Willamette Valley Ecoregion
Willamette Valley Ecoregion Specialization Course
Friday, September 14, 2012 at 9:00 AM until Saturday, October 27, 2012 at 4:00 PM
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By clicking the Enroll Now button, you are signing up for the entire course and all its classes, which are listed below.
Please Note: This course will be held throughout the Willamette Valley over the course of several months, to provide participants the best locations to experience the different topics. Please note the dates and locations within the class descriptions found below. Some dates, locations, and instructors are still being finalized. If you register, this information will be provided to you when it becomes available. Please check this web site for updates.
Cost:
$150.00 - Covers cost of all classes and course materials
Online Payments are accepted. Please click on the Enroll button and follow the links to complete payment by credit card.
If Paying By Check:
Please make checks payable to: Oregon State University College of Forestry
Mail to: Oregon Master Naturalist Program, Re: Willamette Valley Ecoregion Course Registration, 321 Richardson Hall, OSU, Corvallis, OR 97331
Refund Policy: See http://www.forestry.oregonstate.edu/outreach for general College of Forestry policy. Specific refund policy for this class: A full refund will be granted if notified at least ONE WEEK before the class. A refund will not be granted if notified less than a week before the class.
Attendance Policy:
Class attendance is required for full credit. One class may be missed, but must be made up. You will work with Jason O'Brien, Oregon Master Naturalist Program Coordinator, to access appropriate make up materials. More details will be discussed at the first class.
Course Introduction and Overview of the Willamette Valley Ecoregion
This class introduces participants to the Oregon Master Naturalist (OMN) Program, including the program certification requirements. It also introduces participants to the Willamette Valley Ecoregion. The overview of the Willamette Valley Ecoregion will cover historic and contemporary habitat, native plant and wildlife species, historic change, and cultural perspectives.
Instructors:
Ed Alverson - Botanist
David G. Lewis, PhD - Tribal Museum Curator/ Cultural Liaison, Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon
Dave Vesely - Oregon Wildlife Institute (http://www.oregonwildlife.org/)
When:
June 15th, 2013
Time: 9:00am to 4:00pm (subject to change)
Where:
Morning Lecture: Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon - Education Building, Grand Ronde, OR; Field Trip: To Be Determined
Geology and Earth Processes of the Willamette Valley Ecoregion
This class will cover the geological features and processes of the Willamette Valley Ecoregion and their connections to the region’s natural and cultural history. Topics will include: how the Cascadia Subduction Zone forms the Willamette Valley and poses earthquake hazards; the Missoula Floods and the connection to soils and the Ice Age; Columbia River Basalt flows; weather, climate and soil influences on agricultural products - including beer and wine; and the geological influences on biological and cultural systems.
Instructors:
Robert Lillie, Ph.D. - Emeritus Professor - Retired, Oregon State University
Lockwood DeWitt - Independent Geologist
When:
June 22nd, 2013
Time: 9:00am to 4:00pm (subject to change)
Where:
(Note Change of Location)
Morning Lecture: Imagine Coffee (5460 SW Philomath Boulevard, Corvallis, OR) http://imaginecoffee.net/; Field Trip: Marys Peak - Siuslaw National Forest; Afternoon Wrap-up: Return to Imagine Coffee.
Parking at Imagine Coffee: Bi Mart parking lot across 53rd Street from Imagine Coffee
The Willamette River, its Floodplain, Tributaries and Wetlands
This class will focus on the Willamette River, its floodplain, tributaries and wetlands and their connections to the region’s natural and cultural history. Topics will include: the historic flow of the Willamette River and extent of wetlands and floodplains; hydrology, watershed and stream processes; hydrological changes; effects on native plant and wildlife species; and restoration efforts.
Please Note: This class includes a rafting trip down the Willamette River for most of the day. Please come prepared to wade into the water (water shoes, etc.). Other necessary equipment will be provided.
Instructors:
Jeremiah Osborne-Gowey - Stream Ecologist
Brad Withrow-Robinson - OSU Forestry and Natural Resources Extension Agent - Benton, Polk, and Linn Counties
Patricia Benner - Stream Ecologist and River Historian - River Spirit Journeys
When:
June 29th, 2013
Time: 9:00am to 4:00pm (subject to change)
Where:
Morning Lecture: To Be Determined; Field Trip: Rafting Trip from Corvallis to Bryant Park, Albany
Urban and Urbanizing Landscapes in the Willamette Valley
This class will focus on issues pertaining to urban areas in the Willamette Valley. Topics may include: the urban/rural interface and ecological issues that are unique to this landscape; urbanization impacts on hydrology, water quality, and biodiversity in the region; and tools that can be used to maintain natural ecosystem functions in the urban/rural interface at various scales, from the backyard to the watershed.
Instructors:
Kristin Ramsted - Oregon Department of Forestry - Community Assistance Forester
Amy Grotta - OSU Forestry and Natural Resources Extension Agent - Columbia, Washington, and Yamhill Counties
Other Presenters Pending
When:
July 12th, 2013
Time: 9:00am to 4:00pm (subject to change)
Where:
Morning Lecture: Jenkins Estate - Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District (8005 SW Grabhorn, Beaverton, OR) ; Field Trip: Cooper Mountain Nature Park - Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District
Oak Savanna, Woodlands, and Prairie in the Willamette Valley
This class will focus on the Oregon White Oak savannas, woodlands, and prairies of the Willamette Valley. Topics will include: historic extent of prairie, savanna, and woodlands; historic pre-settlement management; fire, grazing, and other natural processes; current extent of prairie, woodlands, and savanna; land use in place of savanna, woodlands, and prairie; effects on native plant and wildlife species; and restoration efforts.
Instructors:
Ed Alverson - Botanist
Ian Silvernail - Institute for Applied Ecology
When:
July 13th, 2013
Time: 9:00am to 4:00pm (subject to change)
Where:
Morning Lecture: Finley National Wildlife Refuge, Refuge Headquarters - south of Corvallis; Field Trip: Finley National Wildlife Refuge - various locations
The Future of Willamette Valley & Course Wrap-up
This class will include a presentation on the future of the Willamette Valley. Topics may include a discussion on the biophysical and human systems perspectives on Willamette water, anticipating emerging trends and action steps. This course will also serve to formally graduate participants who have completed all requirements of the Oregon Master Naturalist Program. Please note: this won't officially be the last class for the course. See below.
Instructors:
Sam Chan - OSU Sea Grant Extension - Watershed Health and Aquatic Invasive Species Specialist (Tentative)
When:
To Be Determined
Time: To Be Determined
Where:
To Be Determined
Sustainable Land Use on Agricultural and Forested lands at the Rural/Urban Interface
This class will meet in the Fall, after the peak agricultural season winds down. The plan is to tour 3 to 4 farms in Benton/Linn County to experience a variety of land use and land management approaches. Tours will likely include both conventional and organic farms and a stop at a working farm that is managed by a Land Trust. Further details will be announced during the rest of the course.
Instructors:
Brad Withrow-Robinson, Ph.D. - Oregon State University Forestry and Natural Resources Extension Agent - Linn, Polk, and Benton Counties
When:
To Be Determined
Where:
To Be Determined
Where
-
Oregon State UniversityCorvallis OR, 97331
Contact: Jason O'Brien
541-737-3856
Jason.OBrien@oregonstate.edu