Franklin's bumble bee listed as endangered
Thank you SOU Laboratory of Archeology for recent Hike & Learn
Thank you partners and volunteers!
Thank you to every volunteer for participating in the Star Thistle pull at the Mariposa Preserve in the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument last week. Each and every one of you made a huge difference in protecting and conserving this special place. It was also fun getting drenched in the rain with you all!
Thank you to our partners and friends at the Siskiyou Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Oregon and especially K.S. WILD and Allee Gustafson for doing the registration and coordination for this partnership! Shout out to Charles "Charlie" Schelz the BLM Ecologist for the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument for making a Star Thistle pull so fun! This effort was to protect the preserve for Greene's Mariposa Lily.
Photo from K.S. Wild
2021 Artists in Residence in Cascade-Siskiyou
Watercolorist Julie Hutslar and quilter Susan Roudebush are selected for the 2021 Artist-in-Residence program at the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. Each artist will receive a one- to two-week residency at CSNM facilities during this summer, and will use their artistic efforts to support the public lands.
The Cascade-Siskiyou Monument was established for its biodiversity and celebrates its 21st anniversary. The Monument is part of the National Conservation Lands, set to conserve special features, from winding rivers to mountain vistas.
Julie, Bitterroot Valley, Montana, will create works in the Monument in June; and Susan, from Ashland and Bend, Oregon, will create and exhibit in October. More about the artists.
Julie Hutslar says, “A joyful camper, I have loved exploring the west for four decades now. This area of Oregon is one I welcome the chance to get more intimate with. Hiking is the way I reconnect and mountains are my constant source of inspiration!”
Julie will meet the community and exhibit her work from the residency on Friday, June 11, from 5-8pm, at the Green Springs Inn - Forest Room.
Images: Julie Hutslar, watercolor in progress; PCT By Little Hyatt; Hyatt Lake At Dusk; a sketch.
Watch for future updates on Susan Roudebush’s residency in autumn. Roudebush, an avid hiker, wants to create quilt panels that show regions of the monument: oak savanna, grasslands and high-elevation areas—showing the biodiversity that may not be easily understood.
Launch YouTube Friends of Cascade-Siskiyou Channel
“Thank you. A humbling introduction, so much covered. Learning and knowing more of the native peoples’ history, culture, contributions will enrich us all. For me, I hope to learn so much more. I’ll look for your blog, and the YouTube channel.” — Allison-Lama Susi:
“I would love to have a video of the presentation to share with others on our school staff. Thanks for this presentation..” —Marcia Thomason
“I would like to have the opportunity to view this presentation one more time so I can go back and take detailed notes.” Thank you. — Ce Yanez
These comments from the David Lewis lecture (Native American History in Southern Oregon) encouraged us to record and make accessible our presentations.
You can view our recorded lectures and presentations on our newly launched YouTube Channel. The first two titles and speakers are: Volcanic Rock'n and Roll'n in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, by Jad D'Allura, SOU Professor Emeritus; and Native American History in Southern Oregon by David Lewis, Oregon State University Professor. Any recorded video will be added to the channel.
Just in time for the 21st anniversary of the Monument and in response to the social distancing of the Covid pandemic, the Friends’ education programing transformed to online presentations. Recorded presentations connected presenters to audience from around the world. More people could learn about the Monument at a time of their own convenience.
Lisa James, Executive Director, Friends of CSNM said, “By sharing our videos on YouTube and linking them to our website, our loyal friends and subscribers can easily view the recordings at their convenience. We also want to draw new audience members who are searching for topics of interest not found elsewhere.”
From Jad D’Allura’s talk about the 35-million year-old rocks of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument to the David Lewis’ talk about indigenous peoples who traveled through and lived in this area; the Monument, as one of America’s public lands, holds so much for us yet to know.
We thank our presenters for sharing their knowledge with us; and we thank you for your support to care for this place we call home.
We stay humble and are learning together.
