Groundwater quietly supports healthy streams, urban forests, wetlands, and wildlife habitat throughout the year, especially during the dry summer months. In this month’s featured article, we explore how groundwater functions within the watershed, why it matters for climate resilience and water quality, and how community actions can help improve groundwater recharge and long-term ecosystem health.
OLWC intern Roxana Sotelo Laureano’s project not only advances our understanding of White Rock Larkspur but also demonstrates the value of hands-on, student-led conservation work.
An oak tree is not just a tree. It is a memory and a connector. Take the time to get to know an oak tree in your neighborhood. How long has this tree been here? What can I learn from this tree? What can I do to care for it? How can I make sure future generations are able to benefit from the shade and acorns it provides? How can I thank this tree and appreciate it?
Prior to the conversion of land for farming and development, the Willamette Valley was a vast garden of oak prairies, stewarded by the indigenous nations, tended with cycles of fire and regrowth. The habitat held, and pockets still hold, a unique diversity of plant and animal species found nowhere else. Species coevolved in a landscape dominated by the keystone oaks. Without these trees a whole system of other species would fade away.
Beavers may be best known for their dams, but these remarkable animals are increasingly recognized as powerful partners in restoring ecosystems. Learn how beavers shape resilient landscapes—without machines, chemicals, or blueprints.