Field Trips
The field trips offered at the TLEF are often a highlight of the event. It is a way to spend time with Tribal colleagues and do a deep dive into some of the media we cover during the forum. This year we are excited to be able to offer a fantastic selection of field trips on Monday, August 12.
Please scroll down for the descriptions of each field trip. Complete the Google Form at the bottom of this page to request a spot on field trip.
The field trip request form will close on July 19th and attendees will be notified of their status on, or before, July 29th.
Monday Field Trips
Black Butte Mine Superfund Site:
Monday: 8:00am-5:00pm
Join us for a visit to the Black Butte Mine Superfund Site, about 45 minutes south of Eugene. This site saw mercury mining from 1880s into the 1960s, which has left tailings, mining waste, and metals contamination at the mine and in downstream areas including biota. The downstream Cottage Grove Reservoir has an Oregon Health Authority fish advisory due to the mercury levels found in fish. There is no responsible party so EPA is currently leading the Superfund work on site, which is currently in the Remedial Investigation phase. We will be visiting two of the three Operable Units – OU1 Black Butte Mine operational area (which includes the abandoned underground mine, adit, and tailings and is adjacent to two creeks) and OU3 Cottage Grove Reservoir (where you will see wetlands that are near the confluence of the Coast Fork Willamette River) while driving through OU2 along the Coast Fork Willamette River. This site is on the ancestral lands of the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua & Siuslaw, Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, and Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. In addition to the site Remedial Project Manager (Jennifer Crawford), you’ll be joined by a USGS research ecologist (Collin Eagles-Smith) to discuss the site food web, an EPA mining geochemist (Chris Eckley) who has worked extensively on understanding mercury processes at the site, and an Oregon DEQ hydrogeologist (Bryn Thomas) who has been working on this site for a long time and is also a Eugene local. Please be aware this field trip requires some uphill hiking and walking on unstable surfaces at the mine site. Be sure to wear good shoes and bring plenty of water and snacks!
Wetland Restoration, Kalapuya Culture, and Native Plants:
Monday: 8:00am - 12:00pm
Our friends at Beyond Toxics have put together an amazing field trip for you! You will start with a visit to the Wetlands of the Kalapuya mural and a discussion about their stewardship project at the Westmoreland Wetlands. You will also meet with a storyteller who is a Kalapuya descendant and member of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. From there you will meet the city of Eugene’s ecologist for a tour of the wetlands to learn more about local restoration projects. Next you will visit the Native Plant Nursery, at Alton Baker Park. After touring the nursery you will then get a tour of some of the Kalapuya Talking Stones with a Grand Rode Tribal Elder. This is going to be a wonderful opportunity to meet some great people addressing toxic contamination, see first hand some great cleanup and restoration projects, and learn more about the stories and culture of the Kalapuya people.
Recycling in Lane County with Saint Vincent de Paul Society
Monday: 1:00pm-3:45pm
We are really excited to offer a multifaceted recycling tour of facilities run by St. Vincent de Paul, an internationally known leader in the recycling industry. This organization is heavily involved in providing recycling services in the Eugene area, and they will be taking you to three different operations they run – a mattress and Styrofoam recycling facility, then an operation focused on appliance and white goods recycling, and finally their Seneca Clothing Processing warehouse. This will be a great opportunity to visit a large scale recycling operation and get some ideas that you might be able to use back at your own Nations and Tribes. Please keep in mind you will be touring three different warehouses and operations will require a good amount of walking. If you have any mobility issues please let us know so we can work with the tour hosts.
tumwata village: Brownfields and Restoration with Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
Monday: 8:00am-3:30pm
In 2019 the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde purchased 23 acres of land that are of significant historical and cultural interest to them. After the Willamette Valley Treaty of 1855, Tribal members were forcibly removed from the areas around Willamette Falls. But now, they are in the process of cleaning up a former paper mill site at Willamette Falls, restoring the natural habitat, and creating new opportunities and facilities for their members and others. The work they have already accomplished, and their plans for the future, are extremely inspiring and informative. We are excited to have Grand Ronde staff offer this special site visit to show TLEF their current work and discuss how they got to this point. Please be aware this is an active site, and all attendees accepted to join the trip will need to sign a liability waiver prior to arrival.
UST Inspection Field Trip to 7 Feathers Truck & Travel Center
Monday: 9:00am-3:00pm
Ben Thomas, of UST Training, will lead a half-day field trip to the 7 Feathers Truck and Travel Center, run by the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua. During this visit you will get an overview of UST systems in real world conditions. You will learn what to look for during a compliance inspection, how to perform a monthly walk-through inspection, how to query an automatic tank gauge, and more!