Friends Research Fund 2021 Awards Four Student Researchers
The Friends Research Fund (FRF) awarded grants totaling $ 3,856 to four undergraduate students to conduct botanical and geological studies in the Monument. Britton Glenn and Andrew Restrepo, both enrolled at Evergreen State College, will research varient lichen; Lauren Castro, University of Oregon, will focus on mapping geological areas near Grizzly Peak, and Samuel Barrus, Oregon State University, will investigate the geological age and properties of the Barron Mine located on the Sampson Creek Preserve.
These student will present their finding in next year at the Monument Research Symposium, held annually in March. Final Reports will be held with the Friends and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
Thank you to the FRF 2021 review committee members: Scot Loring, Botanist and Friends Board member; Hans Stroo, Environmental Scientist; Maia Black, Community Member; and Matthew McClintock, BLM Geologist. The Committee was chaired by Friends Board Members Jacqueline Blanchette and Elaney Marcotte, and advised by Lisa James, Friends CSNM Executive Director.
Descriptions of the 2021 research grants
Project Title: Vagrant Lichens in Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument
Britton Glenn and Andrew Restrepo, Botany / Ecology, Evergreen State College
Britton and Andrew will be working together to study vagrant lichen in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument under their faculty advisor, Lalita Calabria, Professor of Botany. Vagrant lichens are likely sensitive to human-induced habitat changes and invasion by non-native plant species. Britton and Andrew will be documenting how the unique vagrant lichen populations of the Monument interact with native and non-native grasses. The data they collect will be used to update the current distribution and ecology of vagrant lichens.
Project Title: CSNM Geological Mapping
Lauren Castro, Earth Science, University of Oregon
This summer and fall, Lauren will be working with Jad D’Allura, Professor Emeritus of Geology at Southern Oregon University. Lauren will focus on mapping the northwest portion of the Monument near Grizzly Peak, as well as sample and analyze welded tuffs in the Little Hyatt Reservoir area. This study will improve and update current geological studies of the Monument.
Project Title: Barron Mine
Samuel Barrus, Geology, Oregon State University
Samuel will be working with professors Dr. Jad D’Allura, SOU Professor Emeritus and Dr. John Dilles, OSU Professor of Geology. His project focuses on analyzing the geology of the now abandoned Barron Mine, located on the Sampson Creek Preserve owned by the Selburg Institute, also a project co-funder with the Friends. This project will help determine the geologic age and properties of the Barron Mine.
Reading Notes: Native American Tribes of Southern Oregon
The Friends of the Cascade- Siskiyou National Monument is proud to feature the work of Dr. David Lewis in our upcoming Inspiring Connections with Nature presentation on May 6th. Dr. Lewis is a Native American researcher and educator with over 20 years of experience in Anthropology and Native Studies. In his upcoming lecure, Dr. Lewis will discuss the history of the Native American tribes of southern Oregon, including those with ancestral ties to the land of the Cascade- Siskiyou National Monument. Many times, this history is told while disregarding the Native perspective. Dr. Lewis’s presentation is designed to tell the story and dispel common stereotypes of the Native experience in historical southern Oregon.
For supplemental information to Dr. David Lewis’s presentation, his recent articles about the CSNM are listed below.
