The Siuslaw Institute, Inc.

Johnny Sundstrom

Organization

The Siuslaw Institute is incorporated under the laws of the State of Oregon as a not-for-profit corporation with reporting responsibilities to the Charitable Activities Section of the State’s Department of Justice.

The Institute is well-served by its Board of Directors, all of whom have participated  since the formation of the organization. They are;

Don Beck, Mapleton
Robert Jacobs,, Eugene/Deadwood
Callie McConnell, Eugene
Kathy West, Mapleton
Don Carlton, Deceased

Johnny Sundstrom, Deadwood, is the Founder and Director of the Institute and serves as President of the Board.

The Institute is also ably served by additional contractors who are hired for specific projects and activities. These include:

Shiloh Sundstrom, Deadwood
Program Director and Primary Researcher
Paula “Cricket” Crowder, Deadwood Education Specialist
Carl Finseth, Deceased
Historical Consultant & Equipment Operator
Marcus Kauffman, Eugene
Facilitator & Researcher
Jon Penhallurick, Moses Lake
Website

Chronology of the Siuslaw Institute, Inc. (highlights)

1994 – Incorporation, by-laws, Board formed, and introductory community meetings held for information and input.

1994-5 – Joint conference and projects with the University of Oregon’s Art, Architecture, and Landscape Architecture Schools. 

1994-00 – Facilitation of Deadwood Creek CRMP (Coordinated Resource Management Plan).

1997-05 – Deadwood Creek Enhancement Project: over $300,000 in restoration. 

1998 – Full-scale theatrical production of Anton Chekhov’s “Uncle Vanya”.

1998 (ongoing) – Mapleton Schools Natural Resource Education Project.

1998-9 – Or. Dept. of Fish & Wildlife stream project monitoring.

2000 – Triangle Lake Campground streambank repair (w/ S.T.E.P.).
Mapleton Schools’ Native Plants Nursery begun.

2001 – Mapleton School Native Plants Nursery.

2002 – Karnowsky Creek project initiated, and stewardship contracting developments, both activities with US Forest Service and others.

2003 (ongoing) – US Forest Service Stewardship Contracting: monitoring and publishing services, and facilitation of Siuslaw Stewardship Group. 

2004 – International Thiess Riverprize Winner (with partners: Siuslaw Watershed Council, Siuslaw Soil & Water Conservation District, Siuslaw National Forest).

2005 – Began coordinating the Sakhalin (Russia) – Siuslaw Salmon Restoration project. US partners visited Sakhalin Island, Russia biologists and managers visited the US.

2006 --  Participated and presented at Riversymposium (Brisbane, Aus.) and inaugural Sakhalin Salmon Initiative conference held in Yuzhno-Sakalinsk, Russia.

2007 - Began working with Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition as member of Private Lands Working group

2008 - Hosted visit of 8 Russian (Sakhalin) elected officials, teachers and others to study Restoration and Watershed Councils first-hand. Arranged meeting between them and local tribes.

2009 - Developed an innovative NEPA process for the Forest Service project, FiveMile-Bell Landscape Restoration. Began partnering with Ecotrust to provide local contractors collecting existing-conditions data and historical references.

2010 - Distributed Institute publication of "Restoration of the Land and its People" (study of conservation needs and opportunities in the John Day Basin). Continued FiveMile-Bell project working with US Forest Service Task Force.

2011 - Assisted Wild Salmon Center in continuing formation and development of Public Salmon Councils in the Russian Far East. Hosted nine representatives of these councils in the Siuslaw for shared learning and exchange.