Dear Northwest Geology and Archaeology Community,

I am writing to introduce Malheur Field Station, a nonprofit educational facility located on the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge near Princeton, Oregon.

The field station sits within one of the Northwest’s most remarkable outdoor classrooms. Volcanic formations, faulted landscapes, ancient lakebeds, fossils, archaeological history, and the living cultures of the Northern Great Basin create opportunities to explore the long relationship between people, land, climate, and geological change.

Originally developed as a Job Corps campus and later established as a field station by a coalition of universities, our campus has supported field research and experiential education for decades. Today, we are rebuilding those academic and community connections while expanding opportunities for university classes, professional organizations, clubs, educators, students, and curious members of the public.

We would love to welcome your organization to Malheur Field Station for:

• Geology or archaeology field trips

• University field courses and research

• Lectures, workshops, and educational retreats

• Rock art, regional history, and cultural-landscape programs

• Geology, paleontology, and natural-history excursions

• Collaborative public programs and guest presentations

• Multi-day gatherings for members, students, or faculty

Our campus can accommodate individuals and groups of up to approximately 75 people. Lodging options include shared dormitories, private rooms, small houses, and RV hookups. We can also provide meeting and classroom space, dining services for groups of ten or more, and assistance developing an itinerary around the interests of your organization.

Archaeology-related programs would be developed with deep respect for Tribal sovereignty, cultural-resource protections, and the guidance of qualified professionals. Our purpose is not simply to look at objects from the past, but to help people understand the relationships, responsibilities, and living histories held within this landscape.

We would be delighted to discuss a group visit, field course, workshop, guest lecture, or longer-term educational partnership. If this opportunity may interest your members or faculty, please contact us at malheurfieldstation@gmail.com or call or text us at (541) 493-2629.

We hope you will consider joining us in the high desert, where the stories beneath our feet stretch across deep geological time and generations of human experience.

Warmly,

Elizabeth Basa
Executive Director
Malheur Field Station
Great Basin Society, Inc.
malheurfieldstation@gmail.com
(541) 493-2629

Nominations are now open for the Society for American Archaeology’s Award for Excellence in Cultural Resource Management.

The award recognizes individuals, groups, organizations, projects, or programs that have made significant contributions to archaeology or historic preservation in a cultural resource management setting. Contributions may include preservation and site protection, research, public interpretation and education, consultation and community collaboration, program development, policy and planning, or exemplary approaches to fieldwork, reporting, mitigation, monitoring, and stewardship.

This is an opportunity to recognize outstanding work across the broad range of cultural resource management practice—including accomplishments that may not always receive wider professional recognition.

Nomination deadline: December 31, 2026

Any professional archaeologist may submit a nomination, and nominees do not need to be SAA members.

Award information and nomination instructions:
https://saa.org/SAAMember/Career-and-Practice/Award/Award-for-Excellence-in-Cultural-Resource-Management.aspx

Please consider nominating a deserving colleague, team, organization, project, or program—and please share this announcement with others who may know of exemplary work deserving recognition.

Please send Nomination Packages any questions to Julie.Esdale@colostate.edu (Excellence in CRM Award Committee Chair)

A message for Washingtonians from the 106 Strong Coalition at Cultural Heritage Partners: 

We are connecting our coalition members within individual states to assist you in sharing state-level intel and to coordinate participation in congressional meetings as desired. PLEASE reach out to your congressional representatives to ensure their NO vote on the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act.

 

Washington’s Senators are Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell: https://www.senate.gov/states/WA/intro.htm.  

Washington’s House members are available here.  

 

Call the office and ask for an in-person meeting. If the office directs you to an online scheduling form, complete it promptly, and then follow up by phone. Please tell us what they say when you contact them using this link.

 

Other resources for you include the Save 106 District Meeting Playbook, the one-pager fact sheet, actual draft bill, and the webinar slides and recording all available here.

 

Thank you for your support of historic preservation. We are in this together!

 

-Shayla at Cultural Heritage Partners on behalf of the 106 Strong Coalition

Alta Heritage Foundation, a charitable non-profit organization, seeks volunteers to assist in providing recovery of previously cremated human remains (cremains) to survivors of wildfires.

The Alta Heritage Foundation has worked 20 disasters and almost 500 recoveries on the West Coast. They are organizing a response to the devastating Spokane fires. Part of this involves building out their roster of archaeology volunteers in Washington and northern Oregon. As a volunteer, you will make lasting contributions to the recovery effort for those impacted by wildfires.

