Our research team is working on an interview project called “Cultural Ecology of the Klamath Basin: Diverse Perspectives and Future Visions.”
Cultural ecology is the study of how people shape–and get shaped by–the environments in which they live. Over the next few years, dam removal and large-scale river restoration projects will bring big changes to the Klamath Basin. These changes are coming in the midst of ongoing environmental, social and economic challenges. What will the Klamath Basin look like in the future? How will communities in the Klamath Basin adapt to change? How can the diverse views of Klamath Basin communities help shape water resource management decisions?
Source: OSU Media
What we’re doing: Our goal is to understand the values, perspectives and experiences of Klamath Basin communities as they experience change and to identify future natural resource management priorities, with an emphasis on water quality. We’re conducting interviews with individuals from the following groups: Agricultural producers, Fishing community members, Local residents, and people working in conservation and restoration.
Collaboration with the Yurok Tribe. Our colleagues in the Yurok Tribe are leading a similar effort among tribal members. Data collection in the Yurok Tribe will also focus on cultural resources related to the Klamath River, how river health affects cultural activities, and what role river restoration may play in cultural revitalization. One major goal of this effort is to explore how we can unite Western ecological science and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) in shaping water quality management.
Project Outcomes. Some of the project outcomes will be academic (for example, scientific papers), while other outcomes will be applied (for example, policy briefs to resource management agencies, or educational materials).
Want to Participate? If you’d like to share your perspectives with us, we invite you to participate in a one-hour interview. The interview can be arranged at a time and place that works for you. Your responses will be kept confidential.
To participate, please contact Dr. Bryan Tilt, Oregon State University, Bryan.Tilt@oregonstate.edu, 541-737-3896.
More Information
Project Overview: Cultural Ecology of the Klamath Basin
Meet the Socio-cultural Team
Bryan Tilt, Professor of Anthropology
Email: bryan.tilt@oregonstate.edu
Website: liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/users/bryan-tilt
Rebecca Wheaton, Ph.D. Student
Email: wheatore@oregonstate.edu
Hannah Boone, Master’s Student
Email: booneh@oregonstate.edu
Jenna Davis, Master’s Student
Email: davijen2@oregonstate.edu
