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Fly-In and Make History!
Running Y Ranch, Klamath Falls, Oregon October 3, 4, & 5
FRIDAY October 3 |
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Opening Reception
Outside in the Pavilion
6:30 – 9 pm
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Welcome!
We welcome our volunteer pilots and other friends to kick off the weekend. Meet and greet fellow pilots, enjoy the sunset, and local Rhythm & Blues music. |
SATURDAY October 4 |
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Morning Bird Walk
Meet in Lodge lobby
7– 8 am
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The Running Y Ranch is a bird lover’s paradise. With binoculars ready, birders have sighted the American bald eagle, American white pelican, osprey, Canada goose, pintail, mallard, gadwall, canvasback Western & eared grebes, black tern, great blue heron, great egret and the snowy egret. An estimated one to two million ducks and geese migrate through the Basin each October and November. Join Joe Liebezeit for this early morning walk. Joe has had a life-long curiosity and fascination for birds that has led him to study them all over the United States and internationally with the Wildlife Conservation Society. |
Full Breakfast
Lodge's Full Conference Room
8– 9 am
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Presentations
Full Conference Room
9 am– 4:30 pm |
LightHawk Today
9:00 – 9:30
Executive Director Rudy Engholm will provide an overview of the year with a glimpse of the year to come. |
 (c) U.S. Fish & Wildlife
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Panel I: Klamath Basin History and Ecology
9:30 – 10:15
Come learn about the history and ecology of this incredible watershed. The Klamath Basin straddles the border of Oregon and California, with rivers that drain high desert habitats of Oregon and flow through the deep canyons and tall forests of California before meeting the Pacific Ocean. Historically, the Klamath Basin was dominated by thousands of acres of shallow lakes and freshwater marshes, which supported millions of migrating waterfowl other birds, including American white pelican, double crested cormorant, and herons. The Basin was also, at one time, home to the third-most productive salmon run in the US. Panel members will discuss the different habitats and species to be found, the history of human communities in the Basin, the ecological change the Basin has seen over the past century, and conservation priorities for the future.
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15 minute BREAK |
(c) Yainix Ranch
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Panel II: Coming Together for Conservation and
Community: The Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement Unlimited
10:30– 11:30
Since the 1990s, the Klamath Basin has been known nationally as one of the most contentious arenas for environmental conflict. That is changing. After years of negotiations, 26 groups, representing farmers, fishermen, tribes and federal, state and local agencies, released a comprehensive plan in January of this year called the “Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement”. This historic agreement charts a path forward to open 300 miles of the Klamath in northern California and southern Oregon to fish for the first time in more than 90 years. It also settles historic conflicts over water allocation between agriculture and conservation uses, and creates a significant program to invest in the economic health of agricultural and tribal communities. As background for LightHawk program flights on Sunday, come enjoy a lively discussion by a panel representing the diverse interests in the Basin. They will discuss their differing needs, how they were able to sit across the table from each other and engage in a collaborative process to forge this Agreement, and their hopes for the future.
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Lunch
11:30 – 1 pm |
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LightHawk in the Klamath Basin 1:00 - 1:30
LightHawk partner Sustainable Northwest will talk about the future of the Klamath, and LightHawk’s role in that future.
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15 minute BREAK |
(c) Steve Garman
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Three Weeks Above "The Last Frontier" with NASA
Steve Garman, LightHawk Volunteer Pilot
1:45– 2:30
In June of 2008, Steven Garman assisted a scientist from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Labs with a project to accurately and precisely estimate the biomass of the North American boreal forest. The study involved almost two solid weeks of flying over the forests and tundra of Alaska, and will ultimately help researchers measure the effects of climate change. Steven has been flying for 31 years. Starting as a sky diving jump plane pilot and glider tow pilot, today he manages a Learjet 60 charter operation in Sun Valley. A Forester from the University of Montana, he worked as a photographer, a fireman and ski patrolman in Ketchum/Sun Valley. Additionally, Steven volunteers with Search & Rescue, flying search missions with his Cessna 180. He’s been a volunteer with LightHawk since 2000.
