VTF 2026 January Newsletter

Gretchen Dubie
Jan 7
6 min read

Updated: Jan 8

Director's Message:

"We preserve, protect, and enhance the natural environment through collaborative actions for scientific, educational, recreational, cultural, and economic goals that benefit the Yachats community and its future generations."

Dear Friends of View the Future,

Happy New Year to our community—near and far!

As we reflect on a highly successful 2025, we enter 2026 energized and ready to build on our momentum through collaboration, partnership, and preservation. I am deeply grateful for the trust, generosity, and belief this community continues to show View the Future—your support fuels our progress and our purpose.

That spirit was especially evident during our Annual Giving Campaign. With a generous matching gift from the Chambers family and an extraordinary community response, we raised $50,097 in individual donations in November and December alone—a powerful reminder that many hands truly do make a village!

As conservation funding declines and competition for resources increases statewide, your support matters more than ever. We are profoundly grateful to this community for standing with us and making our work possible.

In 2026, you’ll see continued momentum in community trail connectivity, land preservation, and expanded tribal history education—including a new Indigenous History Exhibit at the Little Log Church Museum. We’re also advancing accessibility improvements on the 804 Trail and remain committed to preserving Yachats Ridge for future generations. With engaging community presentations, growing partnerships, and innovative collaboration with landowners, there is much to look forward to.

Fittingly, 2026 is a Fire Horse year in the Chinese calendar—symbolizing energy, movement, and progress. It is an honor to serve a community that so deeply values this land and its stories. View the Future remains steadfast in our commitment to preserving Yachats’ natural environment and cultural history, and we are proud to do this work alongside you.

Here’s to a positive new year,

Gretchen

Conservation Corner:

What is a Watershed, and How do we Keep it Healthy?

By Hui Rodomsky, Board Member

The word “watershed” is widely used in many contexts. But what IS a “watershed”?

“Watershed” is a compound word made of “water” and “shed”. Now, dear readers, is the word “shed” in this context a noun as in a shed that stores things? Or is it a verb as in a dog shedding fur?

The correct answer is that the “shed” in “watershed” is a verb. A watershed is the area of land where all the water that sheds from it drains to the same place – a stream, a creek, a river, and even a lake. Opposite of irrigation systems (or our own cardiovascular system) where water flows from larger channels and branches off into smaller and smaller ones, a watershed starts from small streams which converge into larger and larger streams. Each branch of the drainage system is its own little watershed. Many little watersheds converge into larger and larger ones.

The largest watershed system in the US is the Mississippi River, with headwaters of its mainstem in Minnesota and its output in Louisiana, spanning 1.25 million square miles. Flowing through this vastness, the river carries everything upstream downstream, as gravity dictates. Everything includes sediment, pollutants, garbage, as well as heat. The Mississippi has been depositing sediment at the Louisiana outlet for thousands of years, creating the Louisiana delta and the bayous. Since the onset of industrialized farming practices, the Mississippi has been transporting excess nitrogen from America’s farmlands, lawns, and cities to the Gulf of Mexico, resulting in a dead zone of low oxygen the size of Connecticut where marine life struggles to survive or avoids it completely.

Indeed, what we do on land has significant implications for that instream and downstream. If we take care of our land, those instream and downstream benefit.

That brings me back to the beginning – what is a watershed? A watershed is not a nature-y place away from asphalt and concrete. A watershed is where we all live, work, and play. Even if you are a fisherman, you must work on your boat at the dock. Since we live in a watershed day in day out, and since what happens on land affects those instream and downstream, there are actions that we all can do every day to better the health of our local watersheds.

