Rural Oregon knows the value of hard work. We show up, get our hands dirty, help our neighbors, and figure out how to get a job done with what we have.

We don’t always agree on how to do it.

For decades, the Row River Valley had no local fire district or fire station. Most residents agreed we needed a better answer for fire and emergency response. Forming a rural fire district was one solution, and it came with a new property tax. Some residents strongly opposed it. Most supported it. People came to community meetings, asked hard questions, challenged proposals and worked through what local fire protection would require.

Our community income survey took us door to door. Rural neighbors are friendly, but we can also be fiercely private. Many of us knew each other well enough to wave as we passed on the road. Knocking on doors gave us the chance to stop and talk.

Those conversations went beyond fire protection. We learned more about our neighbors, the skills and knowledge already here, and other needs across the valley. Think Tank Tuesday grew from that experience: bring people together, invite someone who knows the subject, ask questions, share what we know, and figure out what we can do locally.

In May 2024, voters approved the Row River Rural Fire Protection District.

The work has continued to grow from there — wildfire preparedness, permanent fire stations, Neighborhood Teams, watershed and pathway stewardship, community communication and the next good idea a neighbor brings to Think Tank Tuesday.

We know more of our neighbors now. That has become one of the greatest strengths of our community.

Our Community at a Glance

Serving a rural community of approximately 1,200 residents and 500 households.

+1200 Residents

+/- 500 Households

87 Active Volunteers

+/- 435 Community Volunteers Hours Monthly

27 Properties Mitigated

119 Properties Planned Mitigations

5 Hyper-local Neighborhood Teams

Where We Need Help

What began around a kitchen table has grown into work that now reaches across the Row River Valley. We have good people beside us, including residents, volunteers, agencies, foundations and other partners.

Right now, our greatest needs are funding for our permanent fire stations, protection and development of the Disston Pathway, and enough working capacity to support the community work already underway.

Fire-EMS-Response Infrastructure

Permanent Fire Stations

Land has been secured for both the Dorena Main Station and Disston Auxiliary Station.

Disston is fully permitted and ready to build. Our next step is securing the remaining capital for construction.

Dorena continues to advance through federal funding and preconstruction work toward a permanent main station.

What’s next: Build the Disston Auxiliary Station and continue moving the Dorena Main Station toward construction.

See Fire Station Progress & Ways to Partner
Environmental Stewardship

Protecting the Disston Pathway & Watershed

RRVCP is responsible for approximately four miles of the former Old Mill Road through Disston, alongside forests and waterways that are part of the Upper Coast Fork Willamette watershed.

Neighbors have already begun helping care for the pathway. Our next work includes installing bollards to prevent unauthorized vehicle access and dumping, improving the pathway, and continuing to build a long-term stewardship effort with residents and conservation partners.

What’s next: Secure funding for bollards and pathway improvements while continuing the stewardship work already underway.

See Our Land & Water Work
Community Support

Investing in the People Behind the Work

RRVCP grew from volunteer effort, and volunteers remain an important part of how things get done in the Row River Valley.

The organization supporting that work is very small. Community meetings, Neighborhood Teams, Think Tank Tuesday, the Row River Review, grants, partnerships, events and volunteer projects all require someone behind them to organize, communicate and follow through.

Our greatest need is dependable operating support.

The work has grown faster than the funding for the people carrying it. Staff time is increasingly being volunteered to keep programs and commitments moving forward. We can do that for a while. We cannot build a sustainable community organization that way.

Operating support gives us the working time to coordinate volunteers, manage grants, support Neighborhood Teams, publish the Row River Review, meet with agencies and partners, organize community gatherings and keep projects moving.

It also gives us enough room to explore a good idea when a neighbor brings it to Think Tank Tuesday and, with the community’s support, help move it forward.

Help Build Rural Community Capacity