Fostering and Catalyzing a North Valley Prescribed Burn Association (PBA)
Faculty mentor/Supervisor
Aaron Groth
Email Address
Department Affiliation
Extension
Project Location
North Willamette Valley/Extension
Project Description
Indigenous land management, including the cultural burning practices of Kalapuya bands, shaped the fire-adapted landscape of Willamette Valley for millennia. However, the forced removal of Indigenous communities in the mid-1800s, followed by over a century of fire suppression, led to the dramatic decline of fire-dependent ecosystems such as oak savannahs, woodlands, and native prairies. Today, these habitats are among the most imperiled in Oregon, with their extent and ecological integrity severely diminished by agricultural conversion, urbanization, invasive species, and the absence of regular fire.
Prescribed fire is increasingly recognized as a vital tool for restoring ecological function and supporting biodiversity in the Willamette Valley. While agencies and organizations like The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the Rivers to Ridges Partnership have led prescribed fire efforts on public lands, private lands—which comprise approximately 96% of the Valley—remain largely underutilized in fire-based restoration.
To address this gap, the North Valley PBA is one of several emerging PBAs in the Willamette Valley, alongside the South Valley and Mid-Valley PBAs. It has already convened multiple meetings with landowners, fire districts, and partner agencies, and established a steering committee to guide its development. Communities across Oregon and the U.S. are forming Prescribed Burn Associations (PBAs): grassroots, landowner-led groups that collaboratively plan and implement burns on private lands.
This project supports the continued growth and operational capacity of the North Valley PBA. Through Oregon State University’s College of Forestry Mentored Employment Program (MEP), an undergraduate student will contribute to applied research, fieldwork, and community education and outreach activities that advance the PBA’s mission. The student will assist with data collection and analysis, prescribed burn planning and monitoring, education and outreach, and documentation efforts that inform restoration strategies and build institutional knowledge.
By integrating academic learning with hands-on stewardship, this project not only contributes to the ecological restoration of fire-adapted landscapes but also cultivates the next generation of fire practitioners and community leaders. It represents a critical step toward increasing the pace and scale of prescribed fire on private lands in Oregon—restoring fire to the landscape.
Prescribed fire is increasingly recognized as a vital tool for restoring ecological function and supporting biodiversity in the Willamette Valley. While agencies and organizations like The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the Rivers to Ridges Partnership have led prescribed fire efforts on public lands, private lands—which comprise approximately 96% of the Valley—remain largely underutilized in fire-based restoration.
To address this gap, the North Valley PBA is one of several emerging PBAs in the Willamette Valley, alongside the South Valley and Mid-Valley PBAs. It has already convened multiple meetings with landowners, fire districts, and partner agencies, and established a steering committee to guide its development. Communities across Oregon and the U.S. are forming Prescribed Burn Associations (PBAs): grassroots, landowner-led groups that collaboratively plan and implement burns on private lands.
This project supports the continued growth and operational capacity of the North Valley PBA. Through Oregon State University’s College of Forestry Mentored Employment Program (MEP), an undergraduate student will contribute to applied research, fieldwork, and community education and outreach activities that advance the PBA’s mission. The student will assist with data collection and analysis, prescribed burn planning and monitoring, education and outreach, and documentation efforts that inform restoration strategies and build institutional knowledge.
By integrating academic learning with hands-on stewardship, this project not only contributes to the ecological restoration of fire-adapted landscapes but also cultivates the next generation of fire practitioners and community leaders. It represents a critical step toward increasing the pace and scale of prescribed fire on private lands in Oregon—restoring fire to the landscape.
