The Environmental Center

Webcast: Inside the (virtual) Oregon Legislative session
2021-03-17 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Every other year the Oregon Legislature convenes a “regular session” – meeting for five months to consider thousands of bills on hundreds of topics. The pandemic has turned this year’s “regular” session into anything but a regular affair, with the capital closed and almost all legislative business switched to a remote environment.
The silver lining of this digital legislative session is that it’s actually made some aspects of participating in the legislative process easier for the average Oregonian. If you live in Wallowa County or Central Oregon, you can skip the multi-hour drive to Salem and testify on issues that matter to you from the comfort of your couch. And with numerous bills proposed that either protect or harm Oregon’s forests, wildlife, and waters, we need educated and activated Oregonians to weigh in. But where to start?
Luckily, Oregon Wild staff are ready to give you the full scoop on a slate of bills that impact Oregon’s natural treasures. They’ll cover it all. The good (protecting beavers from trapping). The bad (killing predators). The ugly (OFRI!). And the bizarre (trust us, it’s the Oregon Legislature…there is plenty of bizarre).

OSU Science Pub: Climate Change Impacts Around (the) Bend
2021-03-17 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
March 17, 2021 | 6-7:30 P.M. | Virtual Event
CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS AROUND (THE) BEND

Larry O’Neill, Associate Professor, OSU College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences; OSU Climatologist
Larger and more frequent wildland fires, smoke severe enough to threaten air quality, and drought are signs of how climate change is changing the U.S. West. But how will a changing climate impact us here in Central Oregon? Join OSU climatologist Larry O’Neill to understand how a continuing drought and shrinking snowpack might impact future water availability issues, how weather patterns may increase rain in the region, and how temperatures and lightning storms may shape the severity of future wildfires.

Nature Night-Reciprocity with the Natural World
2021-03-17 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join the Deschutes Land Trust and Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer for a talk on our connections with the natural world. Drawing upon both scientific and indigenous knowledge, Dr. Kimmerer will explore the idea of reciprocity, how we might use the gifts of the Earth, and the responsibilities that humans have to support the mutual thriving of ourselves and the world around us.
***This virtual event is free and registration is required. Registration for this event will open on February 17th.***

A Sense of Place: Indigenous Perspectives on Earth and Sky, Featuring Dr. Henrietta Mann
2021-03-18 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Registration is now open for webinar “A Sense of Place: Indigenous Perspectives of Earth and Sky,” featuring Dr. Henrietta Mann.
Dr. Henrietta Mann, Tsetsehestaestse (Cheyenne) was Director/Professor in Native American Studies at the University of Montana, Missoula for some 28 years. In 2000 she became the first individual to occupy the Katz Endowed Chair in Native American Studies at Montana State University, Bozeman where she is Professor Emerita, and was Special Assistant to the President from 2003-2016. She is the founding President of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal College. In 1991, Rolling Stone Magazine named Dr. Mann as one of the ten leading professors in the nation.
Space is limited to 1000 people, so reserve your spot now!

Bend COTA Work Events
2021-03-18, 2021-03-25 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
When: Thursday Aug 11, Tuesday Aug 16, Tuesday Aug 23 and Tuesday Aug 30, 5:15 to Dusk
Where: Meet at the old Ray’s parking lot, NE corner of Simpson Ave and Century Drive in Bend
Worksite: Varies
There’s only one thing better than mountain biking in Bend, OR and that’s riding in Bend, knowing that you helped build and maintain the trails you love.
Please bring a hydration pack with water and a snack.
Be sure to bring appropriate layers to accommodate whatever the weather may be.
Questions? contact@cotamtb.com
All COTA trail work events require the following safety measures:
All participants are required to have the following protective clothing and equipment:

Sturdy shoes or boots
Gloves
Eye protection with clear or light colored lens
Long pants

Due to COTA’s insurance requirements and the inherent dangers of trail work, we must implement the following policy regarding children at work events:

For anyone 14 years of age or younger, we require one parent, guardian, or responsible adult for supervision of every four kids attending any COTA trail work events.
All minors under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian available to sign our waiver.

Anyone who arrives for a work event may be turned away if he/she cannot meet the above requirements.

