Wetlands are a vital part of life. Wetlands filter runoff water, reduce flooding, mitigate drought, act as a nursery for countless young organisms, and support migratory wildlife.  We can best protect natural systems if we know and love them, and we cannot do that without personally experiencing their beauty and complexity. Astoria High School teacher Lee Cain has taught science and played  with his family  in the Lower Columbia Estuary for over 3 decades. In 1998, seeking a way to get 9th grade science students immersed in the ecology concepts they were studying, he began a wetland monitoring project at the mouth of the Lewis & Clark River. Twenty-seven years later the project is still an annual event, made possible by the 100’s of hours of volunteer scientists and community members. The project has uncovered some expected trends and some surprising ones. He will be sharing these trends as well as some of the images and lessons learned from the project.

The May 28th Nature Matters presentation takes place at 7 p.m. in the Lovell Taproom at the Fort George Brewery. The event is free and open to the public. Doors will open at 6 p.m. for those wanting to purchase dinner or beverages before the event. 

Nature Matters, a lively conversation about the intersection of nature and culture, takes place on the fourth Thursday of each month from October through May. Nature Matters is co-hosted by the North Coast Watershed Association, Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, the Lewis & Clark National Park Association, and the Fort George Brewery + Public House.