Thanks to the work of Representative Pam Marsh and the Environmental Law Center, as well as many others, the bill HB 3464 “Enhancing Oregon’s Fire Resiliency and Water Security through Beaver Management” was developed. Now, beaver management is streamlined into a single state agency (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife) for informed management so that the benefits of beaver in mitigating climate change impacts like wildfire, drought, and protection of imperiled species can be fully realized.

In late June of this year Stewardship Director, Kristi Mergenthaler, was driving along I-5, she saw on top of the short cement barrier a strange sight. A gray fox had her head trapped in a plastic container, right next to semi-trucks chugging up the slow lane.

SOLC celebrated the Summer Solstice this year by collaborating with the City of Medford, Medford Water Commission, and Grayback Forestry to implement a prescribed fire at the Agate Desert Preserve to control non-native, invasive Medusahead grass.

SOLC honored our Landmark, Legacy and Life members at the newly conserved Vesper Meadow and Buck Prairie along Latgawa Creek. Enjoy this photo recap.

In late May, SOLC staff lead a two-part workshop for local fiber artists to learn about an invasive plant and how to use it! Staff members Tara, Rebekah, Amber, and 15 dedicated attendees spent two days getting to know the invasive dyer’s woad and just one of the many methods for dyeing yarn and linens with it.

Thanks for joining and supporting and volunteering! Enjoy this photo recap.

SOLC is pleased to announce it is applying for renewal of our national accreditation. A public comment period is now open.

In September of this year, SOLC representatives, community partners, and an experienced facilitation team took to the water for Decolonizing the Rogue, a four-day guided exploration on the Wild and Scenic section of the Rogue River. This spectacular setting provided an immersive classroom to delve into how expanded cultural awareness, racial equity, and recognition of impacts from colonial domination can reframe the ways we enjoy and relate to nature – and how we can embody those big ideals in our work as a land trust. learn more about this transformational decolonization river workshop and its impacts on SOLC's work.

When SOLC acquired new lands earlier this year, we also acquired a new rare species, the Vernal Pool Fairy Shrimp. This tiny shrimp is recognized as a threatened species by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. To monitor and steward these animals, two SOLC staff members earned special certification. Read about the certification process ​and purpose, ​and some geeky factoids about our community of fairies.

Online community science platforms are being used across the globe to document species of all kinds. SOLC staff were curious if guests of the Rogue River Preserve were making and documenting observations while visiting. They were pleasantly surprised that visitors have! Find out some some of the species they documented and who were the top contributors.

On Saturday, May 22, we were “back in the spring of things” with good people coming together to achieve great things. Enjoy this recap and photo gallery of the event.