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15 minute BREAK |
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Volunteer Pilot Roundtable 2:45 – 4:30
In this moderated roundtable, LightHawk volunteer pilots share their experience and discuss topics of interest in environmental aviation and LightHawk operations. Always a popular feature at the Fly-In! Facilitated by Rudy Engholm.
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Banquet& Awards
Full Conference Room
6:30 – 9:30 pm
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Evening Reception and Banquet
Unwind at the reception with locally-brewed beer and other refreshments. Volunteer pilot awards will follow dinner as will a talk from Jon Engle, a LightHawk Volunteer Pilot with a unique perspective on the earth.
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Keynote Speaker
© John Schwab, U.S. Air Force
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Seeing the Earth from Above...the Atmosphere
Jon Engle, Colonel, U.S. Air Force, U-2 Pilot
LightHawk Volunteer Pilot
From flying hang-gliders off sand-dunes, to flying the U-2 Dragon Lady over 12 miles up, Jon Engle has spent his life pursuing his passion: flying. His “addiction” took off at the age of 14 when he bought a Piper Cub and soloed it on his 16th birthday. With an Atmospheric Science and Meteorology degree, he joined the Air Force as a pilot to help further fund his “addiction”. He has flown F-16s, A-10s and FA-18s with the Navy. In March of 2000, he was selected to fly the U-2 Dragon Lady, an extremely high altitude and long duration reconnaissance aircraft. Having flown General Aviation his entire life, his perspective of flying spans from the surface to well above 70,000 feet, and from runways on carrier flight decks, to small grass farm pastures. |
SUNDAY October 5 |
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Program Flights
Weather Permitting
7:30 am – 12 pm
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The Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement: A Blueprint for Change
The Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement, if enacted, will pave the way for meaningful change in the Basin. Though much has been accomplished, LightHawk pilots will be in the Basin at a time when there will still be important work to be done to finalize this effort and make it politically viable. LightHawk's program flights in collaboration with Sustainable Northwest and other local stakeholders will help to educate lawmakers, funders, the media, and other important opinion and decision-makers about the issues in the Basin, and help move the Restoration Agreement forward. Pilots interested in volunteering, please contact Christine Steele at (503) 703-4843, or csteele@lighthawk.org. |
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Sunday Activity
Meet in Lodge lobby
9 am – 1 pm |
Sticking around an extra day? Meet up in the lobby for a trip to the Klamath Lake Wildlife Refuge or another nearby attraction for hiking, birding, and sight-seeing. Route to be determined based on interest. Please be sure to sign up at the Fly-In registration table when you collect your name tag so carpooling and lunch can be arranged.
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~ For a printable pdf version of this flyer, click here.
~Registration:
Registration is $29/pp. Please call (307) 332-3242 or download a mail-in registration form here.
Please RSVP by September 22nd
~Accommodations:
Running Y Ranch : To reserve your room, please call the Running Y Ranch, (541) 850-5500 or toll free at (888) 850-0275. Individuals must identify themselves as members of LightHawk when making reservations. LightHawk’s group rate of $119/night is guaranteed until September 1st. Web site: www.runningy.com
~Transportation & Airports:
The nearest commercial airport with FBO is Klamath Falls: www.airnav.com/airport/KLMT
Medford is also nearby (80 miles/1.75 hours away) and has more amenities: http://www.airnav.com/airport/KMFR
The Running Y Ranch offers a complimentary shuttle service to and from the Klamath Falls airport. Be sure to inquire about this service when making your hotel reservation.
Amtrak also services Klamath Falls. ~Need a ride to the Fly-In or have room for one more? Please call (307) 332-3242.
~For more information about dining, lodging, and things to do and see around Klamath, please visit: www.klamath.org/visitors/.
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