Site search
sponsored by
Home
News
A local conservation group with a mission to protect the North Umpqua River has been awarded two key grants for 2003.
The North Umpqua Foundation, founded in 1983, has netted $7,000 to be used toward a fish stranding watch program and other river protection activities on the North Umpqua.
The clothing manufacturer Patagonia -- based in Ventura, Calif. -- awarded $4,000 to the foundation this year as part of an environmental grant program that began in 1985. The North Umpqua Foundation joins a list of 23 Oregon environmental groups that receive grant funding from the company, including the local conservation group Umpqua Watersheds.
An additional $3,000 has been awarded by the Ralph L. Smith Foundation of Portland. The North Umpqua Foundation's Executive Director Robin Hartmann said that funding is intended to "help us do a better job of outreach and increase the number of people who care about the North Umpqua River."
"These grants are very important to us in these tough economic times when grant makers have fewer funds," she said. "Funds are down and nonprofit competition for reduced funding is way up."
Hartmann added that her organization especially needs the funding this year since low snowpack and a likely hot, dry summer could make electricity generation at the eight-dam North Umpqua Hydroelectric Project a greater priority for PacifiCorp.
Fish strandings due to variations in river water levels have been a point of contention during the relicensing of the hydroelectric project. The relicensing is currently under consideration by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. "Our stranding watch program is going to be necessary to ensure there are adequate water levels for fish," Hartmann added.
* You can reach reporter Jeff Willis at 957-4218 or by e-mail at jwillis@newsreview.info.
The North Umpqua Foundation, founded in 1983, has netted $7,000 to be used toward a fish stranding watch program and other river protection activities on the North Umpqua.
The clothing manufacturer Patagonia -- based in Ventura, Calif. -- awarded $4,000 to the foundation this year as part of an environmental grant program that began in 1985. The North Umpqua Foundation joins a list of 23 Oregon environmental groups that receive grant funding from the company, including the local conservation group Umpqua Watersheds.
An additional $3,000 has been awarded by the Ralph L. Smith Foundation of Portland. The North Umpqua Foundation's Executive Director Robin Hartmann said that funding is intended to "help us do a better job of outreach and increase the number of people who care about the North Umpqua River."
"These grants are very important to us in these tough economic times when grant makers have fewer funds," she said. "Funds are down and nonprofit competition for reduced funding is way up."
Hartmann added that her organization especially needs the funding this year since low snowpack and a likely hot, dry summer could make electricity generation at the eight-dam North Umpqua Hydroelectric Project a greater priority for PacifiCorp.
Fish strandings due to variations in river water levels have been a point of contention during the relicensing of the hydroelectric project. The relicensing is currently under consideration by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. "Our stranding watch program is going to be necessary to ensure there are adequate water levels for fish," Hartmann added.
* You can reach reporter Jeff Willis at 957-4218 or by e-mail at jwillis@newsreview.info.
