Fall 2026

A missive from the Applegate Partnership & Watershed Council

Here’s a peek at what we’ve been up to this fall.

Restoring Salmon & Steelhead Habitat
The Aquatic Restoration Program recently completed the Mungers Creek Stream Restoration Project in the Williams watershed. By installing thirty logs into the stream channel, the project will improve habitat for coho and steelhead, which spawn and rear in this perennial stream. During winter flows, spawning salmon return from the ocean to lay their eggs. Juvenile salmon, who remain in the stream all year, shelter in pools and under logs while they mature. Large wood installations increase the complexity of the river channel, helping to fulfill the needs of both juvenile and adult anadromous fishes. This project is funded by the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB).

Applegate River Riparian Restoration
We recently received additional funding from OWEB to continue our multi-year Applegate River Restoration Project. This will allow us to restore an additional 15+ acres of riparian area along 4,000 feet of the Applegate River, supplementing the work being done by engaged landowners.

Guiding Learning, Restoration & Stewardship
Meanwhile at Provolt Recreation Site, the Grow Youth Program is in full swing. Between September and November, Grow Youth will serve nine local schools over the course of 29 field trips. Each field trip includes a scientific field study and a hands-on service learning project. This model allows students to make a tangible difference in their community by contributing to ecological restoration and site enhancement. Grow Youth is funded by a Bureau of Land Management Title II Grant and is co-managed by the Medford District Bureau of Land Management Environmental Education Program. 

The Education Program has also begun to develop a hands-on native oak curriculum for the Applegate Valley Legacy Oak Initiative Project, coordinated by Rooted In Hope. This curriculum, which will be delivered to a partner class at Ruch Outdoor Community School, will get students involved in oak restoration by creating and monitoring a nursery. We are excited that this project will offer local youth another opportunity to cultivate environmental stewardship and contribute to habitat restoration in their community.

Stewardship Opportunity!
With this lovely weather, there’s no better time to spend a couple hours getting your hands dirty and taking care of our shared public lands! The Provolt Volunteer Team is hosting two fall Work Parties, and you’re invited. There are projects for all activity levels, and lunch is provided!

Building Community Wildfire Resiliency
Over in our Community Wildfire Resiliency Program, the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) is in its final phase, and the document will be completed by the end of the year. A CWPP provides strategic guidance for landscape-level wildfire preparedness, including resources for landowners. Once completed, the plan will be publicly available. This project is funded by the US Forest Service.

Community Events at Provolt Rec Site
September was a big month for community events at Provolt Recreation Site. At “See Our Salmon & Friends,” local partners and community members gathered in celebration of our native wildlife. Even a wild river otter made an appearance! This was a promising debut for what will become an annual event, so stay tuned for See Our Salmon 2027!

Turning eyes from the river to the skies, Applegate After Dark (AAD) also hosted its second annual “Twilight Zone” event at Provolt Recreation Site. The fun evening featured a spotlight on moths, courtesy of Pollinator Project Rogue Valley, and a stargazing session with AAD’s new smart telescope.

If you missed this event but want to appreciate our dark skies, you’re in luck! AAD, which was recently awarded a grant from Travel Southern Oregon, has plenty more up its sleeve. You can stargaze with them at LongSword Vineyard on November 6th. 

In the meantime, check out this monthly guide to night sky viewing, prepared by resident AAD astronomer, Barbara Summerhawk!

As we move ahead with projects that support ecological, economic and community well-being in the Applegate, we hope that you enjoy the natural abundance that the valley has to offer in this beautiful season.