Meet the Team
Shelley Tattam - Chair
Shelley grew up in California and Washington, prior to attending the University of Oregon for college. Her interest in ecology led her from Eugene to a graduate degree at the University of Central Missouri. After finishing her Master's, she moved to Northeast Oregon in 2010 for a series of fisheries science jobs in Prairie City, John Day and then La Grande. Shelley now works full time in her most important job yet, mom to adventuresome toddler Gus.
Shelley grew up in California and Washington, prior to attending the University of Oregon for college. Her interest in ecology led her from Eugene to a graduate degree at the University of Central Missouri. After finishing her Master's, she moved to Northeast Oregon in 2010 for a series of fisheries science jobs in Prairie City, John Day and then La Grande. Shelley now works full time in her most important job yet, mom to adventuresome toddler Gus.
Tavis Forrester - Vice Chair
Dr. Tavis Forrester is a wildlife research biologist for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife where he leads research on the ecology of predators and the effects of predator interactions on predator-prey dynamics. Tavis grew up in southern Oregon and after obtaining a degree in Wildlife Science from Oregon State University went on to study wildlife in Oregon, California, Alaska, and Virginia. Before moving to La Grande Tavis was a conservation biologist at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute where he was the manager for eMammal, a large-scale citizen science project focused on camera trap surveys of mammals. Tavis is passionate about connecting people to the natural world, and worked as an outdoor educator for five years in his early career. He has led outdoor outings for kids in wild areas around La Grande, and is excited to help BMC expand their growing outdoor education program. On his free time Tavis can be found backpacking, fly fishing, hunting, birding, or taking his kids outside.
Dr. Tavis Forrester is a wildlife research biologist for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife where he leads research on the ecology of predators and the effects of predator interactions on predator-prey dynamics. Tavis grew up in southern Oregon and after obtaining a degree in Wildlife Science from Oregon State University went on to study wildlife in Oregon, California, Alaska, and Virginia. Before moving to La Grande Tavis was a conservation biologist at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute where he was the manager for eMammal, a large-scale citizen science project focused on camera trap surveys of mammals. Tavis is passionate about connecting people to the natural world, and worked as an outdoor educator for five years in his early career. He has led outdoor outings for kids in wild areas around La Grande, and is excited to help BMC expand their growing outdoor education program. On his free time Tavis can be found backpacking, fly fishing, hunting, birding, or taking his kids outside.
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Ben Walker - Treasurer
Bio coming soon... |
Our Mission...
Blue Mountains Conservancy is a local land trust dedicated to promoting stewardship of private and public lands for the preservation of the rural character and natural legacy of NE Oregon.
Preservation of open space and permanent protection of open lands from development has become a priority that unites both traditional conservationists and family farmers and ranchers. The Blue Mountains Conservancy is dedicated to supporting landowners in Northeast Oregon wishing to protect their lands from unwanted development and protect critical wildlife habitat. We can assist landowners with placing conservation easements on working or natural lands, including farm, ranch and forestlands.
Organizational History: Blue Mountains Conservancy was founded by a dedicated group of volunteers who came together initially in support of two projects, to build a foundation to insure perpetual stewardship of the End Creek wetland, and to help facilitate a solution with Union County that would transfer 3,700 acres of privately owned industrial timberland to public ownership and guarantee public access in perpetuity (MERA).
End Creek: In the first three years, the Conservancy sought grants and volunteer contributions aggressively, and developed a large-scale educational and research program around the End Creek wetland. In partnership with Eastern Oregon University, many students and faculty have been involved in furthering the wetland restoration, studying the ecological recovery of the area, and understanding the important role that private lands can play in conservation of natural resources and biological diversity.
MERA: When Boise Cascade divested itself of its industrial timber lands in Union County, an area close to La Grande that had been used extensively for recreation (hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, hunting, ATV riding, mushroom picking, etc…) was placed on the market. The area was destined to be sold in 240 acre parcels and public access would have been lost. The newly-formed BMC board hoped to help negotiate a purchase of the property that would have retained the timber and high quality esthetic values of the property. Ultimately, Union County acquired an Oregon State Parks ATV grant to purchase the property, but not the timber value. Consequently, the area now know as the Mt. Emily Recreation Area (MERA) is county-owned and operated primarily as an ATV park, with a smaller area (700 acres) set aside for non-motorized recreation. Logging proceeded on an industrial scale. Lannce Colburn, founding BMC board secretary, serves as the Chair of the citizen’s advisory board for the MERA.
Through these initial efforts, the BMC established it’s foundations within Union County. We now seek to expand to Baker and Grant Counties where we have received inquiries for information regarding conservation easements from private landowners in these adjacent counties which currently are not served by regional trusts.
Our current primary goal is to develop and enhance the professional capacity of the BMC to allow it to become fiscally sustainable and able to promote private land conservation throughout the Blue Mountains ecological province. Help us reach our financial goals and become a member today!