Everyday Actions to Support a Healthy Watershed

Be mindful of what goes down drains. Never pour oil, paint, chemicals, or medications into sinks, toilets, or storm drains—these flow directly into waterways.
Use fewer fertilizers and pesticides. Choose organic options, when possible, apply sparingly, and avoid use before rain to prevent runoff into streams.
Pick up pet waste. Pet waste carries bacteria and nutrients that wash into waterways during rain.
Reduce runoff from your property. Let rain soak into the ground by using permeable surfaces, rain gardens, or simply directing downspouts onto soil or vegetation instead of pavement.
Keep soil where it belongs. Plant native vegetation, groundcover, or grasses to prevent erosion and sediment from entering streams.
Wash cars responsibly. Use commercial car washes that recycle water or wash on grass or gravel instead of driveways.
Conserve water. Fix leaks, install water-efficient fixtures, and use water thoughtfully—less water used means less runoff and pollution.
Keep trash secure and pick up litter. What’s left on land often ends up in streams, rivers, and oceans.
Support native plants. Native plants filter pollutants, stabilize soil, and support wildlife while requiring less water and chemicals.
Stay informed and engaged. Learn about your local watershed, support conservation efforts, and participate in cleanups or restoration projects.

In short: what we do on our own land—yards, streets, driveways, and workplaces—shapes the health of our streams, rivers, and coastlines. Caring for our watershed starts at home, every day.

Partners Protecting:

Left to right: Megan, Cheryl, Carrie, Evan

Strengthening Conservation Through Collaboration

View the Future is proud to be partnering with the MidCoast Watersheds Council (MCWC) on multiple, complementary conservation efforts that strengthen our shared work in the Yachats Ridge and Yachats River watershed. Together, our organizations are advancing a science-based approach to land and water stewardship that benefits both upstream and downstream ecosystems.

One key collaboration includes using environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling to assess whether streams flowing from Yachats Ridge provide habitat for salmonids—an important indicator of watershed health. This project brings together MCWC’s technical expertise and View the Future’s long-term commitment to protecting the Ridge and surrounding lands.

In addition, we are working alongside MCWC and intern Deanne Carlson, a geomorphologist and forester, to develop GIS maps and data that help identify high conservation value properties along the Yachats River and within forested areas of our service region. These maps will incorporate factors such as wetlands, slopes, floodplains, forest cover, and other natural resource indicators to guide future conservation priorities and potential easements—while avoiding duplication of existing watershed data.

These partnerships reflect a shared belief that collaboration, local knowledge, and good science are essential to protecting the lands and waters that define our community. We’re grateful for MCWC’s partnership and Deanne’s expertise, and we look forward to sharing updates as this important work continues.

Thank you to all of the staff at Mid Coast, we appreciate our partnership with you and all of the incredible efforts you give to help preserve our watersheds and their habitat throughout the region! Learn more about MidCoast Watersheds Council's mission and incredible conservation projects in the area here: https://www.midcoastwatersheds.org/

Cultural Preservation:

More than 200 community members gathered on New Year’s Day to participate in the 16th Annual Peace Hike, demonstrating their shared commitment to honoring and remembering our Tribal ancestors. Despite a rainy forecast, the community showed up in strong numbers to commemorate Native American history—particularly the story of Amanda De Coos, a blind Native American woman who was force-marched to the Alsea Subagency prison camp located in present-day Yachats—and to acknowledge the suffering endured on this land.

The gathering began at the Yachats Commons with community drumming on our shared drum, Yellow Bear, followed by a welcome from Mayor Berdie, recognizing Yachats’ Indigenous heritage. Chief Barrett offered an opening prayer, and Jesse Bears, Cultural Stewardship Manager for the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians, offered a mourning song of prayer in honor of a tribal member who had recently passed on. Additional Tribal representation included the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians Coquille, Tribes, and Navaho Tribe.

The crowd then dispersed to a lighting of the ceremonial fire outside and were sent off to one of two Peace Hikes, one local through the wetlands, and one to the Amanda Gathering area on the Amanda Trail where ceremony was held. Each year, more Tribes are represented at this growing event—an affirmation of its importance and a testament to the increasing recognition of its purpose by both Tribal communities and the wider public.

We like to thank the CTCLUSI, CTSI, City of Yachats, Yachats Trails Workgroup, Yachats Ladies Club, and the Oregon Coast Visitor Assoc. for their partnership and many contributions to this very important and heartfelt commemoration.