Podcasts about Willamette

In this episode, host Zach Urness looks at the curious case of how a non-native fish, walleye, showed up at Lookout Point Reservoir and was then flushed into the Upper Willamette River Basin. Urness interviews two fish biologists about how walleye, a tasty but controversial fish, were discovered at the reservoir east of Eugene and spawned to become a fishery popular with anglers. In 2023 and 2024, the walleye were pushed downstream by deep reservoir drawdowns and have been getting caught in new places. Biologists are waiting to see if walleye will establish a new population — which could be bad for endangered salmon and steelhead.

Send us a textA $12.99 Chardonnay from Willamette Valley that actually overdelivers? We pop the cork on Willa Creek 2023 and trace the bigger story behind Oregon's quiet Chardonnay comeback. For years the region leaned on California clones that struggled to ripen in cooler sites, yielding lean, austere wines. The switch to Dijon clones—and a clearer read on site and style—has unlocked balance, lift, and flavor, and this stainless-steel, unoaked bottling shows how far things have come.We break down the tasting profile in plain terms: a clean mix of orchard fruit and citrus framed by crisp acidity, no oak, and a texture that starts soft and expands across the palate. If you avoid buttery Chardonnay, this is your lane. We also decode the label: “produced and bottled by,” the fresh Willa Creek trademark, and Precept Wine's role crafting store brands for Trader Joe's and beyond. The paperwork might be new, but the winemaking knows what it's doing, and the result punches above its price.Planning the holiday table? This is a smart pour for turkey and rich sides. The acidity cuts through creamy dishes, the fruit stays friendly, and the finish stays clean. Beyond Thanksgiving, it's a weeknight match for roast chicken, lemony pastas, and sushi. More importantly, it signals where Oregon Chardonnay is heading: focused, bright, and increasingly reliable at value prices. Give it a try, see how it blooms in the glass, and tell us what you taste.If you enjoy the show, follow, rate, and share it with a friend who loves finding great bottles under $15. Your rec keeps the reviews coming—what value Chardonnay should we open next?Check us out at www.cheapwinefinder.comor email us at podcast@cheapwinefinder.com

I'm sitting on a bench at the nearby city park listening to Creek & Raven. It comes out in a few days, as I write this. I haven't listened to it for many months now, so it's both surprising and unsurprising how it opens. Unsurprising is the trilling Pacific Wren, a distant Common Raven and the faint sound of a creek. Surprising is the mournful synthesizer lead that resembles a French horn.The vibe is meeting me where I am today, on this last overcast day of another extended Portland Indian summer. Winter is coming, literally and figuratively. I feel it; stark, curious and foreboding.The environmental audio was captured in one of the deeper canyons of Forest Park in early June of this year. The creek that carved this deep canyon is named Rocking Chair Creek after the discovery of a rocking chair in its waters. I'm visualizing it now like the heirloom bentwood rocker in my living room, half sunk with gold-green moss growing on it, illuminated in a sunbeam. I returned to the canyon a few weeks ago and made more sketches. It's interesting to me how the palette shifted, on return, to bluer hues of green. This brings to mind how the observer influences a scene; how interpretations and tone can shift. About 8 miles away from this canyon is a different scene that has captured the imagination of the nation, and beyond, in the recent news cycle.Here, a nondescript beige multi-story federal building stands between Interstate 5 and the Willamette river on the margins of downtown Portland, Oregon. It is ground zero for a political Rorschach test. A lot has been written about it. I'm not interested in trying to summarize that here. If you know, you know…you know?But the idea that there is any debate about facts on the ground; that there is any set of conditions that presently call for US military intervention in my home town is unnerving. It is deeply strange and seemingly animated by a dark fantasy. Most here poke fun at the absurdity of it all; the disconnect between truth and image-peddling. A few have their own reasons to support some hazy notion of a “crackdown”. The city is not without problems, after all. Anyone can tell you that. It's been a tough run over the better part of a decade, here and most everywhere. On that score, there have been plenty of indications that the city turned a corner. I travelled to four capital cities in Europe over the summer and they didn't strike me as better or worse, any more or less livable on the whole.The fever-pitched finger pointing is what makes my stomach churn. The notion that educated people cannot in good faith arrive at a consensus on whether a city is “war-ravaged”, “under siege”, even “burning to the ground” or about average for its size is like a chapter out of George Orwell's 1984. “Reality exists in the human mind, and nowhere else.”“2 + 2 = 5”-Party doctrine from 1984 by George OrwellIn the finale of Creek and Raven we hear ravens croak and rattle with gusto. What are they saying?Ravens have long been cast as messengers in the symbology of First Nations. As a communicative carrion bird, their associations with prophecy, insight, and playing intermediary between life and death are long held. Do these ravens have any prophecies or insights to share about their home in Portland, Oregon? Recent studies have identified at least 30 to 40 distinct vocalizations in ravens' repertoire. They vocalize for the same reasons humans do: talking about food, keeping track of family members, socializing, bonding, playing, warning, and identifying each other specifically. Ravens even use “emotional” prosody; they convey urgency or calm through tone. They can learn new vocalizations, mimicking human speech and other sounds.I think we could all benefit by taking time to actively listen to what Bernie Krause coined the “biophony”, the layer of the soundscape made by living organisms. We would do well to listen to each other as well; us human animals. I believe estrangement from the biophony, can lead to less empathy, and that can lead to all sorts of unfortunate outcomes.We have some mending to do. We have holes in our social fabric left over from the pandemic; splits aggravated by social media and the tribalism of news media empires. Maybe we can take a lesson from ravens and just remember to talk to each other; to shoot the breeze about food and family.A raven's warning call is a sharp, urgent Kawk! Kawk! Kawk! But what happens when one of the flock spreads alarm when there is no real threat? We know from the old folk tale how Chicken Little—the sky is falling!—learns a lesson about spreading alarm without evidence…in the sanitized version of the tale. In most versions, the characters (Chicken Little, Ducky Lucky, Goosey Loosey, and Turkey Lurkey) encounter Foxy Loxy who uses the panic to trick them into his den and eat them all. What I think we are facing in this country is leadership that is acting like Chicken Little while also behaving like Foxy Loxy. It's not normal. It's not okay. I think it needs to be called out. I think we—all of us—deserve more from elected leaders. I'm not typically an outspoken person, but now doesn't feel like the time to sit back and say nothing.Thank you, as always, for joining me here, and for listening to my point of view. Creek & Raven is available on all music streaming services October 17th, 2025. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chadcrouch.substack.com/subscribe

