The OSSS 2025 Winter Meeting is Approaching!
Living With Fire: A Soils Perspective
February 20th-22nd, 2025 in Hood River, OR
Join us at the 2025 Winter Meeting in Hood River, Oregon to discuss the impacts of fire on soil, how it can be a tool for restoration, and discuss how soil scientists play a role in its management across the west.
Speaker topics will include: Post-fire recovery, the Burned Area Emergency Response process, Biochar production, and changed soil hydrology after multiple burns.
The field trip for the tour will take place at a site with recently burned soils in the Mt. Hood National Forest.
The venue for the meeting is the Best Western Plus Hood River Inn at 1108 E Marina Way, Hood River, OR 97031.
Register for the 2025 Winter Meeting Below!
Lodging
A room block has been set aside for the meeting at the Best Western Plus for a check-in on Thursday, February 20th and check-out on Saturday February 22nd.
We are holding the following rooms at the rates shown below:
| Room Type | Thursday 2/20/25 | Friday 2/21/25 | Saturday 2/22/25 |
| Economy Queen | 10 rooms $110 Single / $125 Double | 10 rooms $110 Single / $125 Double | 2 rooms $110 Single / $125 Double |
| Executive Economy Queen | 5 rooms $110 Single / $125 Double | 5 rooms $110 Single / $125 Double | 2 rooms $110 Single / $125 Double |
| Non-View King | 12 rooms $129 Single / $129 Double | 10 rooms $129 Single / $129 Double | 3 rooms $129 Single / $129 Double |
| Riverview 2 Queen | 6 rooms $159 Single / $159 Double | 5 rooms $159 Single / $159 Double | 1 room $159 Single / $159 Double |
| Riverview King | 12 rooms $159 Single / $159 Double | 10 rooms $159 Single / $159 Double | 2 rooms $159 Single / $159 Double |
| Total | 45 rooms | 40 rooms | 10 rooms |
- Rates Listed are for two people per room. Additional rate per person is $15.00
- All rates are subject to applicable tax (currently at 9.5%).
- Rates listed are net non-commissionable.
- Please note check-in time is 4:00pm and check-out is 11:00am.
- Booking:
- Attendees will need to call to book their own rooms at 800-828-7873
- Mention the OSSS 2025 Winter Meeting when booking to be sure your room is available in our block.
Past Events
The 2024 OSSS Summer Tour Was Postponed
Please see our President’s Message below
These days, our board is heavy on the Forest Service and BLM participation, and these people get called to serve as Resource Advisors and Burned Area Emergency Response specialists on fires in Oregon.That is why this year’s tour was going to happen in early October, hoping that would be toward the end of the fire season. Unfortunately, this fire season came early and is continuing into October, making it impossible for us to focus on anything other than our many fire assignments.
This is leading us to postpone the annual tour until May of 2025. We will still hold it at the Klamath Research Station and plan to learn about the local dam removals.
People who have already registered will receive a full refund, and registration will be re-opened next Spring. We apologize for the inconvenience and hope you will join us pre-fire season 2025.
Wendy Peterman, OSSS President
2024 OSSS Winter Meeting: The Willamette Valley Imagined in the Year 2124
The 2024 Winter Meeting was held March 15th-16th at the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest along the scenic McKenzie River. This year focused on the theme of sustainability in the Willamette Valley imagined in 2124.
Topics discussed included resilient soils, planetary boundaries, dryland farming, river restoration, and much more! This year we have set aside plenty of time for members to share their exciting research and ideas.
2024 Winter Meeting Keynote Presentation – “What if We Managed Forests to Sustain Soil Life?” by Dr. Cindy Prescott, University of British Columbia.
Thank you, Dr. Prescott, for sharing this incredible presentation and allowing us to share it on our website!
The 2023 Summer Tour was in the Ochoco National Forest September 8-10 2023!
Here is a map of locations and themes of previous Winter Meetings and Summer Tours! Where will we go next? Click here for a larger PDF version of the image at the left.
Past Minutes of Virtual Meetings
2023 Winter Hybrid Meeting minutes
2022 Hybrid Winter Meeting minutes
2021 Virtual Winter Meeting minutes