Welcome to Tsalila

Tsalila (pronounced sa – LEE – la) is a year round program that connects people with the history and  environment of the Umpqua River watershed. Here are the Tsalila special events:

Tsalila: the Umpqua River Festival

NEW DATES FOR 2008!! Join us for the 12th annual Festival on a special night, Thursday, September 25, 2008 from 4:00 – 7:00 PM.  Dinner will be available for purchase on the boardwalk next to the Umpqua River at Schooner Inn Café, next to the Umpqua Discovery Center. This free family event is to celebrate the return of the salmon to the Umpqua River and the wonderful natural and cultural resources in the Umpqua watershed. Have fun at the river box, find your way through the maze, listen to music, eat a delicious dinner, make a tule duck, listen to a guest speaker or explore the Umpqua Discovery Center for half-off admission – there’s something for everyone.

Tsalila Education Days

3,000 students and their teachers come to the Tsalila Education Days, held before the Festival. Schools from throughout southern Oregon are invited to bring their second – fifth graders to Tsalila for a half day of learning about natural and cultural resources.

Tsalila Field Trips

Sixth and eight graders in Reedsport schools are taken out to a local stream each spring for lessons in natural resources. Students learn about macroinvertebrates (water bugs), water flow, forestry, salmon, water quality and other topics.

Tsalila Restoration Projects

Over the years, the Tsalila Partnership has worked with private land owners to do restoration work to improve riparian areas, that stretch of vegetation found next to streams. Projects include tree planting to help prevent erosion and installing fences to keep livestock out of salmon streams.

“What’s especially important for me, as the mayor of Reedsport, is that the Tsalila conservation education programs help to develop a sense of ownership and investment in our area.  I also believe that the various Tsalila programs help our young people and visitors to appreciate and understand Oregon’s unique natural and cultural heritage and encourages thoughtful participation regarding the future of our resources.” - Keith Tymchuk

Tsalila is hosted by the Tsalila Partnership with the help of spawnsors, contributors and hundreds of volunteers.
 

Hosted by the Tsalila Partnership

For more information contact Mike Northrop (541) 271-1563
or email at mnorthrop@fs.fed.us