They are looking to reconnect with volunteers who served the communities of Detroit, Phoenix, Ashland, and surrounding areas during the destructive fires of 2020. If you assisted in these volunteer efforts please consider volunteering again.

If you have not previously volunteered, they still want to hear from you! 

All prospective volunteers (previous and new) please fill out this form. 

They are anticipating their volunteer work in Spokane to occur before the end of the calendar year, but the specific dates have not yet been determined. Filling out the form does not obligate you to volunteer. Once they have dates, AHF will reach out to prospective volunteers to confirm availability.

Volunteers are provided with training and work in teams partnered with a trained K9 and its handler. The AHF provides most PPE. A list of equipment and recommended gear will be sent out ahead of any deployment. 

From the AHF website: "In the aftermath of devastating wildfires, the Alta Heritage Foundation provides a unique and compassionate service: the recovery of cremated human remains from homes and structures destroyed by fire. For many families, these remains represent a profound and irreplaceable connection to their loved ones—and recovering them is a vital step in the healing process. AHF deploys specialized teams consisting of forensic archaeologists and human detection dogs to search through the ashes and debris left behind carefully. These canine units are specifically trained to detect the presence of cremated remains, even under the most challenging conditions. Working alongside experienced archaeologists, they ensure that recoveries are conducted with the highest level of care, dignity, and respect.

AHF exclusively offers this deeply restorative service, often bringing families peace and closure amid overwhelming loss. Many wildfire survivors have shared that this support was the most meaningful part of their recovery journey, allowing them to reclaim a sacred piece of their history and begin rebuilding their lives.

AHF has received widespread recognition for its innovative and compassionate efforts to support victims of wildfires. From communities across California and Oregon, our work has been acknowledged by media, humanitarian organizations, and emergency response networks. Our approach—blending forensic science, cultural sensitivity, and emotional healing—has set a new standard in post-disaster recovery. Whether it’s recovering cremated remains, preserving family legacies, or helping communities rebuild with dignity, AHF’s mission continues to resonate across borders. This recognition reflects not just the uniqueness of our services, but the profound impact they have on the lives of those we serve.

AHF is honored to offer this free service, helping families heal while preserving the dignity and memory of those lost." 

At long last, the AWA Legislative Action Committee (LAC) is back in action!!
Doug Mcfarland MS, RPA is now the committee chair and open to new volunteers! With all the threats to Section 106, now is a great time to get involved.

The LAC aims to keep the membership up to date on relevant legislative activity through various channels, such as the Society for American Archaeology, National and Washington Trusts for Historic Preservation, Preservation Action, the Coalition for American Heritage, and the State Heritage Caucus. The LAC Chair may also be the AWA's Government Affairs Network of State Representatives (GANSR) representative.

The LAC shares information with the Board and encourages the AWA membership to take action; when merited, the LAC provides advice and guidance on how to do so. For example, the Committee may draft comments on pending legislation for the Board to sign, or the Committee might prepare articles for the AWA newsletter to inform the membership about important regulatory issues. The LAC also responds to inquiries about legislation posed to the association by members or the general public.

For more information or to get involved, please reach out to Doug at awa.legislativeaction@gmail.com or fill out the AWA Volunteer Sign Up Form!

The Alta Heritage Foundation is mobilizing in response to recent fires in Spokane and other parts of Washington. This nonprofit organization provides a free service to help wildfire survivors recover the cremated remains of loved ones from homes destroyed by fire. Volunteer archaeologists and specially trained canines conduct this deeply meaningful work with care, sensitivity, and exceptional professionalism.

Archaeologists in Washington are encouraged to support these efforts by...

• Sharing: If you know someone who lost their home in a wildfire and needs help recovering cremated remains, please direct them to: https://altaheritagefoundation.org/service-request/
• Donating: Help keep this service free for wildfire survivors by making a donation at: https://altaheritagefoundation.org/make-a-donation/
• Volunteering: Learn how you can get involved at: https://altaheritagefoundation.org/volunteer/

This is meaningful work that can offer comfort and support to those recovering from such tremendous loss and devastation, so please help us get the word out!

Alta Heritage Foundation Flyer

 

A new resource is available on the proposed revisions to the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Section 106 regulations.

While the public comment period has not yet opened, now is a good time to familiarize yourself with the proposal and be ready to participate when it does.

Our History Is at Risk: A Briefing on the Proposed National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 Revisions by Anna Coon, Elizabeth Wessells, and Adam Rorabaugh provides a comprehensive overview of the proposed changes, why they matter, and what they could mean for historic preservation and cultural resource management. We encourage you to give it a read, and share with as many colleagues as possible!