What do we do when it feels like God isn't on our side? In this episode of Shifting Culture, I talk with Joshua Ryan Butler about his new book God Is On Your Side and the ways he's wrestled with that very question through seasons of heartbreak, illness, and despair. Josh takes us into the Gospel of John, where one-on-one encounters with Jesus become mirrors for our own stories - the paralyzed man, the woman at the well, the man born blind, Lazarus in the tomb. Each scene reveals a God who sees us before we see Him, who calls us beloved, and who can turn even the hardest places into holy places. This conversation is about finding hope in the dark, learning to trust God in uncertainty, and remembering that we are never abandoned.Joshua Ryan Butler is a Teaching Pastor with the Willamette family of churches in the Portland area and the author of God is On Your Side, The Party Crasher, Beautiful Union, The Skeletons in God's Closet, and The Pursuing God. Josh loves shifting paradigms, to help people who wrestle with tough topics of the Christian faith by confronting popular caricatures and replacing them with the beauty and power of the real thing. He and his wife, Holly, along with their three children, live in Portland, Oregon. They enjoy spending time with friends over great meals and exploring the scenic beauty of the Pacific Northwest.Josh's Book:God is On Your SideJosh's Recommendations:Art of MemoirUnbrokenSubscribe to Our Substack: Shifting CultureConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@shiftingculturepodcast.comGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, Bluesky or YouTubeConsider Giving to the podcast and to the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link belowThe Balance of GrayFaith That Challenges. Conversations that Matter. Laughs included. Subscribe Now!Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the show

Nonprofit leaders know that creating meaningful change in legacy organizations requires both bold vision and deep empathy. In this episode, Spencer is joined by Bess Goggins, President and CEO of the YMCA of Columbia-Willamette, to discuss leading transformative change, building a culture of belonging, and the role of communications in advancing equity. This episode is ideal for health nonprofit leaders navigating complex systems, team culture, and digital engagement strategies. About the guest Bess Goggins is the President and CEO of the YMCA of Columbia-Willamette and the first woman to lead the organization in its 157-year history. She began the role in May 2025, bringing nearly 20 years of nonprofit leadership to advance the Y's mission of community well-being, belonging, and opportunity across the Portland metro and Southwest Washington region. She previously served as CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Bend, where she led strategic growth and secured a $1.7 million Early Literacy grant from the Oregon Department of Education to expand K–3 tutoring. Bess holds dual bachelor's degrees in English and Communications and dual master's degrees in English with concentrations in Technical Writing and Rhetoric. Now based in Portland, she is inspired by the YMCA's commitment to holistic health, inclusion, and thriving communities. Resources The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker: https://www.priyaparker.com/book-art-of-gatheringRadical Candor: https://www.radicalcandor.com/The Oregonian: https://www.oregonlive.com/The Columbian: https://www.columbian.com/The Reflector: https://www.thereflector.com/The Bee: https://thebeenews.com/Portland Business Journal: https://www.bizjournals.com/portlandCoaching For Leaders Podcast: https://coachingforleaders.com/The Art of Manliness Podcast: https://www.artofmanliness.com/podcast/Storyworthy by Matthew Dicks: https://matthewdicks.com/Books/storyworthy/The Fine Art of Small Talk by Debra Fine: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/93409.The_Fine_Art_of_Small_Talk Contact Bess Website: https://www.ymcacw.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bessgoggins/YMCA CW's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ymca-of-columbia-willametteBess' email: bgoggins@ymcacw.org

Folks, Prohibition sucked. And here in Oregon, we had it worse than most, cutting off our own booze supply in 1916 -- four years before the rest of the country. When the 18th Amendment was finally repealed in all states in 1933, Oregonians had not legally been in a bar for EIGHTEEN GODFORSAKEN YEARS! It was during that time (1923) that a neighborhood grocery store was built on the corner of N Catlin and Willamette that later became the delightfully punny Your Inn Tavern (7004 N Catlin Ave.). So is this intimate, wooden, rollicking, survivor of a bar really 102 years old? Could it have been a 1923 speakeasy easily transformable into "the best damn grocery store in town" with the pull of a lever? Well...no. But that didn't stop the HBTG boys from joyously crossing the St. Johns Bridge to make their first visit and some new friends at this verifiably great and memorable old Portland bar. Bar visit and episode recording: Thursday, August 28, 2025 HBTG theme song: "Frozen Egg" by Lame Drivers Interlude music: "Right Track" by Lame Drivers

Joshua Ryan Butler is a Teaching Pastor with the Willamette family of churches in the Portland area and the author of The Party Crasher, Beautiful Union, The Skeletons in God's Closet, The Pursuing God, and his most recent book, God is On Your Side. To listen to our "extra innings" conversation, head over to Theology in the Raw's Patreon page to become a member of the Theology in the Raw community. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nelson Lomax played at Chemeketa CC and Willamette University in the early 90's. Coming from New Orleans, LA, he made Salem his home and has become a fixture in the Salem basketball community. He shares stories and lessons from his lifetime as a player, coach and parent. 00:19 Growing up in New Orleans, LA and making his way to Salem 06:34 Getting into basketball as a child 07:38 Switching high schools as a sophomore 10:41 Finding his way to Chemeketa Community College 17:12 Playing in the parks during the summers in New Orleans 21:37 Learning from Coach Rob Chavez at Chemeketa as a freshman 30:32 Working at Willamette's basketball camp his first week in Salem 33:55 Moving on to play at Willamette with Coach Gordie James 38:00 Coaching at Willamette alongside his former coaches 46:50 Moving from assisting his former coach to assisting his former player 52:28 Developing life-long relationships through the game 55:16 Reliving the glory days of Willlamette Pro Hoop camp 1:02:50 The evolution of the Salem basketball community since he came here in 1990 1:17:02 The top 5 players he's seen in Salem 1:29:15 The only coach to ever use a clip board as a dinner plate