Describe the type of work and tasks you anticipate the student will perform
These are tangible deliverables the student may produce during the project:
-Field data sets from vegetation surveys, fuel assessments, or burn monitoring
-GIS maps or spatial data layers showing burn areas, fuel loads, or ecological conditions
-Written reports or summaries documenting burn planning, execution, and outcomes
-Poster presentation for the MEP Symposium, Celebrating Undergraduate Excellence, Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium, or Western Forestry Graduate Research Symposium, summarizing project findings and experiences
-Database entries for burn records, volunteer participation, or ecological metrics
-Maintenance logs for equipment
-Contributing to grant writing and proposal development
These are the day-to-day tasks and responsibilities the student may engage in:
Fieldwork
-Participate in prescribed burns (as appropriate), including pre-burn prep and post-burn monitoring
-Collect field data on vegetation, fuel loads, and ecological conditions
-Assist with burn planning logistics, including mapping, weather tracking, and site assessments
Data & Analysis
-Enter and manage field and lab data in spreadsheets or databases
-Use statistical or GIS tools to analyze spatial and ecological patterns
-Identify trends in burn effectiveness, vegetation recovery, or community engagement
Communication & Reporting
-Draft sections of burn plans, technical reports, or education and outreach materials
-Contribute to documentation for permitting, safety protocols, or community meetings
-Present findings at the MEP Symposium, Celebrating Undergraduate Excellence, Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium, or Western Forestry Graduate Research Symposium and other education and outreach events
Education and Outreach
-Contribute to development of materials for instruction
-Assist in planning, logistics, coordination, facilitation, and organization of field tours, workshops, presentations, meetings and other events
-Evaluate outcomes of educational programming and trainings
-Field data sets from vegetation surveys, fuel assessments, or burn monitoring
-GIS maps or spatial data layers showing burn areas, fuel loads, or ecological conditions
-Written reports or summaries documenting burn planning, execution, and outcomes
-Poster presentation for the MEP Symposium, Celebrating Undergraduate Excellence, Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium, or Western Forestry Graduate Research Symposium, summarizing project findings and experiences
-Database entries for burn records, volunteer participation, or ecological metrics
-Maintenance logs for equipment
-Contributing to grant writing and proposal development
These are the day-to-day tasks and responsibilities the student may engage in:
Fieldwork
-Participate in prescribed burns (as appropriate), including pre-burn prep and post-burn monitoring
-Collect field data on vegetation, fuel loads, and ecological conditions
-Assist with burn planning logistics, including mapping, weather tracking, and site assessments
Data & Analysis
-Enter and manage field and lab data in spreadsheets or databases
-Use statistical or GIS tools to analyze spatial and ecological patterns
-Identify trends in burn effectiveness, vegetation recovery, or community engagement
Communication & Reporting
-Draft sections of burn plans, technical reports, or education and outreach materials
-Contribute to documentation for permitting, safety protocols, or community meetings
-Present findings at the MEP Symposium, Celebrating Undergraduate Excellence, Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium, or Western Forestry Graduate Research Symposium and other education and outreach events
Education and Outreach
-Contribute to development of materials for instruction
-Assist in planning, logistics, coordination, facilitation, and organization of field tours, workshops, presentations, meetings and other events
-Evaluate outcomes of educational programming and trainings
Please list special or preferred skills
Coursework or experience in prescribed fire. NWCG Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2) or Prescribed Fire Crewmember (RXCM) qualified. Experience in grant writing/proposal development.
Hourly rate of pay
$20.00/hr
Certification
Yes
What is the expected timeline of this project?
This timeline, is subject to change, depending on 1) student input and priorities and 2) shifting priorities of the North Valley PBA Steering Committee. There may be constraints on student participation in certain activities by OSU/CoF/HR policies.
