Forever Wild is a non-profit dedicated to the rehabilitation and the return to the wild of injured and orphaned wildlife in the beautiful Umpqua Watershed.

The Umpqua Fishery Enhancement Derby (UFED) has become one of the premier events of its kind in the Pacific Northwest. All money raised goes toward fish enhancement/restoration projects and fish educational opportunities in the Umpqua Basin. UFED has contributed more than $1.9 million in matching funds toward hundreds of projects over the past thirty years. The 2022 Derby event alone raised more than $100,000 to invest in the Umpqua.

The Derby began as two-day guided fishing trips with about 75 local participants attending a dinner and auction in a small motel conference room and raised $7000 for projects. Over the past 30 years UFED has grown into a popular four-day event with hundreds of sponsors and donors from all around the state joining us in support of Umpqua Basin fish populations and angling opportunities. The UFED Dinner/Auction and Derby Fishing Teams are sold-out early, with more sponsors always welcome.

UFED is proud of the gracious funding-support dedicated to the hundreds of projects that have been completed in the Umpqua basin and are excited to reach the 2-million- dollar goal of donated funds since 1993 to continue these enhancement and education activities.

Each year our Derby event runs from Wednesday through Saturday the end of January/first of February. The event begins with "Student Day: Project Fish" on Wednesday where 25-30 high school students spend a day on a Rock Creek watershed tour with local natural resources specialists. "Kids Day" is on Thursday where fifth grade students from a local elementary school are treated to a morning of fishing on Cooper Creek Reservoir with our Derby Guides, North River jet boat rides, and outdoor lunch as recognition for a hatchery program on their school campus and year-round lessons about fish. The catch-and-release winter steelhead fishing takes place on Friday and Saturday on the North, South, and Main Umpqua rivers. The Derby draws fishermen from throughout Oregon and the best fishing guides in Southern Oregon. Thursday evening is a Crab Feed and raffle for the “Fishing Teams” and their sponsors.

Our annual UFED Banquet and Auction takes place on Friday evening at the Fairgrounds. This has become one of the most popular events in Douglas County with an attendance of over 600 people. This is the major fund-raising event for our projects and offers the attendees many opportunities to bid on several oral and silent auction items, raffle items, and always enjoy a fun gathering with great food and drinks.

The 2023 Umpqua Fishery Enhancement Derby is February 1st-4th. If you would like more information about UFED and our projects, please contact Tina Roy by emailing tina@dougtimber.org or call (541) 672-0757

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This UFED video project is not affiliated with or supported by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and its official agency fish counts estimates. Contact the ODFW Roseburg office (541-440-3353) regarding questions about the Winchester dam fish ladder and public viewing area.

Umpqua Fish

Awesome day today with the Eastwood kids releasing the Steelhead they helped raise! Such a wonderful program!

Eastwood Elementary Students Release Steelhead They Helped Raise