The Land is Our Heart: Protect the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument (2017)
Repealing National Monuments? Why Tribal People Should Care! (2017)Additional Publications by Dr. David Lewis:
Restoring Indigenous Knowledge, Western Humanities Review, Fall. (2020)
White American Violence on Tribal Peoples of the Oregon Coast. Oregon Historical Quarterly. Vol. 120(4). Winter. (2019)
Four Deaths: The Near Destruction of Western Oregon Tribes and Native Lifeways, Removal to the Reservation and Erasure from History. Oregon Historical Quarterly. Fall, Vol. 115(3):414-437. Lewis, David G. and Thomas J. Connolly. (2014)
Natural Foresters: Native Timber Traditions and Logging from the Grand Ronde Tribe. Willamette Valley Voices: Connecting Generations. Vol. 3(1). Winter. (2014)
Native American Archives Special Issue: Dedication. Journal of Western Archives, Vol. 6:1. Lewis, David G. and Jennifer O’Neill. (2014)
Developing and Organizing a Professional Development Gathering for Oregon’s Tribal Communities: The Oregon Tribal Archives Institute. Journal of Western Archives, Vol. 6(1). Lewis, David G. and Natalie Fernandez. (2014)
Website of all articles: ndnhistoryresearch.com
History of the Native American Tribes of Southern Oregon - FREE online Lecture May 6 at 6:00pm
PLEASE REGISTER TO GET LINK TO FREE LECTURE
Student Board Members Channel Attention to Monument
2020 Monument Research Symposium organizers and student board members Monique Streit and Courtney Buel with chair Terry Dickey and Jackie Markin, co-chair (2018-2020). WChin photo
Just two weeks before the Covid pandemic hit Ashland in March 2020, the Friends last gathered together publicly as a group for the annual Monument Research Symposium.
Student board members Courtney Buel and Monica Streit were able to present student researchers from as far away as an Internet café in rural Guatemala via Zoom to the audience sitting in the SOU Science auditorium. Four student researchers, funded by a Friends Research Fund were presenting their final reports about the Monument.
At the end of her term in August 2020, Courtney Buel reported, "I was able to join the Friends of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument as a student board member during my 18-month stint at Southern Oregon University while pursuing my graduate degree in Environmental Education. As soon as the opportunity was presented to me, I knew this was an experience that I could not pass on."
"As a board member, I've been able to lend my hand in various projects. My most esteemed moments were working with fellow student board member Monique Streit to plan, coordinate, and host the 2020 Monument Research Symposium. I am so grateful for the opportunity to work with the four brilliant student researchers that presented at this Symposium."
In the belief that students can expand the leadership capacity of community and public lands, the Friends have recruited and appointed a student board member since 2015.
Students bring their own life experiences and perspectives to advance Friends capacity to advocate on behalf of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. Alexandra Harding, the first student board member initiated the first Giving Tuesday fundraiser for the Friends.
Former Sierra Club staff member Shannon Browne advanced from being a student board member to become the Friends' first executive director. She coordinated Friends' advocacy efforts with other community groups during the campaign for the 2017 Monument expansion. She went on to recruit and mentor students to work on the Friends Hike & Learn, BioBlitz and the Friends' first Gala fundraiser in 2019.
SOU graduate students Jacqueline Blanchette and Laney Marcotte joined the Friends Board in October. The ongoing pandemic requires everyone to conduct business with an abundance of caution. Meetings are conducted socially distanced. Jacqueline graduated from SOU with a B.S. in Environmental Science & Policy and a Certificate in Sustainability Leadership. Elaney has taught students about science and the environment through place-based education in Texas and Wyoming. Jacqueline and Elaney are working toward an MS in Environmental Education at SOU.
Courtney reflected on her year, "This experience proved the impact the Friends Research Fund has in supporting budding scientists and jump-starting their careers. In addition to the Symposium, I participated in the Fall Birds Hike and Learn, where I saw my first Hairy Woodpecker!"
"Additionally, I was able to help plan and put on the Friend's first Gala event, an exciting and successful time. While my time with the Friends is short, it was still nonetheless jam-packed."
In December 2020, student board members Courtney Buel and Monique Streit will each earn a M.S. in Environmental Education as well as a Certificate in Nonprofit Management at Southern Oregon University.
Monument RE-OPENS
Bureau of Land Management Medford District re-opens public lands
Medford, Oregon – Thanks to recent rains and an increase in availability of initial attack resources to respond to new starts, the Bureau of Land Management Medford District is rescinding public lands closure notices across much of the District. Public lands closures remain in effect near the Slater Fire and the South Obenchain Fire.
Despite the re-opening of these public lands, fuel conditions remain dry and new starts are possible. Help us thank firefighters, and protect your community, by doing your part to prevent new fires by following the public use restrictions that are still in place. Campfires are prohibited on all public lands in the Medford District, and smoking is only allowed while inside a vehicle or in an area that is at least three feet in diameter clear of flammable vegetation.
