Bill Bree, nominated by Michelle Delepine, Invasive Species Coordinator and Conservationist
We posthumously honor Bill Bree with the “Special Recognition” award for his countless years of dedication towards stewarding his property for wildlife and conservation values. Bill began partnering with the District in 2013 as an active and very engaged participant in our “Early Detection, Rapid Response (EDRR)” invasive plant species program, though his work in tirelessly undertaking stewardship practices on his land began decades before that. Bill had a strong conservation ethic and was known to devote much of his time to maintaining and enhancing his property for local wildlife and native habitat. To support this work, Bill would spend hours on his own reducing invasive plants on his property and maintaining native plantings along his stream. He was a very proactive member of our EDRR program and would regularly check in with staff on the latest stewardship practices he was implementing on his property above the Willamette River. He was always eager to have District staff out to see his latest projects on his property and to assist with his weed control efforts. Even when his health began to decline, Bill made a point to spend some time each day working on his property. Staff will greatly miss site visits with Bill and walking his property to see his latest accomplishments. He was an invaluable partner in local conservation, and leaves behind a legacy of his lifetime of work.