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| OWEB Board approves $10.7 million in Lottery, federal and salmon plate funds | ||
| 03/15/2007 | ||
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06-07
March 15, 2007For immediate release News media contact: See reference to regional OWEB staff below Editors/reporters: A complete list of funded projects by county also will be posted Friday on OWEB’s Website at: www.oregon.gov/OWEB. Click on “News and Announcements” in the upper right corner. See also a separate release posted regarding funds from sales of salmon license plates. 136 projects will benefit water and fish across Oregon Projects totaling more than $10 million were approved to protect and improve streams, lakes and wetlands in many Oregon counties using Lottery funds, federal funds and revenue from salmon license plates at Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board meetings this week in Eugene. Board members approved 136 grant requests totaling approximately $10.7 million for 66 restoration projects, three acquisition projects and numerous related watershed improvement activities. Larger restoration requests approved include: $320,000 to remove an undersized, eroded culvert and improve stream and streambank conditions on two miles of Wolfe Creek in Tillamook County, $219,000 to return 580 acres of farmland to a natural state in Linn County, $650,000, to increase floodwater storage capacity and fish habitat on Johnson Creek in Multnomah County, $500,000 to increase streamflow in the Deschutes River by replacing open canals with closed pipelines in Deschutes County, and $195,000 for 18 projects removing barriers to fish passage and increasing streamflow on salmon streams in Wheeler County. Board members awarded nearly $19,000 for a 29-year water lease to improve streamflow and fish habitat in Evans Creek near Wimer in Jackson County, $364,000 to purchase 30 acres along the Sandy River near ZigZag, and $127,000 to purchase 21 acres of woodland, wetland and marsh near Walterville on the McKenzie River. Board members authorized $219,400 in salmon license plate revenue for three projects in Benton, Coos and Grant counties that will open 16 miles of streams to fish and reduce erosion along 7.5 miles of road. Examples of funded projects, by region, include: NORTH COAST For more information: OWEB North Coast Program Representative Tom Shafer, 541-528-7451 or e-mail: tshafer@peak.org Project restores tidal wetland from diked pastureland APPLICATION NO.: 207-261 PROJECT TYPE: Restoration Tillamook County: Little Nestucca River Restoration Project APPLICANT: Ducks Unlimited Inc. OWEB FUNDS APPROVED: $180,127 TOTAL COST: $652,030
In this project, Ducks Unlimited Inc. seeks to re-establish full tidal wetland functions on 87 acres by breaching and/or removing a dike, re-establishing approximately 3,700 feet of tidal channel, filling roughly 2,800 feet of drainage ditches and placing 96 unsecured pieces of large wood into the tidal channels and wetlands. Approximately 3,870 lineal feet of new levee will be constructed on the eastern and northern property boundaries to protect adjacent landowners and the Little Nestucca Highway from extreme high water events that may occur as a result of removing the existing dike. The project site is part of the Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge. In the early 20th century, the property was diked and ditched to create pastureland. Historically, the salt marsh and tidal channels captured behind the dike would have supported chinook, coho, chum, steelhead and cutthroat trout during different stages of their life cycles. Partnering in the project is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Cool water from Munson Creek will help Tillamook River fish APPLICATION NO.: 207-264 PROJECT TYPE: Restoration
Tillamook County: Munson Creek Habitat Restoration Project APPLICANT: Tillamook Bay Watershed Council OWEB FUNDS APPROVED: $163, 855 TOTAL COST: $221,761
This multi-component project includes the construction of a bridge to replace an undersized culvert currently acting as a barrier to fish passage and the placement of large log structures at 30 different sites in the mainstem of Munson Creek in order to create pools and to vary water speed. Munson Creek is a 2,276-acre tributary to the Tillamook River, entering from the east roughly 10 miles above the Tillamook’s confluence with Tillamook Bay. Munson Creek supports populations of chinook, coho, steelhead, chum and cutthroat trout and it is a source of cold water to the Tillamook River even during the summer months when the Tillamook exceeds the temperature threshold for salmon. Project partners include the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, the Tillamook Estuaries Partnership and the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.
Project improves fish conditions on 2.4 miles of Wolfe Creek APPLICATION NO: 207-268 PROJECT TYPE: Restoration
Tillamook County: Wolfe Creek Enhancement Project APPLICANT: Tillamook Estuaries Partnership OWEB FUNDS APPROVED: $320,138 TOTAL COST: $403,608
Wolfe Creek is identified as a high priority restoration opportunity in many Nestucca River basin studies. Three problems limit the production of salmon in the Wolfe Creek sub-basin: 1) an undersized, eroded culvert within 50 feet of the confluence with the Nestucca that is a barrier to adult fish passage at most flows and to juvenile fish at all flows; 2) degraded instream habitat and; 3) degraded streambank habitat. This project will replace the culvert with a larger, open-bottom, arched culvert; will place approximately 190 logs instream throughout two miles above the culvert; and plant 2.4 miles of streambank area upstream of the culvert. Project partners include the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, the U.S. Forest Service, the National Forest Foundation, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Tillamook Native Plant Coop.