Global Climate Strike: Central Oregon
2021-03-19 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join youth and environmental groups locally and across the world in the Global Climate Strike to demand action on the climate crisis!
Climate change has only gotten worse. In the past years of inaction and denial, the crisis has become more severe than ever before and is already affecting our lives and communities. With a new administration, it is now more important than ever to remind our legislators that we are still here.
Join to renew demands for cleaner energy, renewable practices, and a sustainable future for the next generation!
Please keep in mind–masks and physical distancing are required for this event.
https://www.facebook.com/deschutesycc
1033 NW Wall St

Springtime Bird Walk
2021-03-20 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Central Oregon Womxn in Conservation will be ringing in springtime with some downtown birding. Join at Drake Park amphitheater for a physically-distanced, masks-on stroll to hang out with some local feathered friends. Central Oregon Womxn in Conservation welcome birders of all skill levels and backgrounds. If you have a pair of binoculars, bring them. If you don’t, COWC may have one or two sanitized pairs to share, and you can also scope many birds just fine with your naked eye.
If you would like to nerd out and study up on your birds beforehand, feel free to check out this Spotify playlist of birds you might encounter.

Virtual Lecture: Equinox and the Seasons
2021-03-20 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Celebrate the spring equinox with Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory while learning about the seasons and humanity’s ties to the Earth’s relationship with the Sun. Discover how ancient cultures created calendars and marked significant dates such as solstices and equinoxes, and how modern society studies seasonal changes and natural cycles of the Earth and Sun.

OLCV Book Club: Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter by Ben Goldfarb
2021-03-22 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
OLCV’s Environmental Book Club is back for 2021!
Whether or not you’ve attended their past meetings, OLCV invites you to join their next bookn club—Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter by Ben Goldfarb. In this creative non-fiction book, Goldfarb explores the profound impact that beavers have on our world, from wetland creation, to salmon health, to drought prevention, to fighting climate change. Eager looks back at how the decline of beavers has changed landscapes worldwide, and how activists—called ‘Beaver Believers’—are working to restore this influential species to its former glory.

U.S. Food Infrastructure and Hunger: Lessons from COVID-19 Crisis, Guidance for the Future
2021-03-23 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join the Alliance to End Hunger, and a panel of experts from agriculture, food infrastructure, and hunger relief sectors for a discussion on how you can be better prepared for future shocks by taking concrete actions today.

Toxics Free Schools - HB 2406 - Deep Dive
2021-03-23 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
This meeting is open to the public. Beyond Toxics will take a deep dive into HB 2406, Toxics Free Schools, and share data from Northwest Center For Alternatives to Pesticides’ (NCAP) Schools Survey and Report, created to monitor the integrity of the Oregon School Integrated Pest Management (IPM) law. They will also discuss alternatives to pesticides in managing school grounds and the importance of choosing preventative approaches to pest and weed management. This bill aims to create a path towards stronger School IPM laws in Oregon that prioritize children’s health and lest toxic pest management solutions.

Adapting to a Future with Fire: Preparing Our Communities and Our Landscapes
2021-03-23 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Great Old Broads for Wilderness are hosting a four-part webcast series this month on fire. While the first of the presentations on March 2nd – Fire in the Forest: A Natural Process and Unnatural Changes -has already filled up (it will simul-cast to their Facebook page), be sure to take a look at the other three offerings. Click here for more details on each presentation and and follow the links below sign up!

Indivisible Bend and KPOV present Roy Zimmerman Live from the Left Coast
2021-03-23 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join KPOV’s Virtual Benefit Concert presented by Indivisible Bend. You’ll get great music and lots of laughter, a chance to support KPOV, and a full week to watch the exclusive YouTube video — all from the comfort of your own home, or, wherever. What could be better than that?

Secure your virtual front row seat today!

OLCV/OCN 2021 Virtual Lobby Day: The Clean Green Virtual Lobby Machine!
2021-03-24 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
On March 24th, Oregon’s environmental community is going to make a big, virtual splash! It’s a virtual grassroots lobby day with Oregon lawmakers! Can you join us? The OLCV/OCN Lobby Day gives you the chance to meet with your lawmakers and make a lasting impact on them; it gives you the chance to tell your story, and to urge them to make the environment a priority during the legislative session. RSVP below!