The Bureau of Land Management Medford District works with the Oregon Department of Forestry to provide initial attack resources when new fires start. A combination of heavy smoke, limited resource availability and low fuel moisture content prompted the initial public lands closures. Significant progress and slow fire growth on the Slater Fire and South Obenchain Fires has also increased availability of resources should a new fire occur. The shorter days, higher humidity recovery at night and lower temperatures are important factors that fire managers consider when determining fire risk.
Public lands closures remain in effect near the Slater Fire and the South Obenchain Fire to reduce interference with emergency crews and allow for fire suppression and burned area recovery. Members of the public may not enter closed areas, all uses are prohibited in the area, and Bureau of Land Management roads and trails are closed.
The Slater Fire Closure includes all Bureau of Land Management public lands south of Cave Junction and south of Highway 46 from Cave Junction east to the boundary of the National Forest. The South Obenchain Fire closure includes all public lands south of Highway 62, north of Highway 140, east of Range 01W (approximately 2.5 miles west of Shady Cove) and west of Range 02E (approximately 2 miles east of Butte Falls).
Maps of the closure areas are available on the Bureau of Land Management’s website: https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/oregon-washington/fire-restrictions
Please call 911 to report any signs of new fires.
Thank a firefighter by observing public use fire restrictions to help us limit new starts during this time:
Campfires or any other type of open fire, including the use of charcoal briquettes, is prohibited on BLM-managed land.
Power-driven machinery is prohibited in forested areas. This restriction includes power saws; equipment used for the cutting, grinding, or welding of metal; mowing of dry, cured grass with power equipment; and the use of any other spark-emitting equipment using an internal combustion engine.
Smoking is only allowed while inside a vehicle or while stopped in an area at least three (3) feet in diameter that is clear of flammable vegetation.
Operating a motor vehicle and parking off road (including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles) is only allowed on roadways clear of flammable vegetation.
Using fireworks, exploding targets, or tracer ammunition is prohibited.
Using a chainsaw or other equipment with internal combustion engines for felling, bucking, skidding, woodcutting, or any other operation is prohibited.
Welding or operating a torch with an open flame is prohibited.
Visitors to lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management are also required to carry tools with them to ensure small fires can be put out quickly, including a shovel, axe, and at least one gallon of water or a 2.5-pound fire extinguisher.
A list of personal use restrictions, as well as closure orders, are available at https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/oregon-washington/fire-restrictions. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter @BLMOregon.
-BLM-
Kyle Sullivan, Public Affairs Specialist
Bureau of Land Management - Medford District Office
(o) 541-618-2340 (c) 541-613-1418
Monument CLOSED for Extreme Fire Activity
Bureau of Land Management Ashland Field Office issues emergency fire closures
Medford, Oregon – As a result of extreme fire activity, the Bureau of Land Management Medford District has temporarily closed all BLM-administered public lands from Township 38S south to the California border and from Range 2E east to the Klamath County border.
This closure includes the portions of Cascade Siskiyou National Monument in Jackson County and areas near the Grizzly Creek fire. Members of the public may not enter closed areas, and all uses—including hunting and dispersed camping—are prohibited. All Bureau of Land Management roads and trails in the area are closed, including the Grizzly Peak trailhead, Hobart Bluff Trailhead, Hyatt Lake, the Pacific Crest Trail and the Soda Mountain Wilderness. See the Map of Ashland Closures of affected areas.
Maps of the closure areas are available on the Bureau of Land Management’s website: https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/oregon-washington/fire-restrictions
Public and firefighter safety are the highest priority. The extreme fire danger and fuels conditions have prompted the closure of these public lands to help with initial attack resources available to respond to new starts. The Bureau of Land Management continues to monitor fuels and resource conditions and will consider modifying closures if their impacts are in alignment with sound risk management practices.
