NPSO 2015 Annual Meeting

May 29-31, Hood River, Oregon

UPDATES AND REMINDERS, APRIL 14

The registration fee increases from $30 to $45 on May 1. To attend the banquet, you must register by May 20. If you must cancel your registration, please notify us at annualmeeting@npsoregon.org. No refunds will be issued after May 1.

Students interested in NPSO-sponsored travel funds should contact annualmeeting@npsoregon.org .

Before preferencing your field trips on the registration form, please check the Field Trip section to determine which field trips are NOT marked "FULL".


Quercus garryana var. garryana –Mill Creek hillside south of The Dalles, OR. - Dell Rhodes

The 2015 Annual Meeting, sponsored by the Mid-Columbia Chapter, will be held May 29 –31 in Hood River. Hood River is located 65 miles east of Portland via Interstate 84, at the confluence of the Hood and Columbia Rivers.

The Hood River environs include parts of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, the Mt Hood National Forest (OR) and the Gifford-Pinchot National Forest (WA). The area is characterized by diverse climates, from the semi-arid deserts of eastern Oregon to the wetter valleys of the Cascades. The varied landscape includes basalt cliffs and waterfalls along the Columbia River as well as bogs, meadows, windswept slopes and high desert flats. Two prominent features are Mount Hood at 11,250’ 40 miles south and Mount Adams at 12,280’ 40 miles north of Hood River.

The variety of habitats and elevations supports over 800 species of forbs in the Columbia River Gorge alone, including 15 found nowhere else in the world. Of these, there is a good chance that Hood River Milk-Vetch (Astragalus hoodianus), Suksdorf's Desert Parsley (Lomatium suksdorfii), Barrett’s Penstemon (Penstemon barrettiae), Columbia Gorge Broadleaf Lupine (Lupinus latifolius x sericeus), and possibly at higher elevations Poet’s Shooting Star (Dodecathon poeticum) will be in bloom during the annual meeting. The foliage and seed heads of Columbia Desert Parsley (Lomatium columbianum) will be evident. Sedges and grasses will also be appearing. As Russ Jolley, author of “Wildflowers of the Columbia Gorge” points out, “The Gorge, with its wide range of elevations and microclimates is home to more species of flowering plants than any other region in the Pacific Northwest.”

There is much to do in the area for families or others who are not inclined to examine trailside botanical treasures. Hood River is a popular destination for wind surfers, kite boarders, kayakers, river rafters, bicyclists, and hikers from all over the world. In recent years, the area has become a wine- and cider-tasting destination. See the “Resources” section of this website for links to information about these activities. Because of the recreational attractions of the area, lodging reservations should be made as early as possible.

The meeting proper will occur in the Best Western Plus Hood River Inn (BWHR Inn), which sits on the shore of the Columbia River just east of the Hood River Bridge. The bridge provides easy access to areas on the Washington (north) side of the Columbia River. Oregon Highway 35 runs south from Hood River through the Hood River Valley. I-84 (on the Oregon side) and Hwy 14 (on the Washington side) run east/west through the Gorge, parallel to the Columbia River.

Among the plans for this year’s annual meeting are outings on both Friday and Sunday in addition to a full roster of field trips on Saturday. In addition to hikes, these field trips include visits to local native plant nurseries & restoration sites and an educational outing to collect and identify lichens. Friday night, following a buffet of hors d’oeuvres at the BWHR Inn, there will be a presentation by Jeanette Burkhardt, Watershed Planner for the Yakama Nation Fisheries. She will discuss local restoration efforts in the area, including those occasioned by the recent removal of the Condit Dam from the White Salmon River. The featured address after the Saturday night banquet will be given by Keith Karoly, Professor of Biology at Reed College in Portland. Keith will speak on the ecology and evolution of wildflower colors.

Look for more detailed information on registering for the Annual Meeting in the February issue of the Bulletin and for more information on all topics under the appropriate header on this website. The Mid-Columbia Chapter looks forward to your participation in the 2015 Annual meeting.

If you have unanswered questions, please contact: annualmeeting@npsoregon.org


Astragalus hoodianus and Toxicoscordion paniculatum WA Hwy 14.
Photo by Dell Rhodes

Lomatium columbianum and L. grayi.
Photo by Dell Rhodes

If you have questions that aren't answered here, send email to annualmeeting@npsoregon.org.

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