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Photos and story by: Jessica Alvarez, Communications & Content Manager

In late October, a few Blue Forest team members had the opportunity to visit two project sites on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest that are currently in the FRB pipelinIn late October, a few Blue Forest team members had the opportunity to visit two project sites on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest that are currently in the FRB pipeline: the Stella Project and Snowy Butte. e: the Stella Project and Snowy Butte. Both forest restoration projects aim to decrease wildfire risk while protecting water supply for nearby communities. Visiting the Rogue Valley in Southern Oregon was a first for some, while for one Blue Forest team member it was a more meaningful trip—a trip down memory lane.

As someone who spent her childhood visiting Medford every summer for the annual Britt Music & Arts Festival, Blue Forest Senior Project Scientist, Tessa Maurer, has led the way for Blue Forest in more ways than one in this landscape. For 35 years, Tessa’s mom played in the orchestra for “the Britt” so every summer, she and her family headed out to Oregon from her home state of Ohio. Since 2020, Tessa has also been leading Blue Forest’s efforts on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. With a personal attachment to the area, she has a strong motivation for helping move these projects forward, implementing the amazing work of local scientists and conservation groups, and protecting these beautiful landscapes and the surrounding communities.

The project team visited the site of the Stella Project on the first day, accompanied by Forest Service staff on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. Over the next couple of days, the team met with stakeholders and potential partners including The Nature Conservancy, Pacific Power, and the Southern Oregon Forest Restoration Collaborative. On the last day, Blue Forest joined a large group of about 25 stakeholders led by Medford Water to tour the Snowy Butte project.

October was a wonderful time to visit Oregon as fall colors adorned the landscape! The team came back with new connections, knowledge, and motivation to support this much-needed work in this part of the state. In the coming months, Blue Forest is excited to continue developing relationships with the organizations and communities we are working with and serving.

Stay tuned for more details about these projects as Blue Forest continues the work of developing the FRB model in Southern Oregon!