Phase 1: Onboarding & Planning: December 2025 – January 2026
Start Date: December 2025 (earliest): Meet with mentor to: Define learning and professional goals; Establish project scope, timeline, and communication preferences; Review safety protocols, and field logistics
Begin background research on: Prescribed fire in the Willamette Valley; History and structure of PBAs; Restoration ecology and Indigenous fire stewardship; Participate in any meetings with landowners and partner organizations (e.g., fire districts, land trusts, conservation NGOs)
Phase 2: Engagement & Organizational Support: January – March 2026
Participate in North Valley Foothills PBA Kickoff Social (anticipated Jan–Mar): Assist with event planning, outreach, and documentation
Support steering committee coordination: Schedule meetings, take notes, and track action items; Help build contact lists and stakeholder maps
Begin grant research and writing support: Identify funding opportunities for PBA and landowners (e.g., OWEB, NRCS, local foundations); Assist with drafting project narratives, budgets, and obtaining letters of support
Identify burn locations, undertake data collection, mapping, and spatial analysis
Attend relevant trainings
Phase 3: Fieldwork & Program Evaluation: March – May 2026
Support an IGNITE Prescribed Fire Skills training with landowners: Assist with event planning, outreach, and documentation
Support pile burning or broadcast burns on private lands (as conditions and OSU/CoF protocols allow): Assist with pre-burn prep, burn day logistics, and post-burn monitoring; Collect and analyze data
Contribute to program evaluation efforts: Develop surveys or feedback tools for landowners and partners; Track participation, outcomes, and lessons learned
Prepare materials for MEP Poster Symposium
Phase 4: Reflection & Reporting: May – June 2026
MEP Poster Symposium: May 27, 2026, Present project findings, learning outcomes, and community impact
Submit Year-End Reflection for MEP program assessment and donor engagement
Finalize: Data sets and analysis summaries; Grant support materials and organizational documentation; Evaluation reports and stakeholder feedback
Program End Date: June 12, 2026 (MEP funding expires)
Phase 1: Onboarding & Planning: December 2025 – January 2026
Start Date: December 2025 (earliest): Meet with mentor to: Define learning and professional goals; Establish project scope, timeline, and communication preferences; Review safety protocols, and field logistics
Begin background research on: Prescribed fire in the Willamette Valley; History and structure of PBAs; Restoration ecology and Indigenous fire stewardship; Participate in any meetings with landowners and partner organizations (e.g., fire districts, land trusts, conservation NGOs)
Phase 2: Engagement & Organizational Support: January – March 2026
Participate in North Valley Foothills PBA Kickoff Social (anticipated Jan–Mar): Assist with event planning, outreach, and documentation
Support steering committee coordination: Schedule meetings, take notes, and track action items; Help build contact lists and stakeholder maps
Begin grant research and writing support: Identify funding opportunities for PBA and landowners (e.g., OWEB, NRCS, local foundations); Assist with drafting project narratives, budgets, and obtaining letters of support
Identify burn locations, undertake data collection, mapping, and spatial analysis
Attend relevant trainings
Phase 3: Fieldwork & Program Evaluation: March – May 2026
Support an IGNITE Prescribed Fire Skills training with landowners: Assist with event planning, outreach, and documentation
Support pile burning or broadcast burns on private lands (as conditions and OSU/CoF protocols allow): Assist with pre-burn prep, burn day logistics, and post-burn monitoring; Collect and analyze data
Contribute to program evaluation efforts: Develop surveys or feedback tools for landowners and partners; Track participation, outcomes, and lessons learned
Prepare materials for MEP Poster Symposium
Phase 4: Reflection & Reporting: May – June 2026
MEP Poster Symposium: May 27, 2026, Present project findings, learning outcomes, and community impact
Submit Year-End Reflection for MEP program assessment and donor engagement
Finalize: Data sets and analysis summaries; Grant support materials and organizational documentation; Evaluation reports and stakeholder feedback
Program End Date: June 12, 2026 (MEP funding expires)
Are special skills or knowledge required to work on this project?
Yes
Will training be provided?
Yes
How many hours per week do you anticipate a student to work?
No more than 20 hrs/week. Could be 5-10 hrs/week some weeks to have funds budgeted December 2025-June 2026.
How many hours per week do you anticipate engaging in direct mentorship?
1-3 hours per week engaging in direct mentorship (in-person, remote (e.g., Zoom, phone calls).
Regular meetings between mentor and student to discuss progress and receive guidance. The mentor will foster opportunities for the student to directly engage with PBA members, landowners, and fire professionals during planning, education and outreach, and burns. The mentor will afford the student opportunities to participate in training sessions or workshops on prescribed fire and community engagement. There will be opportunities to engage and interact with other PBAs as well as a larger Forestry & Natural Resources Extension/Wildland Fire Program prescribed fire workgroup.