On September 12, the Bureau of Land Management closed all public lands south of Grants Pass, Interstate 5, and U.S. Route 199 to the border of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest as well as near the South Obenchain Fire outside of White City and the Slater Fire along the California state line.
Multiple new fires started in early September on Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, and private lands in the region have prompted Level 3 “Go” evacuations. Moderate to heavy smoke impacts from the fires are expected to continue.
Personal safety is paramount. Stay informed on air quality ratings and more by visiting the Oregon Smoke Blog at http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/. Learn how to stay safe from wildfire smoke at https://www.cdc.gov/air/wildfire-smoke/default.htm.
Weather and fuel conditions remain favorable for continued fire spread. Nearby residents and visitors to the area are encouraged to check with local emergency officials for the latest information on evacuations.
For the latest road and weather condition updates, visit https://www.tripcheck.com/.
Additional fire information is available on Inciweb:
South Obenchain Fire: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7185/
Slater Fire: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7173/
Call 911 to report any signs of new fires.
Please avoid outdoor recreation during these times and observe public use restrictions to help us limit potential new starts during this time:
Campfires or any other type of open fire, including the use of charcoal briquettes, is prohibited on BLM-managed land.
Power-driven machinery is prohibited in forested areas. This restriction includes power saws; equipment used for the cutting, grinding, or welding of metal; mowing of dry, cured grass with power equipment; and the use of any other spark-emitting equipment using an internal combustion engine.
Smoking is only allowed while inside a vehicle or while stopped in an area at least three (3) feet in diameter that is clear of flammable vegetation.
Operating a motor vehicle and parking off road (including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles) is only allowed on roadways clear of flammable vegetation.
Using fireworks, exploding targets, or tracer ammunition is prohibited.
Using a chainsaw or other equipment with internal combustion engines for felling, bucking, skidding, woodcutting, or any other operation is prohibited.
Welding or operating a torch with an open flame is prohibited.
Visitors to lands managed by the BLM are also required to carry tools with them to ensure small fires can be put out quickly, includinga shovel, axe, and at least one gallon of water or a 2.5-pound fire extinguisher.
A list of personal use restrictions, as well as closure orders, are available at https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/oregon-washington/fire-restrictions. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter @BLMOregon.
BLM - Medford District Office
September 16, 2020
Media contact: Kyle Sullivan, (541) 618-2340
FILM: The Monument at Klamath Independent Film Festival 2020
Congratulations to Crystal Nichols, filmmaker and producer of The Monument, a film about the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. The Monument is showing at the Klamath Independent Film Festival 2020. She received a 2019 Friends Research Fund grant, awarded to undergraduate or graduate students for faculty-supervised projects that enhance an understanding, appreciation, preservation, and/or protection of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument.
Notes by Crystal Nichols
Crystal Nichols filming on location at the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. Nichols image.
I had the Klamath Independent Film Festival on my mental radar before I even finished creating The Monument, with the support of the Friends. I lucked out and found the submission opportunity for the film festival on the very last day of the deadline. About a month later, I learned that the film had been officially selected. I am honored and so excited to have the film showcased to the regional community since the film festival will be both in-person and virtual this year.
I had a video call with the executive director of KIFF to complete a Q&A session about the making of The Monument. This Q&A session will be played at some point during the festival. He seemed thrilled to be able to include a film that showcases the Klamath region! My film will be competing for various awards that are a part of the festival, but I will not know the results until the festival.
The Klamath Independent Film Festival is proudly the only film festival to showcase films that were either made in Oregon or whose filmmaker is from Oregon. The festival is in its eighth year and it will be taking place from September 18-20, 2020. Right now, their goal is to have the festival be in-person, with a large theater venue that can accommodate a lot of people even while social distancing. Just in case, the festival will also be available virtually.
IF YOU GO:
More information and tickets at the Klamath Independent Film Festival.
From September 18-20, 2020 in Klamath Falls, Oregon.
Nature Scavenger Hunt - Kids and Families
Do you or your kids enjoy exploring nature? If so, this scavenger hunt is for you!
