Jarod Jebousek — Partnerships Make Conservation Possible in Oregon’s Treasured Willamette Valley
By: Usfws Columbia Pacific Northwest Region
Tags: Willamette Valley, Cool Jobs, Profle, Conservation, Wildlife

What led to the success of these partnerships?

I think a major aspect of the successes of this effort has been the trust established between FWS programs, which has maximized our ability to achieve conservation. This is not always easy, but the success of this effort has shown that it’s possible and effective. The OFWO trusts that the WVNWRC and partners have the knowledge and desire to be successful in restoration and management and a good investment of recovery program resources. Refuges and associated programs trust that the OFWO is doing all it can to streamline processes and provide what tools, funding, plant materials, and support that is available to allow the Service to be a good partner to cooperating entities. Consistency of key staff are an important part of this.

It has taken many years and the combined efforts of many individuals to help in the recovery of these species. Chris Seal, another Partners for Fish and Wildlife Biologist, and I currently lead Partners Program efforts on non-refuge lands and have been working in these habitats, on these species, with these partners for the past 20 years. In that time, we have worked with more than 40 landowners that have populations of Fender’s blue butterfly and Bradshaw’s desert parsley on their property.

Leadership at the WVNWRC has been consistent and dedicated to building these partnerships. Over the last 20 years, the Refuge Biologist has changed only once and Project Leader only twice. And, the equipment operator at Baskett Slough NWR, who has a wildlife science degree, has also been there for 20 years. Key staff at the OFWO, Mikki Collins and Jeff Dillion have worked on these species for the last 20 years. And, many other key positions have been here for a decade or more. This is a huge amount of institutional knowledge and interpersonal relationships that has led to this trust within and between Service programs as well as the external partners that have made this all possible.

Prairie management at Willamette Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex, credit: Nate Richardson/USFWS

What is one of your best memories from working in the field?

I really enjoy seeing the landowners we have worked with become spokespersons for conservation work. When they are inspired and start advocating to other landowners that they should do restoration as well, it feels like we are creating a legacy that will last much longer than our project. Getting to see one of our landowners give a presentation to 100 people about their project makes me feel like I’ve had a lasting effect.

How has the Covid-19 pandemic affected this work?

COVID-19 has added a lot of logistical issues. We have a crew of excellent equipment operators who utilize refuge-owned equipment to get much of our work done. Sharing of this equipment among multiple operators has become more time consuming as we try not to quickly switch out operators plus disinfecting equipment, etc. Carpooling has become a thing of the past. We often need to have equipment at field sites for several days so there is a need for vehicle shuttling. Spouses have actually been signing up as volunteers to assist with shuttling vehicles in order to prevent staff from having to ride together. I meet so many people and visit so many landowners that I still have not gotten used to not shaking people’s hands. Despite these challenges, we have had good leadership willing to adapt our practices so conservation and habitat restoration work can continue.