McKenzie Masters

McKenzie Masters The McKenzie Masters group formed 30 years ago as a way for fishing enthusiasts and local river guides to give back to the river they love and enjoy so much.

What began 30 years ago as a group of river guides, avid fishermen and golfers coming together for an informal annual fundraiser has evolved into a non-profit organization dedicated to raising money for the McKenzie river watershed and communities!! In the early days it was a rather informal group that eventually decided to create a formal 501C3 non-profit organization as the growing fundraising e

fforts necessitated a more formal establishment. Until recently all of our fundraising efforts took place at our annual invitational event where the guides and our members come together in celebration. We fish one day, golf another, eat great food and celebrate each other and the river, while our silent and oral auctions result in thousands of dollars raised. Our primary mission has always been to raise money to support our beloved McKenzie River, communities, guides association, schools, watershed agencies and any other support projects for the river. We are a small but mighty group that manages to raise thousands of dollars for these organizations and projects over the years. The Masters has long supported some of the most high impact, influential organizations in the disaster relief, post fire recovery, education and riparian restoration efforts. Many members of the Masters support these groups by serving on their boards of directors and donating to them outside of their Masters contribution. These include The McKenzie River Trust, The McKenzie Watershed Council, The McKenzie River Discovery Center and The McKenzie Guides Association. In the wake of the Holiday Farm Fire and the devastation it created in our beloved McKenzie River watershed the need for funding and giving has never been greater!!! Our goals have shifted as we are now dedicating our efforts and fundraising to keep the river navigable, accessible, safe, while boosting the local economy! While we can't replace the lost homes, towns or trees we can do our part to give back to the communities and river we love so much!!

FYI
02/28/2025

FYI

Deputies said the debris has completely blocked the river near Fish Rock.

11/29/2023

The movie Oregon's Boat has received a $15,000 matching grant. You can help complete this documentary by donating today and double your input to help this worthy documentary get completed.

HERE'S HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED
* Visit our donation page at oregonsboat.org
*Make a contribution of any amount you can generously give.
*Your donation is automatically doubled, thanks to the matching grant.

06/02/2021

We pushed away from the launch at Silver Creek, two McKenzie River wooden driftboats on the river where the driftboat was conceived and crafted. In Ken Helfrich’s boat, I tied

05/25/2021

Goodpasture Bridge in May
Wooden Boat built by Jayson Hayes

04/17/2021

Doesn’t get much better than some quality father-son time on the river! .hogan.777

02/05/2021

In 2020, we made a donation to The McKenzie River Restoration Fund. The Holiday Farm Fire burned 170,000+ acres of the McKenzie River Valley in an unstoppable firestorm. Over 400 homes and recreation sites throughout the valley were destroyed. This beautiful & complex watershed is home to many Oregon and Idaho guides who lost their homes, boats, and a good chunk of their livelihood during an already difficult year.

In the months since the fire, The Fund has been financing guides to float the river and remove dangerous debris. They are working with the local utility co. and other conservation groups to prevent damaged homes and other garbage from washing into the river. Extensive rebuilding, such as boat ramps and vital infrastructure, is needed to restore this amazing river and the community and guides that it supports. State agencies are committed to hiring guides to undertake many of these tasks and restore the river corridor for both residents and visitors.

We felt tremendous sorrow over the devastation of this river community that is so intertwined with Idaho river communities. Many of the McKenzie guides also guide, both presently and in the past, on many of our beloved Idaho rivers. As we support Idaho guides, it was a natural extension to help ensure the health of the McKenzie guide community.

The McKenzie Masters Foundation is partnering with the McKenzie River Trust, Eugene Water and Electric Board, Lane County, the McKenzie Community Development Corporation, Lane County Sheriff’s Marine Office, US Fish and Wildlife, the McKenzie River Discovery Center, and the McKenzie River Guides Association. These various agencies comprise a steering committee to determine the best use of donated $$, identify necessary projects, and employ the local guides in accomplishing these goals. This outreach to the McKenzie River guiding community has touched the lives of so many. And our favorite part… helping put local guides back on the water.

📸 Helfrich Outfitters

Here are several photos taken by one of our members on a recent float down the McKenzie that show some of the hazards th...
01/08/2021

Here are several photos taken by one of our members on a recent float down the McKenzie that show some of the hazards that we will be removing. Our goal is to keep the river safe and navigable for guides and the public alike! We appreciate all of your generous support thus far as this is going to be a long ongoing project!!!

As a side note we are not only dedicated to the removal of these hazards but we will also be reaching out to the community to let people know where existing hazards are located. We want to keep our beloved McKenzie safe for all those who recreate on the river!

01/08/2021

The McKenzie Masters would like to give a a shout out and thanks for support given to us by The Redside Foundation (Idaho) towards our McKenzie River Restoration fundraising effort! We certainly can't do this alone and support from like minded organizations like ours will be key to the success of this project. We thank you for helping our cause Redside Foundation!!!

Address

975 Oak Street, Suite 700
Eugene, OR
97401

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