SOUTHWEST OREGON For more information: OWEB Southwest Oregon Program Representative Mark Grenbemer, 541-776-6010 ext. 231 or e-mail: grenbemer.mark@deq.state.or.us Project will reduce sediment in four streams APPLICATION NO.: 207-295 PROJECT TYPE: Restoration Curry County: Curry Sediment Abatement 2007 APPLICANT: South Coast Watershed Council OWEB FUNDS APPROVED: $144,270 TOTAL COST: $218,270
The project will reduce sediment in the New River, Floras Creek, Sixes River and Hubbard Creek watersheds through the upgrade of under-sized stream crossings, adding culverts to carry water from roadside ditches to drain on the downhill side of roads, and stabilizing upland pasture gullies using rock dam structures to slow water speed. Bridges constructed from used railroad flatcars will be placed over some streams. Fine sediment significantly limits the water quality, channel stability and instream salmon habitat in the watersheds. Moore Mill and Lumber Co., Wahl Ranches, Bob Donaldson, Hildebrand Ranches and Jim Donaldson are all cooperating parties. Project partners include the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Oregon Department of Forestry and EcoTrust. Logs and boulders will improve fish habitat on Buck Creek APPLICATION NO.: 207-299 PROJECT TYPE: Restoration Douglas County: Buck Creek Habitat Restoration Project APPLICANT: Elk Creek Watershed Council OWEB FUNDS APPROVED: $88,225 TOTAL COST: $145,874
The project will create 12 log structures in Buck Creek located in the Umpqua River watershed to improve instream habitat diversity for ocean-going and resident types of fish. Three failing culverts also will be replaced with bridges. The project will place approximately 60 large logs and 30 tons of boulders in 1.5 miles of Buck Creek in 12 sites. Project activities will retain spawning gravels and create habitat complexes for coho, steelhead and cutthroat trout. Log jams will be created using the large logs. The streambank is currently overrun with blackberries in locations and the berries will be removed. Native trees and shrubs will be planted. Project partners include the Bureau of Land Management, Douglas County, Umpqua Fish Enhancement Derby, private landowners, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Elk Creek Watershed Council. WILLAMETTE RIVER BASIN For more information: OWEB Willamette Basin Program Representative Wendy Hudson, 503-986-0061 or wendy.hudson@state.or.us Sandy River property purchase near ZigZag preserves half-mile of riverfront APPLICATION NO.: 207-072 PROJECT TYPE: Acquisition Clackamas County: Sandy River Conservation Project APPLICANT: Western Rivers Conservancy OWEB FUNDS APPROVED: $364,000 TOTAL COST: $970,000
OWEB funds will help the Western Rivers Conservancy purchase 30 acres along the Sandy River near ZigZag. The purchase will protect one-half mile of riverfront. This stretch of the river is primary habitat for winter steelhead and spring Chinook. The property contains rare and at-risk plant communities and habitat for specific types of birds, salamanders, frogs and bats. Partners include the Western Rivers Conservancy (the applicant), the Sandy River Watershed Council and the Sandy River Basin Partners. Returning farmland to natural state will benefit water quality in area APPLICATION NO.: 207-312 PROJECT TYPE: Restoration Linn County: M-DAC Farms Wetland Restoration APPLICANT: Cascade Pacific RC&D OWEB FUNDS APPROVED: $219,274 TOTAL COST: $2,483,957
This project will return 580 acres of farmland in Linn County to its natural wetland state prior to settlement. By re-creating historic wetlands, the project will restore natural distribution and circulation of water, which will provide important benefits to area water quality. The transformation will require removing agricultural drainage ditches, re-contouring the land to create a shallow basin, removing non-native plants through controlled burns and other means, and seeding and planting native plants and trees. Partners include the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Project increases flood control and improves fish habitat on Johnson Creek APPLICATION NO.: 207-317 PROJECT TYPE: Restoration Multnomah County: Johnson Creek Fish Habitat and Floodplain Restoration Project at East Powell Butte APPLICANT: Johnson Creek WSC OWEB FUNDS APPROVED: $600,450 TOTAL COST: $6,953,815
This project will provide 100 acre-feet of additional flood water storage capacity, restore 20 acres of historic fish habitat, and reconnect five acres of off-channel rearing and refuge habitat for native fish. The work will focus mainly on returning the existing stream channel to its historic, winding route. The new streambanks will be shaped to connect the stream and floodplain areas by water channels and to provide favorable planting surfaces for native vegetation. More than 26,000 new trees and shrubs will be planted. Important fish habitat will be created in the stream and its backwaters by construction of alternating pool and riffle bed forms and placement of large wood in the stream. Project partners include the Portland Bureau of Environmental Services, Portland Parks and Recreation, Friends of Trees, and numerous volunteer stewards. CENTRAL OREGON For more information: OWEB Central Oregon Program Representative Rick Craiger, 541-923-7353 or SL00015@bendbroadband.com Pipeline will save water for transfer into Middle Deschutes River APPLICATION NO.: 207-319 PROJECT TYPE: Restoration Deschutes County: Middle Deschutes Streamflow Restoration Project Phase II APPLICANT: Deschutes River Conservancy OWEB FUNDS APPROVED: $500,000 TOTAL COST: $6,678,750
