Oregon wouldn’t be Oregon without your support this year
“There it is!” My husband said, pointing at a large fin thrashing in the shallow water. My son was on his shoulders, and I held the hand of my daughter as we rock-hopped up a small channel of the Upper McKenzie River. Then, suddenly, we saw it … the mighty body of a wild Chinook salmon pulsing back and forth above a cleared section of the river bottom where it was going to lay eggs. At that moment, we all knew we were watching something special. An ancient migration, a wild fish.
Sadly, this has become rare, as the McKenzie wild Chinook salmon is now on the brink of extinction. The salmon run is estimated to be at 1% of its historical levels.
There’s hope
One of our member organizations, The McKenzie River Trust, is working to bring back the river through land protection and restoration.
The McKenzie River Trust is one of the 27 nonprofits that make up our coalition. We are a statewide movement working to build connections and advancing policies that help protect our natural world—our water, wildlife and open space—for all people, forever. Thank YOU for being part of this movement and for being a champion of conservation in Oregon.
Oregon would not be what it is without the work of land trusts and YOUR SUPPORT empowering this coalition. Consider a gift today! And it can be matched! Every dollar you donate by Dec 31, 2019* will be matched by our generous board! Together, we are building a web of protected lands, that provide havens for great migrations and clean air and water. And we need your help!
A changing climate
With a rapidly changing climate causing more drought, fire and floods, we need robust and healthy lands to support our communities. Our coalition is committed to advancing a carbon reduction program in Oregon. Efforts to pass a climate bill in Oregon have failed for the past three legislative sessions, but we are at a tipping point, where your voice is needed. As the climate discussion continues, COLT will join with our 27 members to lead the charge and advocate for how climate investments can support rural communities. By giving to COLT today, you are helping to advance our 2020 policy goals:
- advancing a climate program for Oregon
- supporting clean and secure water for all
- creating new funding for agricultural land protection
Health and universal trail access
Just north of Corvallis you will find Owens Farm, a testing ground for collaboration aimed at building a universal “trail for all” to promote healthy people in a healthy environment. Greenbelt Land Trust, a COLT member, is a key partner.
“Our vision,” said Rocio Munoz with the Benton County Health Department, “is to make the healthy choice the easy choice.”
Science tells us that experience in the outdoors can support mental, emotional and spiritual well-being for us all. And land trusts can help!
Our conservation member organizations have a large land base, over 90,000 acres, open to the public. How might we better connect communities to that resource? By supporting COLT, you are developing creative ways for connecting how nature supports individual and community health. From the Columbia River Gorge to the high desert, our members not only protect and connect land for wildlife but for you, your friends and family.
How can you help? Consider a donation.
Stronger together
These stories are just a few highlights of the inspiring work we see across our coalition. With your support, we help our coalition members do what they do best—protect wildlife and wild places, defend working farms and forests, provide recreation and parks, champion clean water for all, drive climate and science, and engage Oregon communities.
With gratitude,
Kelley Beamer
