Guest Speakers

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Nature Matters: Where Nature and Culture Meet

A lively monthly conversation about the intersection of nature and culture, takes place on the fourth Thursdays of the month at 7 p.m., October through May, at the Fort George Brewery + Public House in Astoria, Oregon. Doors open at 6 p.m. to purchase dinner or beverages at the George before the event. The series delves into the many ways that human beings look to the natural world for inspiration, sustenance and survival - the intersection of nature and culture. The collaborative series is hosted by Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, Lewis & Clark National Park Association and the North Coast Watershed Association in partnership with the Fort George Brewery + Public House and is free to the public.

Nature Matters talk on Thursday, April 24, 2025

Role of Fire in Ecoystem Health

Join us for April’s Nature Matters to explore the history of wildfire on the Oregon Coast and how local organizations are harnessing fire as a tool in conservation, protection and restoration using case studies. The talk will begin with Aaron Groth, regional fire specialist, who will share an historical lens of fire on the coast using archival research and interviews. Nathan Johnson, Southwest Region Steward for Washington State Parks, will present how parks use fire as a tool in restoring native sand dune vegetation communities and habitat for snowy plover and streaked horned lark. Morgan Davis, Natural Resource Specialist with the Oregon Army National Guard will present information about the use of prescription fire at Camp Rilea meeting their organization’s goals.

Zach Bigelow, Habitat Restoration Project Manager at Columbia River Estuary Study Taskforce, will showcase recent efforts at West Sand Island to combat invasive species and restore native habitat.

Aaron Groth is the regional fire specialist for the North Coast within the OSU Forestry and Natural Resources Extension Fire Program. He works with communities as well as local, state, federal, private, and nonprofit partners at different scales across the Coast to provide education and foster fire resilient communities and landscapes. He has worked for local, state, and federal agencies, international cooperation, nonprofits, and served as an Environmental Peace Corps Volunteer in Peru.

Nate Johnson is responsible for managing natural resources in State Parks throughout southwest Washington including much of the outer coast. He is a nationally qualified burn boss and has conducted over 450 prescribed fires primarily on prairies of the south Salish Sea. After being handed a chainsaw on his first fire assignment on Molokai, HI, Nate never looked back. Raised outside Boston, Nate was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Morocco from 2007-2009.

Zach Bigelow is a Habitat Restoration Project Manager at the Columbia River Estuary Study Taskforce (CREST). He works with state, federal, non-profit, community and private partners to coordinate landscape-scale restoration projects regionally, with an emphasis on Oregon’s North Coast. He is administering a joint project with USACE and OWEB on West Sand Island, with the goal of restoring imperiled coastal prairie habitat to aid in the recovery of Oregon Silverspot Butterflies, Streaked Horned Larks, and other prairie-loving species. Zach worked as a park ranger at Mt. Rainier National Park for the last decade restoring sensitive subalpine meadow habitat, and has worked in Alaska, Hawai’i, and the Pacific combating invasive species and protecting the incredible natural heritage of these beautiful landscapes.

Morgan Davis works as a natural resource specialist with the Oregon Army National Guard (ORARNG). The ORARNG has land throughout Oregon with many unique and diverse landscapes from Coastal prairies and forests to the shrub steppe of the Columbia basin. Working as a NWCG qualified Fire Effects Monitor he has been a part of prescribed fires throughout Oregon, Maine and Florida. Being able to work around and in so many different ecosystems throughout the United Stated has been a great and rewarding experience as well adding to his overall understanding of how to put good fire on the ground. Morgan is able to bring this knowledge to assist in achieving the goals of the National Guard by continuing to provide healthy landscapes that meet the needs for soldier training and readiness throughout the state.

 

Upcoming Nature Matters Discussions:

May 22, 2025 - Violas and Silverspots - Graham Klag and Robert Michael Pyle