Upper Willamette Soil & Water Conservation District

Upper Willamette Soil & Water Conservation District Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Upper Willamette Soil & Water Conservation District, 3291 W 1st Avenue, Eugene, OR.

The Upper Willamette SWCD works with people and community organizations in central and eastern Lane County to protect and improve water quality and soil health and to protect local farms and forest lands for future generations. Together with its predecessors, The Upper Willamette Soil and Water Conservation District addresses the following natural resource issues:

Soil erosion of cropland
Animal

waste management
Ground water contamination
Riparian restoration
Wildlife habitat
Forest management
Wetland restoration and preservation
Soil health

The UWSWCD facilitates technical and financial assistance to landowners utilizing various sources of federal, state, local, and private funding.

Our offices are closed today in observation of , the day in 1865 when enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation was ...
06/19/2026

Our offices are closed today in observation of , the day in 1865 when enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation was announced in Galveston, TX, by Union General Gordon Granger...more than TWO YEARS after the Proclamation was issued, liberating Black people who had been held in slavery.

Red foods like strawberries are often found at Juneteenth celebrations because the color symbolizes resilience and the blood shed by the enslaved.

When you water your garden, it's better to water deeply and less often because that helps your plants to develop stronge...
06/19/2026

When you water your garden, it's better to water deeply and less often because that helps your plants to develop stronger roots and to be more resilient to hot, dry days. Watering shallowly encourages shallow roots. Also, watering in the early morning or late afternoon reduces evaporation, keeping water where it's needed most.



(Photo CC by Denise Krebs)

For many, this will be a long holiday weekend as folks observe and celebrate Juneteenth. It's looking like the weather w...
06/18/2026

For many, this will be a long holiday weekend as folks observe and celebrate Juneteenth. It's looking like the weather will be a bit better for spending time out in nature...and not hiding from 90+ degree temperatures! Lots of native wildflowers are in bloom, too. If you happen to walk near an area that has been managed with prescribed fire, you might see these beautiful flowers: they are golden paintbrush (Castilleja levisecta). They are a threatened plant species that are being successfully reintroduced to upland prairie habitat.

Shoutout to Mount Pisgah Arboretum's newsletter for the inspiration for this post. If you're not subscribed, you're missing out!

(Photo CC by M.E. Sanseverino)

Mulch is one of your garden's best friends in hot dry weather. Covering bare soil with a layer of bark mulch, compost, l...
06/18/2026

Mulch is one of your garden's best friends in hot dry weather. Covering bare soil with a layer of bark mulch, compost, leaves or wood chips helps to keep moisture in the soil and keeps soil temperature more stable. Your garden will thank you as the mulch breaks down over time, adding to the richness of your soil.



(Photo CC by Steve Hirst)

When dry, hot weather arrives, it's a good time to check your watering systems. Look for clogged or broken sprinklers or...
06/17/2026

When dry, hot weather arrives, it's a good time to check your watering systems. Look for clogged or broken sprinklers or drip hoses, and leaks around the fittings or valves. Also check sprinkler positions and make sure you're not watering the sidewalk or other impermeable surfaces - your plants need the water a lot more!

Using soaker hoses or drip irrigation in your garden beds and around trees and shrubs will save water by decreasing evaporation and delivering water to where it's needed most.



(Photo CC by Jess Kusine)

Observation is an important part of conservation work. The McKenzie River Trust has worked hard to restore this special ...
06/16/2026

Observation is an important part of conservation work. The McKenzie River Trust has worked hard to restore this special stretch of the McKenzie River and now they're checking their work and learning from the outcomes. Head over to their profile to learn more:

Observation is an important part of conservation work. The McKenzie River Trust has worked hard to restore this special ...
06/16/2026

Observation is an important part of conservation work. The McKenzie River Trust has worked hard to restore this special stretch of the McKenzie River and now they're checking their work and learning from the outcomes.

"Before gold prospectors arrived in southwest Oregon’s Rogue Basin in 1852, the forest floor was regularly burned by lig...
06/16/2026

"Before gold prospectors arrived in southwest Oregon’s Rogue Basin in 1852, the forest floor was regularly burned by lightning and by the Shasta, Takelma and Athabaskan peoples.

This natural approach improved watershed and forest health while propagating First Foods like camas, medicines and materials for basket weaving, said Brown, a member of the Kosealekte Band of the Pit River Tribe and Northern Paiute descendant."

Read more here: https://bit.ly/449netU

Summer weather is DEFINITELY here and with it, high temperatures and stressed gardens. It's going to be a dry summer too...
06/15/2026

Summer weather is DEFINITELY here and with it, high temperatures and stressed gardens. It's going to be a dry summer too and that means water conservation is going to be even more important. Let's start with the basics, right in your home. First of all, keep an eye on your water use from month to month. A sudden increase may indicate a leak. Finding and fixing leaks early can save a lot of water - hundreds of gallons, even.

Common leaks include running toilets, dripping faucets and leaking valves. You can check for leaks by checking your water meter, not using any water for a couple of hours, and then checking again. If the reading has changed, you may have a leak. Getting leaks fixed will save both water and your money - and leave more water in the rivers for fish and wildlife.

Address

3291 W 1st Avenue
Eugene, OR
97402

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+15418526680

Website

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