Provolt Recreation Site fires up as community hotspot

September was a big month for community-building at Provolt Recreation Site (PRS). On a blustery Saturday, nature enthusiasts congregated for the inaugural event See Our Salmon and Friends: A Celebration of our Native Wildlife. Hosted by the Applegate Partnership & Watershed Council (APWC), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the Provolt Volunteer Team, this event was originally slated to launch in 2025. When an extended government shutdown prevented federal partners and exhibitors from participating, we decided to postpone until this year. The date may have been a bit too early to see salmon, but it wasn’t too early to celebrate them and the other amazing wildlife that make their homes along the Applegate River. A big draw of the day was a series of talks by biologists and restoration experts. Monica Magdaleno, a biologist with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Salmon and Trout Enhancement Program, kicked off the day with fish facts so interesting that an otter strolled by to listen! Jakob Shockey, Executive Director of Project Beaver, offered a treasure trove of information on how beavers literally shaped this valley. APWC’s Aquatic Restoration Program Director, Luke Wimmer, explained our aquatic restoration work, including a recently completed large woody debris project at PRS. Next up was Jeff Schlecht, president of the newly formed Rogue Klamath Chapter of Trout Unlimited, who discussed the organization’s river stewardship initiatives.

Caleb Galloway, APWC’s Riparian Restoration Project Manager, followed with an overview of the restoration work that APWC has implemented at the site over the past several years before leading a guided site tour.

In addition to the talks, we were joined by our friends from Applegate After Dark, Siskiyou Field Institute, Jackson Soil and Water Conservation District, Klamath Bird Observatory, and the Oregon Center for Creative Learning. Filled with natural curiosities and hands-on activities, this event was

an exciting debut for a celebration that we hope to grow for years to come. If your organization is interested in joining next year, please reach out to Charlotte at charlotte@apwc.info. Otherwise, keep an eye out for See Our Salmon 2027!

Three days later, attention turned to the skies as Applegate After Dark and Pollinator Project Rogue Valley (PPRV) teamed up to host the second annual Twilight Zone: Big Bang and Bugs. Applegate After Dark’s co-founding member Liz Shen shed light on the harm that artificial light at night does to wildlife and human health, then offered practical solutions to nighttime lighting needs. Next, Ethan Robinson, PPRV’s Pollinator Pals Manager, brought the audience into the fascinating realm of

moths. APWC’s board secretary and backyard astronomy expert, Barbara Summerhawk, introduced the planets and constellations currently visible in the night sky. As night descended, visitors

examined some of the moths found at the Provolt Recreation Site, then experienced the debut of Applegate After Dark’s new smart telescope via a stargazing session. As enthusiasm for the preservation of the Applegate’s dark skies continues to grow, stay tuned for future dark sky events!

Only a few days later, through A Greater Applegate’s Jacksaphine Count(r)y Fair “Sunday Funday” event, APWC and the Provolt Volunteer Team hosted a self-guided scavenger hunt focusing on fascinating natural features of the site. Last but not least, the fourth year of the Grow Youth Program, co-managed by APWC and the BLM Environmental Education Program, kicked off with the first of 29 field trips that will unfold throughout the fall. Over the next few months, students from second to twelfth grade, from nine schools across the Rogue Valley, will come to the Provolt Recreation Site to tackle scientific field studies and hands-on service-learning projects. This program nurtures the critical connection between youth and the natural world around them. The Grow Youth Program is funded by a BLM Title II Grant and is at no cost to schools or families.

Provolt Recreation Site has a lot to offer. If you stop by, you might see equestrians on horses or locals swimming, strolling, or walking their dogs. You could see a great blue heron, a salmon, or even a beaver. And if this fall is any indication, there’s a good chance you’ll see community-building in real time.

Charlotte Hyde

Education & Outreach

Program Director

charlotte@apwc.info

Image 1: APWC’s Aquatic Restoration Program Director, Luke Wimmer, introduces Monica Magdaleno, biologist with ODFW’s Salmon and Trout Enhancement Program, during “See Our Salmon & Friends” at Provolt Recreation Site. Photo by Janelle Dunlevy.