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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Jackson County's GMO ban is legal under state law, judge rules ... Second suspect charged in February arson in Medford ... Jackson County run now an official qualifier for Boston Marathon ... Jackson County's GMO ban is legal under state law, judge rules ... Second suspect charged in February arson in Medford ... Jackson County run now an official qualifier for Boston Marathon ... OUR VIEW Our View: A fitting legacy for a wildlife champion MailTribune.com Writer Posted May. 28, 2015 @ 12:01 am Posted May. 28, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> The vision of a longtime state wildlife official has become a unique partnership between resource extraction and habitat conservation that will create a wildlife area for generations of future Oregonians. Bob Mace, former deputy director of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, coined the term "watchable wildlife" to encompass what once were called "nongame" species, meaning those not hunted. After his death in 2006, Mace's estate permanently endowed  the Bob and Phyllis Mace Watchable Wildlife chair at Oregon State University and an annual scholarship fund to benefit dedicated undergraduates. But his generosity and vision didn't end there. Mace also bequeathed his family's 165-acre homestead along the Rogue River, to be developed as the Mace Family Watchable Wildlife Area. The future attraction features river frontage the length of six football fields, and plans include the restoration of Whetstone Creek for wildlife habitat. The partnership comes in with the future use of commercial gravel pits on the property. Excavation rights were sold to Knife River Materials. The royalties from the gravel operation will go into a trust fund managed by the Oregon Community Foundation, with earnings dedicated to developing the Watchable W ildlife Area and similar projects on the valley floor. The gravel quarry eventually will be abandoned and filled with groundwater, creating a 125-acre lake. Plans call for stocking it with trout and perhaps other fish species as well. It may be 30 years before the entire project is completed, but it will be well worth the wait.  In this way, a man who dedicated his life to preserving and protecting wild animal species will continue to do so long after his death, benefiting generations not even born yet. Bob Mace was highly respected during his career. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council, of which he was a 23-year member, established the  Bob Mace Distinguished Service Award in his honor, describing him as "the epitome of a true gentleman." The wildlife area that will bear his family's name is a fitting tribute to his life's work. MailTribune.com Writer Posted May. 28, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501