Collaborators & Stewards
We are dedicated to being a resource for the local community and stewards of the lands, waters, fish and wildlife
The Greater Yamhill Watershed Council exists in collaboration with the local community.
Our Mission
IMPROVING OUR WATERSHED THROUGH VOLUNTARY PARTNERSHIPS AND COMMUNITY-BASED SOLUTIONS
The Greater Yamhill Watershed Council (GYWC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to helping our local community be stewards of the lands, waters, and wildlife in the Yamhill and Chehalem Valleys.
All of our watershed programs are based on voluntary, collaborative partnerships. We do not use litigation, lobbying, enforcement, or compliance to achieve our mission.
Our History
SINCE 1995
In February 1995, the Board of Commissioners for Polk and Yamhill Counties ordered the creation of what would later be known as the Greater Yamhill Watershed Council.
1996
Creation of the first Action Plan and hiring of our first Executive Director.
2011
The GYWC was formally incorporated as a tax-exempt, 501c3 non-profit.
Board of Directors
GYWC Board Members serve 2-year terms to provide leadership and guidance for the management and administration of council operations and watershed programs.
The Board of Directors meets on the second Tuesday of every month. The public is welcome! Click for 2024 meeting agendas and minutes.
Staff Members
Greta Holmstrom
Executive Director
About Greta
Greta joined the watershed council in 2023, bringing over 20 years of professional experience in natural resource and land use planning.
She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Oregon State University in Natural Resource Management and a Master’s degree in Public Policy. She is also a Certified Floodplain Manager and Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist.
Greta grew up on a small farm in Hood River County and has always maintained a passion for connections around the natural environment. In her spare time, Greta is an avid gardener, small livestock farmer, and fiber artist.
Tom Wilson
Administrative Contractor
About Tom
Tom grew up in Blodgett, Oregon, and was a Rotary International Exchange Student to the Republic of the Philippines.
After graduating from the University of Oregon (he is a “platypus”), he joined the Peace Corps as a Natural Resources Educator and served in current North Macedonia and Ecuador, where he met his wife, another volunteer.
They taught English in Thailand for three years and have lived in the Willamette Valley ever since, now residing in Independence. Tom enjoys cooking, archery, and playing the drums, and he eats barbecue whenever he can.