Hailey Sundet from Republic National Distributing is back on The Wake Up Call with Scotch Tank and Mandy on Froggy 99.9! Sponsored by Bottle Barn Liquors with three Fargo locations, this week’s featured wine is the crisp and refreshing Willamette Valley Pinot Gris. Tune in for expert wine insights, fun banter, and your favorite morning crew’s take on what makes this Oregon white a summer standout. Whether you're a wine lover or just here for the laughs, this episode is a must-listen for Fargo-Moorhead locals and beyond!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The land where the Willamette and Columbia rivers meet has been home to dozens of different Native nations since time immemorial. For thousands of years, tribes such as the Multnomah, Wasco, Cowlitz, Clackamas and many, many others created communities here. Since settlers first forcefully occupied this land in the mid-1800s, the city of Portland has failed to build trust with sovereign Tribal leaders and Indigenous residents.    In 2017, Portland created a Tribal Relations Program to bridge the relationship between Tribal governments and the city and to strengthen city government ties to its Native communities. It was a trailblazing program at the time, but in the years since it’s had three different managers and has been without a leader for months.   OPB reporter Alex Zielinski recently teamed up with Nika Bartoo-Smith, a reporter for Underscore Native News and ICT, to dig into the city of Portland’s relationship with tribal governments and Native communities. They join us to talk about what they’ve found.    For more Evergreen episodes and to share your voice with us, visit our showpage. Follow OPB on Instagram, host Jenn Chávez and Oregon Field Guide. You can sign up for OPB’s newsletters to get what you need in your inbox regularly.   Don’t forget to check out our many podcasts, which can be found on any of your favorite podcast apps: Hush Timber Wars Season 2: Salmon Wars Politics Now Think Out Loud And many more! Check out our full show list here.

Find Care • /care • Is life feeling extra hard at the moment? There are many ways Willamette can help. 

Today, we're revisiting a conversation with Noa Rubin, a community organizer for the paddle-boarding group SUP PDX. Noa has also been kayaking and paddling on the Willamette for over 13 years. She's here to share tips for the best routes and how to stay safe out on the river. This episode originally aired on August 8, 2023 Routes discussed in today's episode: George Rogers Park Ross Island Loop Willamette Narrows Willamette Falls Willamette Falls to St. Johns (or from Hawthorne Bridge) Become a member of City Cast Portland today! Get all the details and sign up here.  Who would you like to hear on City Cast Portland? Shoot us an email at portland@citycast.fm, or leave us a voicemail at 503-208-5448. Want more Portland news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Portland, and be sure to follow us on Instagram.  Looking to advertise on City Cast Portland? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise. Learn more about the sponsor of this June 30th episode: Women in Science Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of Inside the Headset – Presented by CoachComm, we're joined by Jas Bains, Head Coach at Western Colorado University and member of the AFCA Board of Trustees. Now in his 15th season, Coach Bains reflects on his coaching journey, how he's built long-term success, and the role of leadership and special teams in his program. In this episode, Coach Bains shares valuable lessons from his early coaching days, how he earned trust as a young coordinator, and his approach to developing a strong team culture that lasts. He also talks about the importance of staying connected to the coaching profession through his work with the AFCA.

This week host John Kruse chats with Aaron Kindle with the Idaho Wildlife Federation about this year's Chinook salmon runs up the Snake River Roger Phillips with the Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game about where to catch the big fish in the Gem State Lance Fisher with Lance Fisher Fishing talks Willamette and lower Columbia River Fishing this spring and summer www.northwesternoutdoors.com 

On hot summer days, Portlanders flock to the water – thankfully there's a lot of that here. On this week's episode of Peak Northwest, we discuss the many, many swim spot options in and around the city, for people who are looking to dip their toes or take a dip in a cooling river or lake. Joining us to discuss swim spots is local swimmer Hadley Brooks, who for the last several years has embarked on a personal “summer of swimming” project, in which she has found a different place to swim each week of the season. In the process, she has become an expert on local swim spots – as well as the necessary safety precautions to take before getting in the water. Here are some highlights from this week's show: How to stay safe before swimming in free-flowing bodies of water. Why Brooks started her “summer of swimming,” and the rules of her project. Between the Willamette and Columbia rivers, there are a ton of places to swim in Portland. Those looking for wilder places can go just a little farther afield. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

National Cheese Day, Bill Oram's Dad's birthday party and dead bodies in the Willamette all discussed this week.

Neste episódio, Henrique Boaventura recebe Raul Rosa — farmacêutico, bioquímico, cervejeiro caseiro e pesquisador na USP — para um mergulho técnico no universo do lúpulo Comet brasileiro. A conversa aborda desde o cultivo e o uso de fotoperíodo artificial, até os teores elevados de alfa-ácidos, descritores sensoriais como cebola e alho, e os desafios do terroir nacional.Raul compartilha os bastidores da pesquisa que comparou o Comet cultivado no Brasil com amostras dos Estados Unidos (Yakima e Willamette), revela insights sobre métodos estatísticos aplicados, variabilidade entre fazendas, além de apontar os caminhos para o uso estratégico do lúpulo nacional em cervejas de grande escala, como as American Lagers.Se você é produtor, cervejeiro caseiro ou apenas apaixonado por lúpulo, este episódio está imperdível.