Upcoming broadchats
2021-03-24 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The Central Oregon Bitterbrush Broads, a chapter of the Great Old Broads for Wilderness will have a number of broadchats (educational opportunities) that will be virtual until folks can meet in person again. For more information or to sign up to participate, contact Mary Fleischmann at maryriverwoman@bendcable.com.

March 24th: Eastside screenings, what does are the impacts to our forests with trees larger than 21 inches being logged? Join us for this very important conversation.

Webcast: Old-growth forests across the US
2021-03-24 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Joan Maloof was so inspired by what she saw visiting old-growth forests that she founded a national organization to preserve them and help make them accessible for the next generation. Join Maloof as she describes what makes the ancient forests so special, where they are located in Oregon, and how you can help protect them.

Legislative Update with Sen. Jeff Merkley
2021-03-25 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join the Bend Chamber and Senator Jeff Merkley for a legislative update. Senator Merkley will discuss the proposed COVID-19 relief package, a Federal stimulus update and other key legislative proposals planned for 2021.
This webinar will be followed by a brief Q&A session with Senator Merkley.

Oregon’s History of African American and Japanese Timber Workers
2021-03-25 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
This webinar will provide an introduction to the story of African American and Japanese timber workers in the state of Oregon. We hope you can join to learn more about Oregon’s multicultural timber industry and the communities that helped build it.
Featured speakers:
Gwendolyn Trice, Founder & Executive Director of the Maxville Heritage Interpretive Center
Linda Tamura, Professor Emerita of Education at Willamette University and a co-editor-in-chief of The Oregon Encyclopedia
Moderator: Lisa Arkin, Executive Director of Beyond Toxics.

Virtual Green Drinks: Repair Edition
2021-03-25 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The Environmental Center is partnering with Good Bike Co. in Prineville and OSPIRG Foundation to bring you Green Drinks: Right to Repair Edition. RSVP IN ADVANCE.
We’ve invited Good Bike Co. to talk about spring bicycle prep, maintenance, and to demonstrate an easy repair how-to all about prolonging the life of your bicycle.
Charlie Fisher, State Director of OSPIRG, will then give an overview of Oregon’s Right to Repair legislation that is currently active in the Senate Committee on Business and Labor.
Learn more about Good Bike and OSPIRG:
https://goodbikeco.com/shop
https://ospirg.org/

Sunriver Nature Hike
2021-03-26 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | OR
Spring is in the air, so gather your family and explore! During this naturalist guided hike you’ll journey through forest and meadow habitats to the river looking for signs of wildlife awakening with spring.
This family-friendly excursion requires walking along muddy trails. Appropriate footwear is recommended. Masks and social distancing are required for this hike.

2021 Spring Ochoco Creek Instream Cleanup
2021-03-27 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The Rotary Club of Crook County is once again teaming up with Crook County Parks and Recreation, Deschutes Land Trust, SOLVE, Crook County, Republic Services and Crooked River Brewing to do an in stream cleanup of Ochoco Creek before high water hits. CCPRD will help with logistics and collect the trash bags during the cleanup. Republic Services is donating a 10 yard dumpster and Crook County is paying for the dumping fees at the landfill.
Volunteers are needed to do a thorough instream and bankside cleanup on March 27th. The reach of Ochoco Creek to cleanup is from Combs Flatt Rd to Gardner Street, within the City of Prineville. If enough volunteers are recruited cleanup will be expanded to outside of the City to the Ochoco Lumber Company property and also to the north east – hopefully to the confluence with the Crooked River.
Due to the complexities of working in the creek, no one under 12 will be allowed to be in the Creek itself and youths between 12-18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Any age can help cleanup the banks and along Ochoco Creek pathway, but children under 12 should have a parent or designated guardian with them.

Community Clean-up Day in Prineville
2021-03-27 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join SOLVE for a Community Clean-up Day in Prineville. Groups/Individuals will meet in Pioneer Park and be assigned a clean-up location. Check-in starts at 12:30 and clean-up starts at 1 and goes until 3 pm.

