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Inspiring and supporting voluntary stewardship of the Marys River watershed.
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Welcoming our New
Executive Director!
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Hello! I’m Nicole DeCrappeo, the new executive director of Marys River Watershed Council, and I’m thrilled to be here. In my first weeks on the job, I’ve been able to visit restoration sites in the Rock Creek watershed, see the transformative work of beavers
in Mulkey Creek in the Bald Hill Natural Area, attend the “Our Willamette Waters 2025” symposium, and meet so many incredible and committed people from neighboring watershed councils, land trusts, Tribal communities, engineering firms, the City of Corvallis,
and county, state, federal agencies, as well as individual land owners. The MRWC staff and board of directors have been so welcoming and helpful in getting me up to speed on the organization’s myriad projects, partners, and processes – they are a dream team,
and I’m thankful to be working with them.
A little about my background: I’m a long-time Corvallis resident, having arrived here after growing up in PA and DC and living in several different states along the way. My husband is a fish biologist and avid hunter, and my 13-year-old son is in 8th grade
at Cheldelin Middle School and a fast and stingy defender in club soccer. I recently retired from a rewarding 23-year career with the U.S. Geological Survey, where I worked as a soil ecologist and director of the Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center.
I have a PhD in Soil Science from Oregon State University, a Master of Science in Ecology from Colorado State University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from American University in Washington, DC.
The joy of working with MRWC is that, for the first time in my life, I get to work in the community and natural environment in which my family and I live and play. I look forward to connecting with as many of you as possible at upcoming meetings, volunteer
events, local gathering spots, creek side, or anywhere else in our beautiful watershed!
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As 2025 comes to a close, we have a lot to reflect on here at Marys River. This year brought on exciting changes, including welcoming our new executive director and adding new staff members. We also made meaningful progress in our restoration projects and education
events across the watershed.
Take a look at our annual appeal to learn more about what we did this year. If this work resonates with you, consider
making a donation here.
You can find it here on our website:
Annual Report Page.
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In Remembrance of Bill Pearcy
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It is with great appreciation that we remember Bill Pearcy who passed away on Saturday, November 22nd. Bill was one of Marys River Watershed Council’s founding fathers. It was at the kitchen table in Bill’s and his wife Amy Schoener’s home that MRWC was
founded.
Bill was a friend to MRWC in many ways. He served for a number of years on MRWC’s board of directors, conducted the earliest temperature monitoring in the watershed, and supported both Western pond turtle and Fender’s blue butterfly habitats on his lands in
Wren. In fact, it was on their land that existing populations of Kincaid’s lupine and Fender’s blue butterflies, both listed under the Endangered Species Act, were identified about 20 years ago. Much of the success that led to the FBB being down listed came
from the numerous subsequent habitat restoration sites in Wren.
Beyond being a friend to the Council, Bill was a friend to many. A longtime OSU marine scientist, he collaborated with and inspired many colleagues and students over the years who remain his friends to this day. Bill and Amy’s home, Cloud Run Farm, was a happy
gathering place for family, colleagues, neighbors and friends from all the ways their lives were woven into this community.
Bill and I were friends, and I will treasure my memories of him – cribbage games, garden tours, fruit tree pruning tips, recipe sharing, gatherings around tea and dessert or dinner, the time when I arrived and he directed me to take a look through the telescope
which was trained on the pond where 22 Western pond turtle were basking, and “talking shop” – Bill was truly a sage and was a generous and humble mentor.
We are grateful to have lived in confluence with him.
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The Confluence Open House 2025
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The Confluence Open House 2025
Location: The Confluence Building - 412 SW 2nd Street Corvallis, OR 97333
Date: Thursday, December 11th, from 4:00-6:00pm
Join us at the Confluence for an open house event. Come chat with the future tenants and check out the building's progress.
Learn more about the building on
The Confluence Center Website.
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Ecology Game Night
Location: Common Fields in Corvallis
Date: Monday, December 15th, from 5:30-7:30pm
Join us at Common Fields for a cozy indoor game night. We will have some games, but if you have a favorite please feel free to bring it!
Common Fields generously donates 10% of proceeds from the night to the Marys River Watershed Council.
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Join us for MRWC’s Annual Membership Meeting!
We’ll share highlights from the year, provide updates on what’s ahead, and hold our membership vote for the Board of Directors. Please note that we are not having an annual celebration this year, but this is a great chance to hear what we've been up to and
connect with the MRWC community.
When:
December 17, 2025 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM
Event Address:
Benton Community Foundation - 340 NW 5th St, Corvallis, OR 97330
Parking is limited. Up to 15 spaces are available at 555 NW Van Buren Avenue; additional parking can be found in the surrounding neighborhood.
Attendance:
Space is limited to 60 in-person attendees.
Please RSVP here.
A Zoom option is available: https://zoom.us/j/92546356227?pwd=kiT8xbs1QnN1xlmGZZxS0TJp7mTcdb.1
Contact Us:
(541) 758-7597 or lau...@mrwc.org
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Are you a landowner or manager of more than five acres of land? Apply to be part of this FREE 5-part workshop series to learn about conservation planning,
get expert guidance on land management, and learn about the funding sources that could help kickstart projects on your land!
Plan
For Your Land is a collaboration among five watershed councils in the mid-Willamette River basin, including the North Santiam, Luckiamute, South Santiam, Calapooia, and Marys River Watershed Councils. Together, we are working with local landowners
and land managers who are curious about how they can be good stewards of the lands they care for.
Apply
for this FREE 5-part workshop series to learn about natural resources, get professional guidance for conservation projects on your land, and connect with your neighbors in the watershed.
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