MARYS RIVER WATERSHED COUNCIL
The River’s Voice
Listening to the Marys River for 30 years
Benton County Government Drone Footage by Shea Steingass
Join us in celebrating 30 years!
In recognition of 30 years of impact, MRWC is hosting a year-long celebration from September 2026 to the end of 2027! We want to celebrate with the community members, landowners, and project partners who have made this work possible.
More details to come soon, stay tuned!
MAKING AN IMPACT
With 30-years of community-driven restoration work behind us, here are a few of the milestones we’re proud to share.
The Story of Marys River Watershed Council
Marys River Watershed Council (MRWC) is a nonprofit organization that works to restore in-stream and streamside habitat, improve water quality, and encourage community members to become stewards of the Marys River and its tributaries. Since 1996 MRWC has been educating members of the Marys River community, investigating watershed needs and concerns, and facilitating the implementation of on-the-ground projects.
The MRWC restoration program partners with local landowners to recover healthy ecosystem processes. The projects we implement aim to reestablish the natural connections between the floodplain and native flora and fauna within the watershed. Our work includes restoring fish habitat and removing passage barriers, planting native species, controlling invasive plants, installing protective fencing, placing large wood structures, and other activities that help these natural systems function and sustain themselves over time.
Our education programs are designed to encourage curiosity, foster questions about the natural world, and cultivate the next generation of conscientious land stewards. School field trips, local events, camps, and our year-long Youth Watershed Council program offer kids a chance to get outside, interact with plants, immerse themselves in a forest, and study macroinvertebrates in a stream. Our programs engage youths in science with hands-on activities such as stream tables and casting beaver tracks.
Memorial Day Site Tour.
Woods Creek Community Meeting.
Students build a model of a watershed with tinfoil, moss, and coco powder.
Large woody debris placement on a landowners property by Trask Consulting.
Students on a boating trip!
The crew that helped put in the pond leveler at Starker Arts Park.
Restoration projects are crafted to improve natural watershed processes such as shading streams, accumulating spawning gravels, & providing winter habitats for native aquatic species.
Marys River Watershed Council offers several outdoor education programs for local schools, providing hands-on, place-based lessons in watershed science & ecology.
There are many ways for you learn more about us and how to get involved, like attending our outreach and volunteer events. Start by subscribing to our newsletter, and following us on social media!
Thank you to our generous sponsors for supporting these events.