But will it be a home run? The Portland Diamond Project has so far struck out on its years-long efforts to bring Major League Baseball to Portland. But now they've got a new site on the South Waterfront, fresh energy from city leaders and a pitch to the Oregon Legislature, not to mention swoon-y renderings of a new stadium along the Willamette. Sports columnist Bill Oram and ECONorthwest economist Mike Wilkerson join Beat Check with The Oregonian to make sense of the numbers behind the proposal, the unknowns (who is behind that ownership group?) and what comes next. Wilkerson, a consultant to the Portland Diamond Project, says building a new stadium downtown could be a game-changer for Portland, the city that he recently and regretfully said was on the verge of a “doom loop” thanks to downward trends in population growth, the commercial real estate market and more. Stay tuned until the end of the episode to hear Oram and Wilkerson make it very clear where their own personal baseball allegiances land. Related coverage: Is a picture worth almost a billion dollars?OHSU responds to South Waterfront ballpark proposalEconomist warns of Portland ‘doom loop' Subscribe to Beat Check anywhere you listen to podcasts to get new episodes each week. You can support local journalism by becoming a subscriber to The Oregonian/OregonLive. Explore more of our podcasts and sign up to get newsletters for the latest news and top stories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fifteen year-olds can be… a lot. It's often when a rebellious streak first emerges, when a kid might start sneaking out, breaking curfew or perhaps,  skipping school and lying about their age to become an interpreter for the American soldiers occupying your hometown in Afghanistan. Or at least that's what being a teenager was like for Nasirullah Safi, who grew up in the Kunar Valley between Afghanistan and Pakistan, a land plagued by constant conflict and war. But guided by the advice of his father and the dreams of his mother, he left Kunar and found his way to another valley: the Willamette. Many Roads to Here is a production of The Immigrant Story.  This episode was produced, edited and hosted by Selene Ross. Audio post-production done by Gregg Palmer. The original interview was conducted by Sankar Raman in the fall of 2023. Many thanks to St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Beaverton, Oregon for the use of their space. This episode is a part of a series exploring the stories and experiences of Asian Americans. It is produced as part of the Oregon Rises Above Hate coalition and made possible by a generous contribution by Anne Naito-Campbell.  To learn more about the Oregon Rises Above Hate Coalition, please visit https://oregonrisesabovehate.com. For more stories, visit theimmigrantstory.org/manyroads, listen live at prp.fm, or stream us wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode of Bigfoot Society, host Jeremiah Byron talks to Dr. Ariyana Love, an investigative and medical journalist who details her extraordinary encounters with Sasquatch. The interview covers her experiences at the 2024 Sasquatch Summerfest in Oakridge, Oregon, and her telepathic communications with a Sasquatch named JJ. Dr. Love speaks on the Sasquatch's advanced intelligence, their role as protectors, and her near-death experience where JJ intervened. She also touches on her encounters with other mystical beings in the forest and the deep connections with Native American tribes who've had similar sightings and hold Sasquatch in high regard.Resources:Contact Dr. Ariyana Love here: metanutrients@mailfence.comphone number - 928-892-8736Set up a consultation here: https://calendly.com/drariyanaloveThe festival referred to in this interview is Sasquatch Summer Fest.You can get tickets here - https://www.sasquatchsummerfest.comUse code "BFS" to get a 2 day pass for the price of one day.Listen to Bill's side of the account here: https://youtu.be/cwxTP6RgkKM

DEFENDANT: George R.R. Martin EVIDENCE: House of the Dragon Cabernet Sauvignon SCENE OF THE CRIME: Westeros -- Welcome back, my fellow wine aficionados and Westeros wanderers! In today's True Crimes Against Wine, we're popping the cork on a special edition for all you Game of Thrones and House of Dragon fans. Picture this: the lush vineyards of Oregon meet the mystery of the Iron Throne. Are you intrigued yet? We're diving deep into the heart of the Willamette region, dissecting its finest Pinot Noir while musing over what makes this grape the 'heartbreak' of wines. Expect nothing less than a silky, seductive sip with just a whisper of vanilla and a gentle caress of French oak. Sounds like a perfect smooch in a glass, right? Stay tuned as we fumble our way through tasting notes, discuss the athletic prospects of netball (British listeners, isn't this a hoot?), and, oh yes, our vigorous debate on costumed characters from the Seven Kingdoms! Whether you're more of a Stark, Lannister, or Targaryen (or like us, just trying to not spill the wine), there's something in today's episode for every type of fan.

She's a force in the Oregon wine industry and incredibly talented winemaker. Trish interviews Kate Payne Brown - currently winemaker at Ambar Estate and partner at Vinovate Custom Wine. She also has her own label, Dolores Wines. Trish met Kate through the organization, Women in Wine and instantly picked up on the calm, cool wisdom she carries with her. Kate is a triplet, from the East Coast and moved to Salt Lake City as a youngster. She did not care much about wine (she wanted to be an eye doctor, in fact) until she worked at an urban winery in Portland. The rest is truly history from there and she explains her journey to Australia and then back to the Willamette where she thought she'd just work one little harvest. Trish refers to this interview as the chapters of Kate and her book in the wine industry.

Okay sorry this is a week late, it's genuinely not my fault it's Spotify's fault. I spent an insanely long amount of time editing this one (she's complex) just to have Spotify stop working when I went to upload which forced me to take a week long break in frustration. Happens to the best of us! Anyways, we're back with a follow up to the last episode! What is Futel really?? Who is behind the dream survey? How do you actually pronounce Willamette? All this and more will be answered in this episode! Here's some the same likes I posted last episode that you might find interesting: The website for Futel https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/ktp4wr/happy_valley_dream_survey/ https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2015/04/willamette_valley_survey_wants.html https://www.reddit.com/r/april30th2015/ https://www.reddit.com/r/5September2020/ Also, we are currently on twitter (https://x.com/Figureitoutpod_) and... substack (I lied lol actually I forgot but here's a link) Anyways, should we get back on instagram and TikTok ? Should we make a bluesky? A threads account even? Please let us know where you want to see us and we'll be there!  And finally, I'm still extremely serious about looking for an editor. We cannot pay you yet because we're too shy to monetize maybe one day you will get paid! If you're interested, contact Marlena directly for your best chance of it being seen or you can try to email us at figureitout.pod1@gmail.com

In this episode, host Zach Urness talks about a collection of stories including the start of winter recreation season, the controversial drawdowns at Green Peter Reservoir and some fun winter adventures including skiing, hiking at Silver Falls and celebrating "yurtmas" by touring Christmas lights at the Coast. The podcast features interviews from KLCC in Eugene and considers why a plan to save endangered salmon has become so controversial, while other topics include new waterfall hiking loops at Silver Falls State Park, record setting coho salmon runs and one of the state's most epic Christmas lights displays.

