Over 80 Oregonians braved the heavy rain on Sunday, September 9th to join in the 2019 Marys River Watershed Council Annual Celebration. An intrepid group of watershed enthusiasts joined Kathleen Westly, MRWC’s Education and Restoration Project Manager, for a before-dinner tour of restoration work in Duffy Creek. Participants were able to see signs of beaver activity and view log jams and other restoration work done by the Council.
The group returned to join other guests at Tyee Wine Cellars for the rest of the celebration, complete with dinner by OSU Catering, music by local Corvallis band, When Picks Fly, and wine from Tyee, sipped from new Marys River Watershed Council custom tumblers.
Friendly conversation was accompanied by a presentation on the Council’s work from the past year and upcoming programs and projects, presented by MRWC Executive Director, Holly Purpura.
The end of the night saw the retirement of three Board members, Annie Young-Mathews, Michael Pope, and Jeff Reams as well as the election of five Board members: Bill Blakney, Merrilee Buchanan Benson, Phil Sollins, Zach Pike-Urlacher, and Tessa Artruc.
Jana Seeliger was also recognized for her outstanding volunteer service with the Council.
Thank you to all for coming out to celebrate with us and a special thanks to our sponsors: Tyee Wine Cellars, OSU Hydrophiles, Green Girl, and Gathering Together Farm. A final thank you goes to our Duffy Creek tour hosts: Tam, Jim, and Ardis Belknap, Jay Hansen, and Starker Forests.
We’ll see you all next year!