Take your family out to one of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument’s many trails to explore, You can find trails on the Monument map.
Nature Scavenger Hunt.
Before going to the Monument
Download and Print the Nature Scavenger Hunt
Make a copy for each person. You only need to print one page of the directions. Bring pen or pencils—colored ones if possible. A writing board or piece of cardboard may make it easier to write on.
See the hike preparation tips to help you get ready for hiking in the Monument. This tells you about the Monument limited facilities, taking care on your hike, and what to bring:
Bring plenty of water
Lunch and snacks
Additional items: Hat, Sunscreen, Walking Sticks, Camera, Binoculars, Hand Lens, Checklist.
Wear sturdy shoes.
Any protective clothing
On the trail
Observe what is around you, and explore! Write the things you see on the Nature Scavenger Hunt. Afterwards you can compare and talk about what each person saw.
This Nature Scavenger Hunt can be used anywhere and is suitable for all ages.
Enjoy your time outside discovering new plants and animals!
Thanks to the Southern Oregon University Environmental Education graduate students for making this activity sheet to use in the Monument.
Virtual Monumental Summer Solstice
We are grateful to our community friends and partners who have curated and organized virtual experiences to mark the 20th Anniversary of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. They have taken extra efforts to provide you with access to their presentations online. Enjoy and share these virtual experiences to advocate for the Monument, our protection of public lands and our communities.
We thank you for your continued support in funding our education and conservation programs. We couldn’t do this work without you.
at Schneider Museum of Art website
Celebrating Wild Beauty, curated by Museum Director Scott Malbaum
with the Monument’s 2019 Artist in Residence Mark Tribe
at Project Space, Talent website
Land That I Love: Scenes from Cascade-Siskiyou, curated by artist Sarah Burns
with the Monument’s 2017 Artist in Residence Matt Witt
Welcome Our New Executive Director
Lisa James has been appointed the new executive director of the Friends of Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. Lisa says,
Lisa James, Executive Director, Friends of CSNM
“I am thrilled to join the Friends of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument (CSNM) as Executive Director at this significant 20th Anniversary. Despite challenging restrictions on activities for everyone, I will be working closely with the dedicated Board of Directors and other non-profits to promote the protection, restoration, and conservation of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument (CSNM).
I bring more than thirty years of experience in executive nonprofit management. I recently served as Executive Director of the Lan Su Chinese Garden in Portland, a botanical marvel, and three years with the Portland Japanese Garden orchestrating their $30 million expansion campaign.
I’ve consulted with the Crater Lake National Park Trust, Jefferson Nature Center, Coyote Trails School of Nature, ScienceWorks Museum, Ashland Art Center, Ashland Schools Foundation, and the KSC Buddhist Center. I also spent 6 years with my alma mater SOU as the VP for Institutional Advancement and E.D. of the SOU Foundation where I completed their campaign to build the Center for the Arts.
My husband Sam and I live on the Rogue River. We enjoy rafting the wild and scenic Rogue, Klamath and Deschutes Rivers, hiking the nearby Tablerock Mountains, and fishing in our regional lakes and Pacific Ocean. I look forward to learning more about the vast biodiversity of the CSNM and working with our community supporters on educational and research projects, recreational hikes, special events, and more.”
June 9, 2020 - Take Care.
20th Anniversary - Cascade-Siskiyou Monument
Emigrant Creek © Matt Witt, 2017 Artist in Residence, Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument
“In difficult times like these, protecting and enjoying natural beauty and diversity -- as the Monument has done for 20 years -- is more important than ever.”
Take Care. Now and for Our Future Generations
Thank you for being a Friend to Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument.
As we learn more about the Monument's unique biodiversity, we create an enduring relationship with the land that enables us to share and pass on this heritage to future generations.
Long before us, the Takelma, Klamath, and Shasta people are the traditional caretakers of this land.
The Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument was established on June 9, 2000, with the primary goal of protecting this area's outstanding collection of species and ecosystems. This biological diversity is owed, in part, to the millions-years old volcanic rocks and uplifted mountains.