It's Willow Week here at the Slow Flowers Podcast and Alana Karam of Willamette Willows is my guest. Learn about the three distinct categories of willow plants and their markets – including cultivars suitable for basketry and woven garden structures, as well as the many varieties of curly willow and pussy willow loved by floral […] The post Episode 693 – The Wonderful World of Willows with Alana Karam of Willamette Willows appeared first on Slow Flowers Podcast with Debra Prinzing.

Send us a textTrader Joe's Reserve Willamette Pinot Gris 2023-Real Good...Try It!Pinoy Grigio and Pinot Gris are the same grape, Grigio is Italian and Gris is French.The Willamette Valley in Oregon has always produced PInot Griis wines.They are different styles from Pinot Grigio wines.  For more information look to https://cheapwinefinder.com/ and listen to the best value-priced PODCAST!!!Check us out at www.cheapwinefinder.comor email us at podcast@cheapwinefinder.com

Send us a textInscription Willamette Pinot Noir 2022-Wine Enthusiast #1 Wine Under $20The listed 100 value-priced wines that the Inscription was Numero Uno!Do I care what Wine Enthusiast Thinks?Not until I tasted the wines.Were they Right?If drinking this wrong, I don't want to be right! The Inscription, from King Estate, bridges the distance between value-priced and expensive Pinot Noir.For more information check out https://cheapwinefinder.com/ and listen to the best value-priced PODCAST!Check us out at www.cheapwinefinder.comor email us at podcast@cheapwinefinder.com

In this episode, host Zach Urness goes deep on the record coho salmon runs in the Upper Willamette Basin. Urness talks with Chris Kern, the west region manager for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, about what makes coho unique, why their numbers have been skyrocketing and how anglers can catch them.

It's Oct 2nd as I write. The Oak Island area on Sauvie Island, near Portland Oregon closed to recreational use for the season yesterday. For the coming Fall and Winter, it will serve as a haven for the birds, save for the occasional hunters. Last winter, when I brought my Soundwalk podcast to Substack, I embarked on a series touching down at certain points in the greater area I referred to as the Columbia Lowlands. I'm pleased to say I'm taking us back there, covering some spots that I didn't get to last time through. Lewis and Clark called this area the Wappato Valley, after the edible tuber, Wapato, that the Native Americans harvested here on Sauvie Island. The island was also named Wappato Island, the geographical center of Wappato Valley. (Both the double P spelling and the geographic names didn't really take.) Today, this area is also referred to as the Portland Basin.Oak Island in the early 1800s would have looked pretty similar to what it looks like now—only without pastures—and the name would have made more sense than it does today, because the land mass used to be surrounded by shallow lakes. Today it more resembles a peninsula. Like the lakes of the Columbia Bayou (slough) on north side of Portland, many lakes on Sauvie Island were drained in the early 1900's, and dikes were built, hardening the river bank. Now, as far as I know, the only marker honoring the stewardship of this land by Native Americans is found a few steps into the Oak Island Nature Trail. There you will see wood post with a line drawing of a two people in a canoe with a QR code underneath. Focusing on that QR code with a smartphone will pull up a page, offering the following:Two hundred years ago, Native Americans walked on this very spot. Each year, just before winter, tribes from up and down the Columbia and Willamette rivers gathered on Oak Island for a trading fair which included dancing and festivities.I want to know more about that. I want to imagine what that looked like, what that sounded like. Of the environmental sound, Capt. William Clark leaves only this description on November 5th, 1805, from the vicinity of Sauvie Island:I could not sleep for the noise kept by the Swans, Geese, white & black brant, Ducks etc. on a opposit base, & Sand hill Crane, they were emensely numerous and their noise horrid. Immensely numerous and horrid. Ha! We will hear numerous birds soon enough in our extended soundwalk survey. For now, on our Oak Island Road Soundwalk, we hear just a handful of bugling Sandhill Cranes, small flocks of geese, wintering songbirds, Pacific tree frogs and light rain showers. Anything but horrid to my ears. Dig a little deeper and you'll discover 200 years ago is just the tip of the iceberg. Native Americans lived in various village sites on the island dating back 2500 years; one thousand generations! (Archeological sites upriver near The Dalles increase that time horizon to human occupation of the area going back well over 10,000 years ago). And all they got was a QR code.How do we know Native Americans lived on Sauvie Island so long? Well, less than a mile south of Oak Island is Merrybelle Farm. Several archeological digs occurred here, beginning in 1958. Analyzing the projectile points and found here with others found on the island and throughout the region, Richard Pettigrew points to an estimated timeline of village occupation at the Merrybelle site from 600 BCE to 200 CE. There were 16 known village sites on Sauvie Island. Several have been the subject of formal archeological excavation. Many were picked over by amateur artifact collectors. Some were buried or partially buried under tons of dike soil. One was “sunken”, preserving woven baskets in the mud for up to 700 years. Today there's no physical reminder of the civilization that existed here before Euro-American settlers; no formal mention or marker, save for a recently renamed bridge. Wapato Bridge. It's a start. Scholars believe the Wapato Valley once sustained the highest population density north of Mexico in aboriginal times. Isn't this a story that should be told?In fourth grade we had a “Pioneer Day”. We came to school in costume: bonnets for the girls. Cowboy hats for boys. Did some boys bring toy guns? Did anyone dress up as an Indian? Seems plausible. We rolled out pasta from scratch, cutting broad noodles for chicken noodle soup “like the pioneers did”. We pledged allegiance to the flag every morning. We did not learn we were inhabiting what was once the cradle of the largest Native American population center, in the Portland Basin, in the United States. When I walk around on Sauvie Island, I try to picture the long house villages, and the multitude of dugout canoes. When I went paddleboarding on Sturgeon Lake a month ago my feet sank up to my calves in mud as I clumsily launched my craft. I imagined Wapato growing there, plentifully. I imagined Native Americans loosening the root bulbs with their toes, harvesting them in floating baskets. The land of plenty. People of the river.This soundwalk was recorded on mild December evening last year, on Oak Island Road, adjacent the Wildlife Area. There are half a dozen farm houses on this quiet spur road. It was very relaxing, and nourishing. I totally recommend this to anyone in the area. Like last time, the composition is almost entirely solo performances strung together. Four voices: piano, a clean Wurlitzer electric piano, a modified Wurlitzer electric piano, and a piano with heavy tape effects. All taking turns. It won't always be like this, though. In fact, next week I have a whole new direction I'm excited to unveil! Til then, thanks for reading, for listening, for joining me here.Oak Island Road Soundwalk is available on all streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple, Tidal, Amazon, YouTube…) today, Friday, October 4th. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chadcrouch.substack.com/subscribe

