2020 NPSO Annual Meeting Cancelled Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in the best interests for the health and safety of our members, the Cheahmill Chapter has decided to cancel the Annual Meeting this year. While the number of new cases should decline over the next several weeks and months, subsequent waves of COVID-19 are likely to recur once social distancing is relaxed. We are exploring hosting the meeting next year (2021) at Spirit Mountain Lodge and offering much the same program. If you have already sent in your registration form and payment, your checks will be shredded. Those whose checks were already deposited will receive a refund. We look forward to seeing all of you in 2021, hopefully at Spirit Mountain. Please stay safe and healthy through this difficult time.

NPSO 2020 Annual Meeting

May 29 - 31     Spirit Mountain Lodge, Grand Ronde, Oregon

Field Trips

Saturday May 18, 2024    9 a.m. - 4 p.m.                    Field Trip # 21

Difficulty:     Easy to moderate - Ground is uneven but relatively flat.

Elevation:     Minimal

Group Size Limit:     24

Trip Description:     The Institute for Applied Ecology (IAE) Plants for People project aims to make culturally important plant species available for restoration projects. We will visit Champoeg State Heritage Area to tour a prairie under restoration.

The 45-acre Champoeg Prairie is part of the State Heritage Area, a 622-acre property along the Willamette River. Historically, the area was important for trade, gathering, and food harvesting for local tribes. The Prairie is a former agricultural field being restored to native wet and upland prairie. It was seeded in 2007 with native grasses: tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia cespitosa), blue wildrye (Elymus glaucus), Roemer's fescue (Festuca roemeri), California brome (Bromus carinatus), and California oatgrass (Danthonia californica). In 2017, a prescribed burn prepared the ground for seeding and planting with native forbs, grasses, and sedges, many of which bloomed the following year. In fall 2018, camas and yampah grown at the Confererated Tribes of Grand Ronde nursery were planted in the Prairie as part of a cultural event. Eventually, they will be harvested by local tribes.

Champoeg State Heritage Area is a large park with many native and nonnative wildflowers. There is also a visitor center and other structures with histories of the area. We will find picnic tables for lunch.

Appropriate Clothing and Footwear:     Sturdy walking shoes, hiking poles optional.

Special Considerations:     $5 day use parking fee or 12-month parking permit required for Champoeg State Heritage Area

Meeting Place and Time:     Trip # 21 leaves at 9 a.m. from parking lot west of Hotel. Plan to arrive 30 minutes before departure time to meet your group and arrange carpools.

Alternate Meeting:     Participants may also meet the trip at 9:45 a.m at Oak Grove Day Use area, Champoeg State Heritage Area, 8239 Champoeg Road NE, St. Paul, Oregon. If you choose this option, be sure to notify your trip leader in advance.

Driving Miles and Time from Spirit Mountain Hotel:     42 miles, 49 minutes to Champoeg State Heritage Area

Driving Directions:     Trip leaders will provide detailed driving instructions.

Leaders:       Sara Alaica, Lisa Blackburn

Sara Alaica, restoration ecologist, Institute for Applied Ecology and Lisa Blackburn, Cheahmill Chapter President

Plant Lists and Other Information:     Clink on the links below for more information about this trip.

Map of Champoeg State Heritage Area

Photo: Institute for Applied Ecology.
Tribal members roast common camas bulbs (Camassia quamash) the traditional way at Champoeg State Heritage Area.