Calling All College and Grad Students!

Apply by THIS FRIDAY, JULY 31st to the AWA's Student Research Presentation Grant. This grant supports students who are presenting research at a conference (eg a paper, poster, participating in a panel, etc), including virtual presentations. The funding is $200 for a domestic conference or $300 for international.

FYI, there are two rounds of this grant every year. This round is for conferences happening from August to January.

Find more details and application info here: Student Research Presentation Grant

Questions? Email: awa.grants@gmail.com

Today, July 24, 2026, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) plans to vote on its proposed severe revisions of the Section 106 process of the National Historic Preservation Act. While Section 106 does have room to be improved, the ACHP’s draft regulations upend the system relied on for decades for ensuring significant public history is considered before federal projects proceed. 

The rule changes stunningly reduce the accountability of federal agencies, which would no longer be required to communicate their actions publicly, to engage in government-to-government consultation with States or Tribes, or gather and respond to public comment from individuals, communities, and other concerned stakeholders. All these become optional and at the discretion of the federal agency.

The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA) came to be because of the dedicated efforts of communities tired of having the unique character of their neighborhoods, their cultural places, or their heritage destroyed so the next interstate or urban “renewal” project could proceed. The ACHP’s duties, as intended by federal law, is distinct among federal agencies and meant to advance historic preservation and public engagement across the nation, not sideline these in favor of quick, short-sighted development projects and short-term financial gain.

The grassroots power of communities that led to the NHPA in the 1960s has led to the professional networks, private and public sector relationships, interfaith and intercultural connections, and tapestry of historic preservation that we know today. Together our voices can be strong.

You may be asking yourself, what can I do to help?

Call to Action

• Volunteer as AWA’s Government Affairs Network Representation (GANSR) to follow legislative and policy issues and alert our community. (Position is Currently Vacant)

• Join the AWA’s Legislative Action Committee to help define strategy and focus. (We need dedicated volunteers to revive this important committee!)

• Find your Congressional representatives and senators, and voice your concerns immediately.

• • https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative 

  • https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm 

• Start drafting your public comment letter now, following this 8-point guide from Cultural Heritage Partners.

• • https://culturalheritagepartners.com/war-room-for-threats-to-section-106/ 

There will be a 30-day public comment period for these proposed rule changes, where you can put into the public record what matters about Section 106, why any number of these revisions may be a misstep, and what a better path forward could be instead. We will alert you when this period opens. 

Additional Info

Scoping for Public Comment: A public comment period for the proposed changes to Section 106 is expected, but has not opened yet. Once it does, comments can be submitted through Regulations.gov using the appropriate docket or RIN number.

https://www.regulations.gov/

War Room for Threats to Section 106: This resource page from the Cultural Heritage Partners provides updates, analysis, and advocacy information regarding proposed changes to Section 106 regulations. It includes summaries of concerns about potential impacts to consultation, Tribal and public participation, and the federal historic preservation review process, along with related resources and action alerts.

The “Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP)’s Proposed Rewrite of the Section 106 Regulations” video briefing for preservation allies on what’s proposed, what it would mean, and how we respond together is included in the link below.

https://culturalheritagepartners.com/war-room-for-threats-to-section-106/

Save Section 106: A tool that helps visitors compose letters/emails to send representatives.

https://section106.org/

Section 106 Is Under Threat: What You Need to Know: This article from the National Trust for Historic Preservation explains the proposed changes to Section 106 regulations, highlights key provisions that would weaken protections for historic and cultural resources, and provides updates on advocacy efforts and ways to stay informed.

https://savingplaces.org/stories/section-106-under-threat

The End of Section 106 as We Know It?: This article from the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers summarizes the proposed revisions to Section 106 regulations and argues that they would fundamentally shift the process from collaborative consultation to agency-led decision-making, reducing the role of SHPOs, THPOs, Tribes, local governments, and the public. It also outlines several of the proposal's major changes and their potential implications…

https://ncshpo.org/2026/07/20/the-end-of-section-106-as-we-know-it/

Now Spread the Word

Note that all of this information is included in the following comprehensive briefing, Our History Is at Risk: A Briefing on the Proposed National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 Revisions, by Anna Coon, Elizabeth Wessells, and Adam Rorabaugh. We encourage you to download, print, and share this briefing widely in the coming weeks.

Proposed Changes to Section 106