On this episode, Jules and Drea brave a Chardonnay just in time for spooky season and feature the “Un” Chardonnay from Oregon producer Division Winemaking Co. They learn all about Oregon's Willamette (dammit) Valley, talk about dirt, and imagine their best autumnal lives. Pairings include kale salads, pumpkin spice, and a truly unhinged ambush shewinegans. Cheers, witches.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit chadcrouch.substack.comAnd now we return to our soundwalk series on quiet spots in the city. This is part two of two. But before we get to that, I'd just like to take a minute to reflect on my journey to get here.On April 29, 2022 I released Chapman Beach Soundwalk. It was both extremely simple and, to me, experimental. It was in a nutshell: a natural soundscape with musical soundtrack. I had no basis to believe that the idea would commercially viable, and to be honest, while it has shown promise, it hasn't really caught on in a big way either. Still, I persuaded myself to keep doing it, as a practice. And so, here we are, two and a half years on, and we've come to soundwalk #50. Let me tell you, it is possible to be both proud and embarrassed at the same time. Proud because, well, fifty! Embarrassed because, well, you know—fifty. A string of 50 non-hits, if you will. At a good clip, too! So, for #50, we are rediscovering Reed Canyon, another “hidden” natural area near downtown Portland, Oregon. Type it into a mapping app, and it won't know where to go. This is because is not a nature park and is not public land. It's on the Reed College campus, and thankfully, the campus welcomes neighbors, near and far, who enjoy walking the trails that wind around the canyon's lake shore and through a wetland environment on its east end. The canyon was formed by Crystal Springs, which erupts from the broad plane of inner SE Portland next to huddle of buildings forming the Reed College Campus. According to a historical overview, surveys indicate Reed Lake is the oldest naturally occurring lake in Portland. That's not saying an awful lot, as Portland topography isn't especially dotted with lakes. It also depends on where you draw the city limits, of course. If anything, the city has filled in most of the lakes it once had, alongside the Willamette and Columbia Rivers. Let's go ahead and name those lakes, and when they were filled in, for posterity. I'd estimate Portland lost more than 75% of its total lake surface area in the last century. Historical Lakes of Portland, Oregon* Guild's Lake c. 1913-1926* Kittridge & Doane Lakes c. 1930* Mud Lake c. 1930* Switzler's Lake & Columbia Slough unnamed lakes c.1930* Ramsey Lake c. 1964* Mock's Bottom c.1980So, being able to walk around a natural lake in Portland anymore is a rare thing! And just to be clear, while the basin is natural, the Reed Lake water level has been maintained by a small dam built in 1929.This walk takes place on a drizzly leap year day—February 29th—of this past year. Winter and Spring are perhaps my favorite seasons here. Waterfowl motor around. Mallards, Buffleheads, Hooded Mergansers, Wigeon, Gadwall, and Canada Geese are all common visitors. Huge flocks of geese sometimes wheel overhead, attracted to the all-you-can-eat lawn buffet the campus provides just over the canyon rim. Songbirds sound so sweet here in this intimate and reverberant canyon, that you can easily forget that there's a city all around you.My composition features almost all solo performances of piano, unplugged Wurlitzer electric piano, a “soft clarinet” synth pad, and a “bottle” synth sound that I think sounds like droplets. Oh, and zither. All performed unrehearsed, warts and all. Why? Well, because, for now, it conveys what I want to convey; some alchemical expression forged in the naïveté—the grasping. Part of me thinks I'll eventually work myself out of a job here. Meaning, my music will become by degrees more spare and quiet and adrift that eventually all the will be left is the natural soundscape.It reminds me of a trope of architecture writers that goes something like, “The design sought to blend seamlessly with the landscape.” It seems like four out off five articles in Dwell magazine used parade that one out. Meanwhile, walls of glass and rectilinear volumes were de rigueur. There's a limit to the blending that can occur with that design language, and it's far from “seamless”.When you boil it down, I think it's pretty common to try and convince other people you are doing something thoughtfully, when really we're all just kind of clunky. Nothing is seamless. So why try and convince? Embrace Your Clunkiness! I say.Anyway, thanks for reading. I hope you can spend some quiet time with Reed Canyon Soundwalk. Or better, head on over there in real life, if you can. It's nice. You'll like it.Reed Canyon Soundwalk is available on all streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple, Tidal, Amazon, YouTube…) Friday, September 20th.

