Somehow, June is almost here. Whether you welcome the coming summer or want to hold on to a nice wet spring as long as possible, there are several events for the science and nature enthusiast around Corvallis this week, from forest management to public health, with a couple of work parties mixed in.
Thursday: River Cleanup
Now that Memorial Day has passed, we are unofficially at the start of the summer season, and for a lot of folks in the valley, that means getting out on our mighty—and still very cold—Willamette River. This Thursday, you can help clean up the river for both wildlife and people, with a boat-based cleanup run by Willamette Riverkeeper. If you have a small boat like a canoe or raft, and you are experienced enough to handle it in May river conditions, bring it along. If not, you can reserve a space in one of Riverkeeper’s rafts.
The cleanup meets at the Willamette Boat Ramp at Crystal Lake this Thursday, May 30 at 9 am. Registration is required. Click here for more information and to register.
Saturday: Get Outdoors Day at Peavy
Every June, Peavy Arboretum hosts a bilingual English-Spanish festival to encourage kids of all ages to enjoy the beauty and richness of the outdoors. This year, there are a variety of activities planned for Get Outdoors Day (Un dia en el bosque), including self-paced lessons on hiking, camping and other outdoor skills, plus a chance for kids (13 and younger) to fish at Cronemiller Pond.
Get Outdoors Day is this Saturday, June 1, and runs from 10 am to 3 pm. Because there is no parking available at Peavy, a shuttle will depart regularly from Crescent Valley High School. For more details, including shuttle schedule, click here.
Saturday: Marys Peak Weed Pull
For adults more interested in getting their hands in the dirt than a relaxing educational walk, there’s another local option for Saturday. Old Peak Meadow is a conservation site in the Marys Peak watershed, about 45 minutes from Corvallis. The Institute for Applied Ecology is running a weed pulling party this Saturday at Old Peak, focused on removal of the invasive oxeye daisy to make room for plantings of native species.
The weed pull takes place this Saturday, June 1, from 9 am to 2 pm. RSVP required, to help the organizers plan and bring enough supplies for volunteers. Click here for more information, and to let them know you’re coming.
Tuesday: Public Health Lecture
It’s sadly an open question: Did we learn any lasting lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic? Next Tuesday, Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, director of the Bloomberg American Health Initiative, will give a lecture on OSU’s campus on public health after the pandemic, and what we can do better both on a daily basis and in preparation for future outbreaks. Dr. Sharfstein is a former Secretary of the Maryland Department of Health, and has worked on public health issues for the City of Baltimore, U.S. Food and Drug Administration and as an advisor to Congress.
The lecture runs from 5 to 6 pm next Tuesday, June 4, at the OSU Memorial Union’s Horizon Room. Click here for more information and to register.
Wednesday: Have Your Say on McDonald-Dunn Research Forest
Our forests are an iconic and defining feature of the Northwest, but they have also been a source of intense debate among Oregonians for generations. The balance between wood and paper production, wildlife habitat and climate is only going to get more contentious as climate change intensifies. The management of our own McDonald-Dunn Research Forest is no different, and a new forest management plan is being put together now, to guide the stewardship of these forests into the future. Now is your chance to listen to the plan and add your input as members of the Corvallis, OSU and Benton County communities.
OSU’s College of Forestry is running a community input session to outline the plan and hear public reactions. The session starts next Wednesday, June 5, at 6 pm, both in person at the Peavy Forest Science Center on SW Jefferson Way and over Zoom.
By Ian Rose