It has one of the most diverse ecosystems found in the Cascade Range and is home to a spectacular variety of rare and beautiful species of plants and animals. Because all parts of an ecosystem--animals, plants, microbes, and humans--are interconnected, biodiversity is an asset we can take care of for our planet.
________________________________
2020 was a time of social distancing due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Although events in the Monument were canceled, Zoom video conference meetings could be accessed by anyone with an online link. Public programs to mark the 20th anniversary of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument were postponed. Oregon Governor Kate Brown issued Executive Order 20-24, on March 8 and extended through July 6. This declaration of emergency banned gatherings of 25 people or more through September 2020. Despite the Covid-19 threat, racial injustice protests (for #Black Lives Matter) spread to Oregon small towns, including Medford, after the George Floyd death by deadly police force. The racial and ethnic disparities of access to health care, justice and education are revealed in other areas, including the environment.
Discover Student-Led Research in the Monument
From geologic surveys to small mammal trapping to documentary film-making, the Friends Research Fund grantees were hard at work these past several months collecting research for their projects.
Each year, the Friends Research Fund awards research grants to undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in pursuing a faculty-supervised project that enhances an understanding, appreciation, preservation, and/or protection of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. Read about the fascinating work our most recent recipients have accomplished below!
Eli Livezey and Mac Patton, are recent graduates of Evergreen State College. Their research focuses on analyzing the genetics of two species of lichen found in the Monument. Their research is advised by Dr. Lalita Calabria.
Over the 2019 summer, Eli and Mac traveled to the Monument and collected specimens of Lipstick Lichen (Umbilicaria phaea var. coccinea) and Common Rock Tripe (Umbilicaria phaea var. phaea). After completing the collection process, they sent the samples to an off-campus lab to have their metagenomes sequenced. The results of this sequencing are still being analyzed. In addition, Eli and Mac are currently trying to isolate and identify the pigment responsible for the red color of Lipstick Lichen using thin-layer chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
Sam Cooke, is a recent graduate of the University of Oregon, graduating with a degree in Geology. Working with his advisor Jad D’Allura, Sam researched different volcanic rocks and mapped their compositions in the Northwest part of the Monument.
Sam’s geologic research in the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument consists of determining spatial and temporal boundaries of volcanic eruptions and subsequent geologic events that occurred in this area beginning approximately 30 million years ago. In addition, Sam has produced a preliminary map of the NW part of the Monument near Grizzly Peak that maps out the Wasson Formation rocks that are south of Dead Indian Memorial Highway. The map is based on quick road traverses, LiDAR, aerial photo interpretation, and limited field checking. Samples that were collected during his field research are still waiting to be made into thin sections for microscopic and geochemical analysis. This analysis will help determine the age dates of the samples in order to create a higher resolution chronology.
Crystal Nichols, earned her undergraduate degree in Aquatic Biology from Ball State University, and she recently received her M.S. in Environmental Education from Southern Oregon University. Crystal’s research led her to create a documentary about the Monument titled The Monument. Her project is supervised by Dr. Stewart Janes. Crystal is currently in the final editing stages of the film and will be debuting the film at the Monument Research Symposium.
“The creation of this short film is the result of nearly 1,200 miles of driving, 80 miles of hiking, and innumerable hours editing down nearly 10 hours of raw footage. The Monument has taken me on an exciting exploration of more of the Monument than I ever thought I would experience. My hope is that it will do the same for those who watch the film. But my hope for the film is not to tell the whole story of the Monument, but to ignite an appreciation for the wonder and importance of the Monument, and the variety of life it represents.”
Clare O’Connell, is a Humboldt State University graduate, who graduated Summa Cum Laude this past May with a degree in Zoology. She is now pursuing her Master’s degree in Wildlife Conservation Ecology at New Mexico State University. Clare’s research in the Monument took place during the summer of 2019, with her research focusing on small mammal trapping under the advising of Dr. Melissa Hawkins.