This project is one of several designed to increase flow in the Middle Deschutes River between Bend and Lake Billy Chinook. Open canals within the Swalley Irrigation Disrict will be converted to closed pipelines to reduce water loss from evaporation and seepage. All of the water conserved by this project will be transferred legally as a water right to remain in the Deschutes. A small hydroelectric generation plant will be constructed at the end of this project that will generate revenue to fund the piping of smaller canals within the irrigation district. Partners in the project include the Swalley Irrigation District, the Deschutes River Conservancy and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation/Bonneville Power Administration Columbia Basin Water Transactions Program. (OWEB has committed an additional $998,750 for the project to be allocated during the next two-year budget period.) Piping water from springs improves range conditions and wildlife habitat APPLICATION NO.: 207-320 PROJECT TYPE: Restoration Lake County: Beaty Butte Grazing Distribution Project APPLICANT: Warner Valley Watershed Council OWEB FUNDS APPROVED: $56,604 TOTAL COST: $85,098
This project will pipe water from two springs through black PVC pipe to six water troughs to protect the areas around the springs from overuse by cattle by distributing the livestock across the land. Some water will be left to flow naturally from the springs to provide habitat for young sage grouse during the summer. One spring will have four miles of piping and the other will have five miles of piping. The Bureau of Land Management has done similar successful spring developments within this 540,000-acre grazing area. Partners include the BLM, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Beatty Butte Grazing Association. EASTERN OREGON For more information: OWEB Eastern Oregon Program Representative Karen Leiendecker, 541-426-0342 or kleiende@eou.edu STELLAR gives Walla Walla basin residents knowledge of watersheds APPLICATION NO.:207-218 PROJECT TYPE: Education Umatilla County: STELLAR APPLICANT: Walla Walla Basin Watershed Council OWEB FUNDS APPROVED: $16,164 TOTAL COST: $31,350
The Science, Technology, Environment, Land Lab and Research (STELLAR) program provides natural resource learning experiences for Walla Walla basin residents. The program emphasizes watershed-related topics, serves mostly students and offers a number of community-wide activities. Project objectives are to increase teachers’ and students’ knowledge and awareness of watershed components, processes and functions, maintain the Learning Lab and communicate watershed processes to various ages. Some of the activities include habitat field studies, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Salmon/Trout Enhancement Program project, watershed field day, streamkeepers, math lab, day camp and others. Partners are Wildhorse Foundation, Umatilla County, Milton-Freewater ESD and volunteers. Signs on Steens Mtn. loop road will explain juniper removal techniques APPLICATION NO.: 207-219 PROJECT TYPE: Education Harney County: Wildlands Juniper Management Interpretive Project APPLICANT: Harney Watershed Council OWEB FUNDS APPROVED: $35,000 TOTAL COST: $112,463
This project will educate Steens Mtn. visitors about juniper removal techniques and provide background on juniper encroachment during the past 80 years. Seven two-acre demonstration plots will demonstrate various techniques of juniper removal with signs describing each respective technique. The techniques include: explosives; cut and let lay; non-powered handsaws; chainsaw and burn; burn only; mechanical cut, pile and burn; and a control plot with no treatment. Funds will be used for brochures, vehicle pullouts, interpretive portals, portal signs and seven individual plot signs. Partners include the Bureau of Land Management, Crane High School, the Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center Station and Harney Watershed Council. Irrigation system improvements provide benefits to fish APPLICATION NO.: 207-330 PROJECT TYPE: Restoration Wheeler County: Middle John Day/North Fork Project Implementation APPLICANT: Wheeler Soil and Water Conservation District OWEB FUNDS APPROVED: $195,375 TOTAL COST: $1,748,034
OWEB funds for this project supplement $1.3 million from the Bonneville Power Administration to correct previously identified barriers to fish passage and to improve inefficient open-ditch irrigation systems. The work will benefit salmon streams in the Middle John Day basin that have been determined to be high priority for improvement. The package includes 18 water diversion structures and fish-passage improvement projects. Some open ditches will be replaced with pipelines to save water that would otherwise evaporate or seep away. Undersized and eroded culverts will be replaced. Diversion dams will be replaced or modified to allow fish passage. Partners include the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs, BPA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Wheeler County Road Department, City of Fossil and landowners. Daniel Heagerty, Portland, and Jane O’Keeffe, Adel, serve as co-chairs of the 17-member Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board. Members represent the public at large, tribes, state natural resource agency boards and commissions, the Oregon State University Extension Service, and federal natural resource agencies. The board is supported by a state agency of the same name that provides grants and services to citizen groups, organizations and agencies working to restore healthy watersheds in Oregon. OWEB actions support the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds, created in 1997. 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. For more information, visit www.oregon.gov/OWEB or call OWEB in Salem at 503-986-0178. ###########
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