Contact Eli Tomlinson (541-447-1209) at Crook County Parks and Recreation for any questions.
Crook County Parks and Recreation District | https://ccprd.org/

Exploring Wilderness Using LIDAR Imaging
2021-03-29 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
How and Why to use LIDAR images in combination with your other mapping resources to get a more complete picture of areas you want to explore.
Online Presentation by Tony Cannon, Chairman of the Umpqua Watersheds Wilderness Committee.
Tony will do a short presentation on what LIDAR is, how to use it, why you should, followed by a real time Q& A from the audience.

Legislative Update with Sen. Ron Wyden
2021-03-30 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join the Bend Chamber and Senator Ron Wyden for a legislative update. Senator Wyden will discuss the proposed COVID-19 relief package, a Federal stimulus update and the Wild and Scenic Rivers legislation.
Session will be followed by a brief Q&A where Senator Wyden will answer your important questions.

The Geological Journey of Desert Rivers
2021-03-30 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join ONDA for the second event in the 2021 High Desert Speaker Series, featuring Dr. Elizabeth Safran, Associate Professor of Geological Science at Lewis & Clark. Follow the course of Oregon’s wild rivers as they journey through the lively geology of the high desert, and learn about how the geologic history of eastern Oregon – from landslides to lava flows – has interacted with and influenced beloved desert waterways like the Owyhee River.
This event will be hosted online, beginning at 5:30 p.m. PST. Registration is free and required. All registrants will be entered to win a giveaway prize package!

Mapping Sisters Future
2021-03-30 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The Comprehensive Plan update could result in expanding Sisters’ Urban Growth Boundary beyond current city limits. Central Oregon LandWatch is working with the community to advocate for limited expansion to protect surrounding waterways and wildlife while also promoting complete neighborhoods where people can live close to where they work, play, and shop.
COLW researched and created a series of maps that show local agricultural land, wildlife habitat, watersheds, riparian areas, and more. COLW wants to share these with you to help make informed recommendations for Sisters’ plan.
In this virtual event, you’ll take a look at the maps, get valuable insight into how land use policy will affect the Comprehensive Plan and decisions surrounding growth, and explore opportunities for public input to provide the City with your valuable insight.
This event is open to all. We want everyone to have a seat at the table, especially surrounding such a pivotal planning process. RSVP for this virtual event here.

Virtual Lecture: Reintroducing Fishers to Washington: An Example of Cultural Competence in Conservation Biology
2021-03-30 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Fishers, a medium sized carnivore and member of the weasel family, used to be a common species in Washington until fur trapping pushed them to local extinction. Dr. Tara Chestnut, ecologist at Mount Rainier National Park, will share her experiences reintroducing this species to its historical range through translocation efforts and close collaboration with Tribes and First Nations.

InFARMation Spring Series: Land and Capital
2021-03-30 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
FoFF’s next session will be on March 30th at 6:30pm to continue this conversation. Throughout the series you will hear about the inspiring hard work that farmers of color and organizations are doing to circumvent the barriers created by structural racism in the agricultural and financial system. FoFF will discuss the biggest threats to Oregon’s farmland, different types of capital available, the importance of having a farm business plan, the benefits of collective farming, and how you can support our BIPOC farming community.
March 30th speakers: Megan Horst – Portland State University, Adam Kohl – Outgrowing Hunger, Dan Miller – Steward
Save the Date, Sign up Coming Soon

Break Down: Explaining the U.S. Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act of 2021
2021-03-31 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Hey Oregonians! There is a big plastic-related bill in the federal legislation this year. Sign up for this webinar with Oregon Senator Merkley to learn all about why it’s important for us to Break Free from Plastic Pollution.
Join Plastic Pollution Coalition and co-host Break Free From Plastic for a conversation with Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Representative Alan Lowenthal of California, Co-Sponsors of the historic Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act (BFFPPA) of 2021. Moderated by Judith Enck, former Obama Administration EPA Regional Administrator and Founder of Beyond Plastics, this conversation will explain how this proposed legislation builds on statewide laws across the United States, and outlines plastic reduction strategies to improve the health of people and our planet.