During her summer research, Clare collected data on the Tamias siskiyou chipmunk. This species belongs to the Townsend’s chipmunk species complex, which includes a number of cryptic Pacific Northwestern “species” which currently have undeciphered genetic relationships. Clare’s research analyzes five of the cryptic species within the complex, deciphering phylogenetic and morphometric components.
Come and hear more about these student’s research findings at our annual Monument Research Symposium at Southern Oregon University Science Auditorium on March 5th, 2020! Find out more about this event here.
Interested in helping foster students’ research in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument? Donate to the Friends Research Fund today!
- Written by Courtney Buel, Student Board Member, Friends of Cascade-Siskiyou NM
Photos by student researchers
National Monument Public Lands Day 2019
On behalf of the Friends of Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, Southern Oregon Land Conservancy (SOLC), and the BLM Monument staff, thank you for participating in our National Public Lands Day event on October 26th at Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument!
This year, our goal was to remove fencing on boundary lands between Sky King Cole and the Monument in the Pilot Rock area. Sky King Cole is a beautiful 1312-acre private property conserved with a conservation easement held by Southern Oregon Land Conservancy. The fencing was first installed by the owners to keep out open range cattle, but now that the cattle have been removed as a part of the long-term restoration of the area, the fencing no longer served a purpose and created a wildlife hazard. By removing this fencing, we were able to free up the movement and migration of the animals that call the Monument home.
Even though the day was a chilly one, we were able to remove 3400 feet of barbed wire fencing with the help of over 30 volunteers!
It is a Powerful Thing to Be Near Edges
As the temperature drops late in the year, less and less of us venture out into the mountains. In the forest, everything seems a bit more still, and most of the sounds around us come from the leaves crunching under our feet. But if you take a moment to stop and listen, there is still so much activity happening around us! When we think about what birds are doing this time of year, we tend to focus on all of the birds flying south and we often forget that we have feathered neighbors who stay here year-round. On October 11 and 12, the Friends of Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument discovered that you can encounter many birds in the Monument during the fall if you just take the time to listen and look. Klamath Bird Observatory board president, Shannon Rio, guided us on this quest during our final Hike & Learn of the 2019 season.
On Friday October 11, bird enthusiasts and eager learners gathered at the Geos Institute to hear Shannon speak about the birds you can listen and look for in the fall here in our region. These birds include great gray owls, dippers, yellow rumped warblers, bald eagles, pileated woodpeckers, flickers, white-breasted, red-breasted and pygmy nuthatches, golden-crowned and ruby-crowned kinglets, mountain chickadees, western bluebirds, Stellar’s jays, and of course Raven, the Trickster. She emphasized that the edges of distinct habitats are where the action is. In the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, the landscape is filled with a mosaic of edges: ridgelines tracing the tops of mountain ranges with vastly different plant communities on either side, edges of forests bordering open meadows, and edges of lakes, streams and rivers dividing aquatic and terrestrial habitats. “It is a powerful thing to be near edges”, Shannon told us.
On Saturday October 12, we had an opportunity to walk along these edges and look and listen for the Monument’s fall residents. We walked five miles along the Pacific Crest Trail, from Highway 66 at the Greensprings summit to the peaceful shores of Little Hyatt Reservoir, then returned to the highway by walking three miles along Old Hyatt Prairie Road. On our journey, we passed through forested areas, meadows and oak woodlands, identifying the birds we encountered and observing their behavior and interactions with other species all along the way. In total, we identified 28 species of birds and witnessed many captivating moments between different species and individuals. Shannon encouraged us to watch how different birds were behaving and figure out what their behavior could tell us. At one point along the trail, we ran into a number of Stellar’s jays making a huge ruckus and then we spotted the bird that they were mobbing: a Cooper’s hawk hunkered down in a fir tree! You never know what exciting things you will encounter on a walk along the edges in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument!
- Written by Ellie Cosgrove, Program Coordinator of Friends of Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument
Photos by Ellie Cosgrove
