Transition Time for DRA’s Development Director
It’s not the size of the fish in the fight, bit the size of the fight in the fish: Peter Anderson proves raft guides can fly fish just fine, thank you.
Passion-Driven on Behalf of the Deschutes
DRA friends and family,
Peter Anderson (Development Director) here, checking in with my third guest blog of the year. However, rather than announcing an auction or Troutfest, I have to share the unfortunate news that this Friday, July 11th is my last day as an employee of the Deschutes River Alliance. I will be moving onto different pastures (not necessarily greener).
My DRA tenure began almost three years ago to the day. Before, my stewardship was that of river guide for five seasons. I visited the lower Deschutes to chase the splashes of waves rather than the nibbles of fish. I did not know the difference between dry flying and nymphing, and I often referred to a fly I called the Ansel Adams rather than the Parachute Adams. Angling ignorant though I may have been, I had a front row seat to the dwindling presence of song birds soaring above the river, and—increasingly—I had to caution guests exiting the raft not to slip on the algae-covered rocks.
When I learned that the private entity profiting off of this beloved public resource was also harming it, I was frustrated, but not surprised. When I learned that the state agency tasked with holding those polluters accountable was turning a blind eye to a problem with a solution, I was infuriated, and driven to act.
A Winning Strategy
Fortunately, the merry band of resilient supporters and staff at the DRA were already hard at work, and offered me a seat on their bandwagon. In my early days, Sarah Cloud and I were a two-person show, laying the framework for a robust, advocacy-oriented community. We launched our Trout Whisperers seminar series which continues to sell-out breweries and outdoor stores around the state. The first annual Troutfest welcomed over 200 folks to Maupin for a day of educational content and entertainment—half of whom submitted public comments to DEQ opposing the relaxation of allowable pH levels in the Deschutes basin. We held the line; community driven advocacy proved a winning strategy.
Action and success begot growth. A nationally recognized author joined the team to run communications, the board added new and diverse members, and a rockstar biologist is taking the most comprehensive NGO-science program in the state to new heights. Events continue to reach new audiences: Troutfest 2 brought hundreds of attendees from 10 states and Canada back to the Deschutes, we kicked off our letter writing campaign to the governor (it worked!), and we toured The Last 100 Miles around the Pacific Northwest while the country took notice. Most recently, Troutfest 3 beat back a biblical wind storm and further cemented itself as a flagship event in the river industry.
As I count down the hours of my DRA employment, I am overcome with a mix of profound feelings. Immense pride for what the organization has accomplished, sadness for the diminished time that I will spend with supporters who have become friends, and—most importantly—optimism for the future of this treasured river.
The wheels are in motion for positive change, and they will continue to gain speed with your support. Writing letters and speaking up make a difference. Writing checks and reaching into your pockets allows the organization to advocate forcefully and effectively. The lower Deschutes River belongs to the people of Oregon, not the utilities. It’s up to Oregonians, and anyone else who visits to enjoy our crown jewel, to protect it.
See you on or around the river soon. Until then, as John Hazel says, “give until it hurts.”
For the Deschutes,
Peter
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