MRGA Invited to Discovery Center Event April 22, 5:30-7:00PM

Apr 13

Brad Dimock, Colorado River guide, river dory historian, dory builder, teacher, and

owner-operator of Fretwater Boatworks in Flagstaff, AZ, will be a featured

presenter at the McKenzie River Discovery Center’s Hatchery building on Saturday

evening, April 22 from 5:30 to 7:00, including a reception from 5:00 to 5:30. His

talk will tie into the evening’s theme, Spawning Grounds: It Started with this River

and will be a show-and-tell of the links between the McKenzie, Rogue and

Colorado dories, some of the histories therein, and generally enamor the

audience with tales of connections, exploits and good humor.

In addition to Dimock, Spawning Grounds will feature a donation by Bob Hirt of

the last known drift boat built by Woodie Hindman. Steve Mealey, one of the

earliest proponents of the Discovery Center, will accept the gift on behalf of

Discovery, and he will set the stage for Spawning Grounds; Dr. Gordon Grant,

research geologist and hydrologist for the USFS and courtesy OSU professor, will

speak to the landscape- hydrology and suitability of the drift boat to this

environment. The program will be capped with a progress report of Discovery by

Executive Director Shirley Braunstein and Board President, Gene Jones. According

to Roger Fletcher, evening program coordinator, seating is limited. RSVPs are

therefore requested by texting 503.559.0204.

“This program is the capstone event for the week of the boats,” according to

Fletcher. He reports that the “week includes the favored drift boat building

workshop April 17 – 21, taught by Jayson Hayes of Hayes Custom Boats, followed

on Saturday by the ever-popular Wooden Boat Festival from 10-4:00 at Eagle

Rock Lodge.” Fletcher notes that the boat building class is full, and that Randy

Dersham of the Oregon Boat Project is coordinating the boat festival.

MRGA Conservation Update