When the steamboat Gazelle reached the dock, the man in charge of its steam boilers leaped ashore and ran like a man being chased by demons. A few seconds later, the Gazelle exploded, killing 20 people. (Canemah, Clackamas County; 1850s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1307c-boiler-explosions-in-willamette-steamboats.html)

Dan, Janice and Jamie. Janis McDonald and Jamie Peters are here to talk about Winesong! 2024 on California Wine Country with Steve Jaxon and Dan Berger. Winesong! takes place Sept. 6-7, 2024 at the Little River Inn. It is the annual fund raiser for the Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation. First, Dan Berger has brought a cellar wine, as he usually does. This is a 2007 St. Supery Sauvignon Blanc. He normally doesn't age this wine so long, but at 17 years it is "yummy" with a little green apple flavor. Usually a SV will age 6 or 7 years.The event this year is at the Little River Inn. It is two days of wine tasting, auctions and music, over the weekend of September 6 and 7. Winesong! Began in 1985 as a small wine tasting in a parking lot and grew year after year. It has always been a benefit for health care on the north coast. Winesong! is a Spectacular Scene Dan Berger has been going to this event for a long time. The wineries that participate are specialized in making very high quality wine. The scenery is also spectacular on the site and all around in the area. Click the logo to visit Davis Bynum Wines. For several years Winesong has been in the botanical garden. That location is being reorganized and they hope to return there as early as next year. There is a strong sense of community at this event. Friends see each other there every year. Everyone enjoys supporting the Mendocino hospital and health care facilities. There are two musical groups. Tenor Madness, a jazz band, plays Friday. On Saturday a rock cover band called the Casper Kings will play hits from the 80s and later. Click the logo to visit our sponsor Rodney Strong for info on the 2024 Summer Concert series. Dan Berger notes that over the last 5 years, Anderson Valley wines have improved tremendously. So have Mendocino wines, generally, in the last decade. The tasting and the music, the food, all on Saturday. But Friday afternoon is the Pinot Noir celebration. It used to be just Anderson Valley Pinot Noirs but since 2015 they have opened it to other regions that make Pinot Noir, like Willamette, the Sonoma Coast and Central Coast. One thing that Dan appreciates about Winesong is that you get a chance to taste excellent wines from producers that you have never heard of before.

In this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, host Zach Urness returns to one of the state's great backyard gems — the Willamette Water Trail. Urness highlights his two favorite places to float and camp on the mainstem Willamette, that features surprisingly beautiful scenery, wildlife habitat and camps just a stone's throw from cities such as Eugene, Corvallis and Salem. Then, Urness plays an interview from 2021 with former Willamette Riverkeeper executive director Travis Williams — now with Willamette River Preservation Trust — about the best floats, history and things to know about being on the Willamette.

The Ross Island Lagoon, which sits in the center of the four-island complex known as Ross Island, is a byproduct of decades of mining. In addition to industrial purposes, the lagoon also has a long history of being used recreationally and provides habitat for a variety of vulnerable plant and animal species.In 2015, researchers began to see cyanobacterial blooms in the lagoon. Cyanobacteria is a type of bacteria which can pose a serious threat to the health of animals and people who come into close contact with the water. When present, it gives the water a bright green appearance.Because the lagoon is a warm, stagnant pool, it’s an ideal breeding ground for cyanobacteria. And it’s only getting warmer due to climate change. The tide from the Willamette pulls the cyanobacteria out into the river’s main flow, contaminating the rest of the water. The Oregon Health Authority routinely releases warnings urging against recreational river use during warmer seasons because of this.Since 2017, Oregon State University and the Willamette River group the Human Access Project have been working on reducing these Lagoon blooms. There is work being done by different groups to address the cyanobacterial blooms in the Ross Island Lagoon. Desirée Tullos, professor of Water Resources Engineering at Oregon State University, joins us to share more.

The Willamette River was running high and wild on the morning of Feb. 5, 1890, as Alden and Arthur Graham set out from Oregon City in their sternwheel riverboat for the daily run to Portland. They arrived in Portland in what must have been record time, dodging logs and small floating buildings along the way, and promptly canceled the return trip. It was just too dangerous to even try charging into the teeth of all the fast-moving debris. But after they arrived, they learned that theirs was the only riverboat between Willamette Falls and the Portland bridges — and there were some things floating down the river that could potentially damage or even destroy those bridges. So, back out into the torrent they went, to the rescue. (Oregon City, Clackamas County; 1890s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1912e.steamboat-culture-graham-line.html)

Braga, King, and Ski: :15: Gaming middle school baseball, reminding your parents to avoid scams. 14:50: Oregon baseball's run to the supers, joining a crappy conference, King hating Mexicans, Jeremiah Johnson joining Willamette. 31:23: Horrible WNBA discord, why the US acquired Alaska. 52:00: Top 3 NCAA field logos/sponsors.

Now that summer's nearly here, it's river week on City Cast Portland: We're looking at everything that's special about living next to the Willamette! We're kicking it all off by revisiting a conversation we had last summer with Noa Rubin, a community organizer for the paddle boarding group, SUP PDX. Noa has been kayaking and paddling vessels on the Willamette for more than 13 years. She's sharing tips for the best ways to safely enjoy getting out on the water. This episode first aired on August 3, 2023 Routes discussed in today's episode: George Rogers Park Ross Island Loop Willamette Narrows Willamette Falls Willamette Falls to St. Johns (or from Hawthorne Bridge) Become a member of City Cast Portland today! Get all the details and sign up here.  Who would you like to hear on City Cast Portland? Shoot us an email at portland@citycast.fm, or leave us a voicemail at 503-208-5448. Want more Portland news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Portland, and be sure to follow us on Instagram.  Looking to advertise on City Cast Portland? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the head of Willamette Riverkeeper, Travis Williams has worked to protect the river for much of his professional life. The environmental nonprofit’s efforts have been both wide and deep, from helping enforce the Clean Water Act, clearing up trash, restoring habitat, contributing to the Portland Harbor Cleanup, working to protect fish populations and preventing concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs, along waterways in Linn County.   Williams says the nonprofit is strong and does not expect any interruption in the work when he steps away in the coming months to focus on the Willamette River Preservation Trust. It’s a land trust focused on conserving creeks, rivers, floodplains, oak savanna, upland forests and more for the mid to northern Willamette Valley. We sit down with Williams about the health of the Willamette over the last two dozen years, and how his past work relates to his future plans.

