Last year TKO staff and funding partners were laying the groundwork to start a movement of stewardship on Oregon’s south coast. In 2020, phase 2 of our Oregon Coast Visitors Association funding has helped us build a movement of trail stewardship in the southern Oregon Coast region. We’ve signed volunteer agreements with Oregon State Parks Harris Beach Management Unit and expanded our agreements with the Siuslaw and Rogue-Siskiyou National Forests, assessed trails to build a portfolio of projects to tackle and have an internship position to help drum up a beat of stewardship within communities that are eager to get out and improve their trails. Our intern, an OPRD seasonal whose position was unavailable in the wake of COVID related funding, was able to shore up the OPRD staff challenges by engaging in trail work that park rangers weren’t able to get to. This kept trails open that would have otherwise become inaccessible. The short term funding has been vital, but we’re on this trail for the long haul. That’s where you come in! Donate today to support our efforts to empowering south coast communities to steward their amazing trails.
The Samuel Boardman State Scenic Corridor is a breathtaking section of the Oregon Coast. In 2020, TKO pledged to increase trail stewardship in this, and other awe inspiring areas on the southern coast. Despite the challenges presented by COVID-19, we engaged in volunteer events, including trail maintenance, Trail Ambassador events, and stewardship trainings both online and in-person. We partnered extensively with Oregon Parks and Recreation to address immediate needs brought on by staffing challenges that result from the pandemic. Our strategy including bring on a previous OPRD employee as an intern who was able to support park staff with trail maintenance during a very challenging summer.
In the fall of this year, TKO partnered with the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest to perform needed maintenance on the Lower Rogue River trail. With the help of a few intrepid volunteers, we logged out and massaged tread on three miles of trail, in addition to performing some much needed maintenance on the parking area. We’ve already got plans in place to return to this gorgeous area next spring and summer to engage in boat supported, week long excursions into the upper reaches of the Lower Rogue!
Urban trails are a cornerstone to nature access for urban and suburban residents, offering countless physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health benefits. TKO has been busy throughout the Portland Metro Area and beyond in 2023 ensuring that these trails can continue to safely connect communities with the outdoors!
Throughout 2023 TKO has been lucky to participate in some outstanding trail projects in the Willamette and Umpqua River Valleys. These projects, critical to maintaining and reopening trails, allowed volunteers to grow their trail construction skills in some of Oregon’s most beautiful natural areas!
Have you caught the “saw bug” yet? Join TKO on a logout and you just might! This draw to saw work, the itch to feel the saw interact with wood as you cut, captivates many a trail crew member after just one day pulling saw. Saw work is a critical aspect of trail stewardship, and it’s this feeling that TKO has worked to inspire in emerging sawyers across Oregon.
Trailkeepers of Oregon
P.O. Box 14814
Portland, OR 97293
(971) 206-4351