases in day-use visits included Harris Beach State Recreation Area near Brookings, the most-visited area in the state.

To handle the crowds, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department has started its 2024 seasonal recruitment to hire 250 seasonal rangers and ranger assistants.

Medford Parks seeks summer camp counselors

Medford Parks and Recreation is hiring for summer camp counselors. Apply at medfordoregon.gov.

Quinones named acting forest supervisor

Dan Quinones, fire and aviation staff officer for the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, has been named acting forest supervisor for the next four months, the agency announced this week.

Quinones, who has worked for the U.S. Forest Service for 25 years, takes over from Molly Juillerat, who served as acting supervisor for the past four months while the agency seeks a permanent supervisor.

“I look forward to forging new relationships and engaging in transparent conversations throughout my tenure knowing full well that it will take all of us to affect change,” Quinones said.

Volunteers sought for horse therapy organization

The nonprofit organization Riding Beyond is seeking volunteers to help it offer free sessions for breast cancer survivors to interact with specially trained horses. Volunteer trainings are scheduled for March 12 and 16.

The organization is seeking people with nonprofit experience, data entry, grant writing, fundraising, horse handling and community outreach to marginalized populations.

Riding Beyond also is taking registrations for sessions in April. Four weekly three-hour sessions are offered on Tuesday or Wednesday afternoons. Sessions are scheduled for 1-4 p.m. on April 16 and 17 at Little Creek Ranch on Siskiyou Boulevard in Ashland. Sessions are also held in May.

The organization also offers Saturday monthly sessions May through September for the general public and weekly meditation circles with horses to the general public throughout the year.

For more information, visit ridingbeyond.org/events.

State issues draft plan to protect water resources

The public is invited to comment on a draft state plan for protecting water resources in Oregon.

Known as the Oregon Integrated Water Resources Strategy, the plan focuses on coordinating work between agencies. It was last updated eight years ago.

“We must integrate the various aspects of water management,” said Racquel Rancier, deputy director of the Oregon Water Department, which is responsible for studying, allocating and distributing water in the state. “This includes programs that focus on sufficient clean water for people to drink, grow food, maintain their health and produce goods and services, while also recognizing the spiritual, cultural and recreational values of our streams and rivers and the habitats they provide.”

To view the plan and to comment on it, visit bit.ly/3TaSDGy. Reach the department at 503-986-0900.

Virtual open house looks at water projects outreach

The public is invited to participate in a virtual open house focused on how to best engage communities in support of water projects. The event is set for 1-3 p.m. March 14.

Several state agencies, including the Oregon Water Resources Department, have been working to come up with best practices for reaching out to people and organizations about projects such as watershed enhancement, water resource conservation, water supply and wastewater treatment.

For more information, visit bit.ly/439lPlZ or contact Charlotte Regula-Whitefield, at 971-375-3481. To register, visit bit.ly/3TaqlMw.

Grants available for projects on BLM-administered lands

The Bureau of Land Management has funding for projects that maintain and improve certain public lands it manages across western Oregon.

Individuals, organizations and local governments may apply for funds through Title II of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act to improve existing infrastructure, enhance forest ecosystems or restore and improve land health and water quality on so-called O&C lands across 18 western Oregon counties.

For more information, contact Amanda Huffman at 541-618-2487 or ahuffman@blm.gov. Applications are due by April 2.