Happy Friday! Thanks so much for tuning in for another episode of the Wet Net Podcast. If you haven't yet, please be sure to subscribe to our youtube, and follow/like us on facebook! these episodes can also be found on Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. On this weeks episode, Clayton gets to sit down and chat with Eric Swanson of Eric Swanson Outdoors. Eric was Born and raised in St. Helen's Oregon and has 9 years of experience as a local fishing guide. He's Extremely knowledgeable in fishing on the Columbia and Willamette river systems. Eric and Clayton chat about Lower Main Stem Columbia Springer Season, Current Reports on the Multnomah channel and Willamette river. Also make sure you listen through to find out what's next for Eric this season! Clayton also Reveals who the Winner is for the Giveaway that Includes: - Guided Fishing Trip for 2 (with Chase Martinsen, Home Water Guide Services) - Wild Fin Rod Holder - 2 Bottles of Ultimate Shrimp Cure - ColdWater Strong Bundle * Bleed Bag *Pro Troll Flashers ** Kokanee gang troll *18" Finesse Flasher Bumpers *12" Flasher Bumpers - Fish SOS RPG - Jar of Limited Coon Shrimp Have a Great Weekend and Tight Lines!

It should be no surprise that the historic town at the intersection of the Willamette and Clackamas rivers, where people have been gathering and celebrating since time immemorial, is a great place to spend the day. On this week's episode of Peak Northwest, we go out exploring Oregon City, a perfect day trip close to Portland, especially in the spring and summer when the town is buzzing and blooming with activity. It might be the city's cultural significance and history that's so appealing. Or it could be the good food scene, which always makes a day trip more enjoyable. Maybe it's just the charming Municipal Elevator, which takes pedestrians to the upper part of town. Listen along and then go find out for yourself what makes Oregon City so special. Here are some highlights from this week's show: Jamie explains why Oregon City has drawn him over the years. Coffee, a walk and a ride in the Municipal Elevator. Why the McLoughlin Promenade is the best thing in town. Exploring the many riverside parks in Oregon City and West Linn. Subscribe to Peak Northwest on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on City Cast Portland, we're talking about a recent report on the health of the Willamette River and our local coastal waters. We also have updates on stories from last week, including Commissioner Rene Gonzalez's backtracking on Mayor Ted Wheeler's updated camping ban, and redemption for a maligned executive producer. Joining host Claudia Meza on our midweek roundup is our very own producer, Giulia Fiaoni. Discussed in Today's Episode: Oregon Could Place Limits on River Trash, Ocean Acidification [OPB] The Portland Spirit Turns 30 Years Old [Willamette Week] Gonzalez's Punitive Camping Ban, Unfinished City Projects in SE, and Changing Public School Funding [City Cast Portland] Gonzalez Pares Back Camping Ban Proposal [Willamette Week]   High-Visibility Crossing at SE 80th and Stark [Montavilla News] Become a member of City Cast Portland today! Get all the details and sign up here.  Who would you like to hear on City Cast Portland? Shoot us an email at portland@citycast.fm, or leave us a voicemail at 503-208-5448. Want more Portland news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Portland, and be sure to follow us on Instagram.  Looking to advertise on City Cast Portland? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, host Zach Urness talks about the rebound of one of Oregon's most iconic fish from near extinction. Urness was interviewed by Think Out Loud host Dave Miller on Oregon Public Broadcasting about why this year's run of winter steelhead in the Upper Willamette Basin was so special. After their population nearly crashing in 2017, the sea-run trout returned their best numbers in two decades this year. The interview was based on a story Urness wrote on the subject titled: "Once in 'extinction vortex,' Willamette winter steelhead post best returns since 2004."

In 2017, fewer than 1,000 winter steelhead returned to the Upper Willamette Basin. That number has exploded to more than 7,600 so far this year. The returns are the highest since 2004. Zach Urness is the outdoors editor for the Statesman Journal and hosts the Explore Oregon podcast. He joins us with more on what’s behind the increase.

Live Nation Entertainment recently obtained an exclusive contract to host live performances at Providence Park, and is now in talks with a local developer for a massive music venue on the Willamette's east bank, with capacity for 3,000 people. Though a waterfront music venue might sound amazing, local music advocates, including venue owners, are worried. Today we're talking with MusicPortland board member Jamie Dunphy about why so many people in the local music scene are saying that Live Nation venues could damage Portland's beloved music scene.  Become a member of City Cast Portland today! Get all the details and sign up here.  Who would you like to hear on City Cast Portland? Shoot us an email at portland@citycast.fm, or leave us a voicemail at 503-208-5448. Want more Portland news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Portland, and be sure to follow us on Instagram.  Looking to advertise on City Cast Portland? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise. City Cast is seeking a Director of Finance to develop our financial operations, lead finance strategy, and oversee finance and accounting. Get all the details here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, host Zach Urness takes listeners to the snowy wonderland of Willamette Pass, a great place to visit during the spring snow season. Even as the days get warmer and longer, there is still lots of snow on Oregon's mountain passes, which makes for a fun recreation season for skiing, snowshoeing and other activities. Urness highlights a rustic lodge to spend the night, wooden shelters hidden in backcountry snow and even hot springs to enjoy about an hour southeast of Eugene.

IN THE SMALL hours of the morning of Aug. 16, 1906, a powerful explosion jolted residents awake near the little town of Willamette, which today is a neighborhood of West Linn. It came from the direction of the nearby Tualatin River. The cause was soon discovered. When the first rays of the morning sun fell on the Oregon Iron and Steel Co.'s diversion dam, located a little over three miles from the river's mouth, a 20-foot-wide hole had been blasted in its center. The river water was still gushing through it. Executives of the Oregon Iron and Steel Co. were outraged. In newspaper interviews the next day, they pledged that the dam would be speedily rebuilt, and for weeks afterward newspapers like the Hillsboro Argus and the Oregon City Enterprise ran advertisements from the company offering a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest of whoever blew it up. They also fanned out around the neighborhood of farmers and residents along the Tualatin River upstream from the dam, making the same offer. But nobody seemed to know anything. Most of the residents wouldn't even admit to having heard the blast. They all knew, of course. Some of them had been in the party that had crept up to the dam in the pre-dawn darkness, set the charge, and touched it off.... (Lake Oswego, Clackamas County; 1900s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/24-01.tualatin-dam-dynamited.html)