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County Commissioners Tour Watershed Projects
July 24, 2008
News Media Contacts
● Brad Carlson, Middle Rogue Watershed Council Coordinator, 541-474-6799
● Gail Perrotti, Seven Basins Watershed Council Coordinator, 541-261-7796
● Kevin O’Brien, Illinois Valley Watershed Council Coordinator, 541-441-8801
Projects Save Homes and Protect Fish
Grants Pass, OR- On Tuesday, July 22, County Commissioners Dwight Ellis (Josephine County), C.W. Smith (Jackson County) and a staff person from the office of Representative Dennis Richardson (Central Point) participated in a tour hosted by three local watershed councils. They visited projects demonstrating the valuable work watershed councils perform. The hosts: Seven Basins Watershed Council, Middle Rogue Watershed Council and Illinois Valley Watershed Council, are locally organized and utilize a grassroots approach to involve people in voluntary conservation. Many of the projects watershed councils undertake are funded primarily through grants from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, a state agency that since 1999 has awarded nearly a $14 million to projects in Jackson and Josephine counties. "Today was the first time I had the opportunity to see for myself the work watershed councils do. It's truly amazing what a few paid staff are accomplishing with little resources, lots of volunteers, partners and willing landowners," remarked Commissioner Ellis.
Preventing Wildfires Saves Homes and Protects Watersheds
The first stop of the day was to visit a site near the city of Gold Hill where fuel reduction efforts seek to minimize the chances of catastrophic wildfires. "Fire has a link to watershed health," stated Max Bennett of OSU Extension Service. Bennett noted that underbrush, grasses and trees can lead to more intense wildfires. "The effects of high intensity fires on streams and rivers include increased runoff and accelerated erosion, which in turn lead to more debris flowing downstream and higher chances for landslides and floods." By talking to neighbors, Seven Basins Watershed Council volunteers found landowners willing to decrease the potential for high-intensity fires by changing the way they take care of their properties. The council worked with a variety of agencies (OSU Extension, Oregon Department of Forestry, Southwest Oregon Resource Conservation & Development Council) and private landowners. Together, they improved 1,300 acres of land in coordination with the Bureau of Land Management which treated an additional 4,100 acres.
Developing a Sense of Stewardship
The second stop of the tour was to visit a riparian tree planting project done by the Middle Rogue Watershed Council. Since 2003, the Council has helped landowners appreciate the benefits of trees along rivers and streams. Trees help stabilize streambanks and also improve water quality and wildlife habitat. At this site, the removal of trees and other vegetation from riverbanks upstream led to increased erosion downstream on a landowner's property. "I want to fix things, and make this stream healthy," said Brad Carlson, Middle Rogue Watershed Council Coordinator, "but I also need to recognize how valuable the land is to the owner." By meeting with 172 individual property owners, and by enlisting the volunteer help of the Middle Rogue Steelheaders and Southern Oregon Flyfishers, the Council has restored nearly 7 miles of stream by planting approximately 15,000 tree seedlings.
Creating Habitat for Salmon
The third stop of the day was to visit a site in the Illinois Valley. Council Coordinator Kevin O'Brien gradually gained the trust of the landowners by demonstrating his desire to find a win-win solution-one that is good for both the value of the property as well as the Coho and steelhead that inhabit the stream. By placing large wood structures in the creek, a tributary of the mainstem Illinois, water in the stream will be slowed. This in turn allows gravel to accumulate, increasing the habitat value for steelhead, Coho and Chinook salmon.
"Today's tour has been a perfect example of how a good idea goes a long way. The primary benefits of these projects have been to the rural landowners who are willing to work with friends and neighbors to solve a universal problem-that of water quality and quantity in the years ahead," stated Commissioner Smith at the conclusion of the tour.
About Watershed Councils
Watershed councils play an essential role in Oregon's unique brand of cooperative conservation of our natural resources. Locally organized, watershed councils represent a balance of interested persons within the watershed. They use a collaborative approach to protect their watershed from ridge top to ridge top by addressing issues such as: water quality, salmon and wildlife habitat restoration, invasive species, forestry management, and natural resource education.
About the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board
OWEB invests in local actions across the state to conserve and restore habitat supporting fish and wildlife. OWEB funding comes from the Oregon Lottery as a result of a citizen initiative in 1998, sales of salmon license plates, federal salmon funds, and other sources.
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