Photo of Brian in 2016.
It is with heavy hearts that we share that our long-time board member, Brian Lightcap, recently passed away at the age of 80. Brian was a dedicated and engaged board member, for Zone 5 and then Zone 4, from January 1983 until his passing in November 2024– an incredible 41 years of service. Having served as the Board Chair for some time, he was Chair Emeritus at the time of his passing.
Director since 1983, Brian was our longest-serving board member. Brian worked as a wetland ecologist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for 25 years, retiring in 2001. He owned a 54-acre agro-forestry operation in NW Multnomah County, including sheep and sustainably produced trees he used for picture frames, gates and furniture.
Brian had been active with the Oregon Association of Conservation Districts and had volunteered his time at Resources and People (RAP) Camp, a week-long camp at Camp Esther Applegate for high school students throughout Oregon. His volunteer efforts on the Sturgeon Lake restoration planning group have helped obtain support from many organizations, including a $42,000 grant from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board. Brian was a member of Skyline Grange since 2011, chairing its Agriculture Committee for many years.
Brian leaves sons Andy and Zach and partner Sharon.
His son Andy said: “He was like the last of a 20th century pioneer. If you see a wetland in Oregon, good chances are he helped save it, and he definitely knew about it.”
Fellow Board members and staff remember him:
“I served on the West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District Board with Brian for the past 20 years and learned from him the value and necessity of having a long-term vision in order to get big projects done. It was his passion and dedication that insured that we accomplished our Sturgeon Lake project, which is an important habitat and migration area for sturgeon and salmonid species. We are lucky that he chose to dedicate decades of his life to serving our District for the benefit of the fish, wildlife, and people that live here.” –Terri Preeg Riggsby, Zone 5, board chair.
“I worked with Brian since 2008 to make the Sturgeon Lake project happen. When I started, he had already been championing it for decades prior. He was so proud when it was completed in 2018. Since then, he took it upon himself to kayak much of the lake to note water levels and currents as compared to what conditions were like before the project. He loved to tell me how well the project was working and the health of the lake was improving.”
–Scott Gall, soil conservationist
“Brian had a real spark of curiosity to learn new things and could always offer creative ideas to the conversation. I really appreciate the time we spent talking about forest conservation together because of this. In recent years, Brian was especially passionate about the role West Multnomah SWCD could play to help conserve the Tualatin Mountain Forest in partnership with the Trust for Public Lands. This project, which is now so close to completion, is just one of the many legacies Brian leaves as a gift to all of us and future generations.” –Laura Taylor, forest conservationist
“Brian was an avid weed champion and often trialed different management methods on pesky weeds such as English ivy and tansy ragwort. He was a proud steward of the land, involving many of his neighbors, and their properties, in weed removal projects.” –Michelle Delepine, conservationist and invasive species program coordinator
“As a longtime staff person at WMSWCD, I have had the benefit of working with Brian as a Board member for 20 years, during which time he was always inquisitive and engaged. We had many interesting conversations about the best way to approach our conservation challenges. It is in part thanks to Brian that we decided to create a forest conservationist position. We can also thank Brian for his persistence and determination in helping us see through to the end the reconnection of Sturgeon Lake to the Columbia River via Dairy Creek. At the opening ceremony for the completion of that project, Brian gave very moving remarks. That accomplishment gave him much joy and he helped us appreciate how significant it was. He really valued thoughtful management of forests, wetlands and agricultural lands. Brian was an important member of our SWCD family and I will miss him, but I take solace in the fact that he contributed so much to his community and our local environment and that his legacy lives on.” -Kammy Kern-Korot, senior conservationist
“Brian was always warm and funny in the short time that I knew him. He always asked questions and sought to understand, even though he was an expert more than many of us.” -Eleanor Greene, outreach and communications coordinator
“Brian and I went on many kayaking adventures. After the accident I figured his athletic abilities were over. Within months he was telling me he was playing tennis! We went on more kayak trips. He was so positive. I will miss that positivity. He is an inspiration for overcoming adversity and I will always remember him for that.” -Steve Fedje, retired Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) District Conservationist for Multnomah County
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