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OWEB Board Meeting in Ontario, Willow Creek Visit Planned
May 16, 2008
Media Contacts:
● Carolyn M. Devine, OWEB Communications Coordinator, 503-986-0195, carolyn.devine@state.or.us
● Karen Leiendecker, OWEB Eastern Oregon Program Representative, 541-426-0342
ONTARIO, Oregon — On Tuesday, May 20th, the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) and staff will be joined by the Willow Creek, Owyhee, and Malheur Watershed Councils, the Malheur Soil and Water Conservation District, and the Oregon Departments of Environmental Quality and Agriculture for a tour of OWEB-funded projects in the Malheur basin. The tour will include stops to see the Willow Creek Restoration project, a signature project for incentive-based conservation in Eastern Oregon.
Since September 2006, the OWEB Board has awarded nearly $2 million to the Lower Willow Creek Working Group for restoration efforts on Willow Creek. The grant application received the top ranking of the 22 applications from Eastern Oregon and proposed to address water quality issues on nearly 30,000 acres of the Willow Creek watershed in Malheur County. The group has made significant progress.
The grant is an example of cooperative partnering with the Vale Oregon Irrigation District, Willow Creek Working Group, and 30 Willow Creek landowners. A large percentage of the project (67%) is for 9.5 miles of irrigation lateral pipe. The laterals are essential components in reducing irrigation return flow as well as providing landowners the opportunity to change from flood and furrow irrigation to pressurized-gravity sprinklers or pivots. Piping these laterals will greatly help to improve water quality in Willow Creek. Willow Creek's water contains peak E. coli counts as a result of its many feedlots and other intensive agriculture. The partners' commitment to protecting the river through use of off-stream watering troughs and waste management pipelines will improve Willow Creek. The irrigation efficiencies attained will improve both quality and quantity of water in the creek. Irrigation-induced erosion will be reduced and there will be less bacterial contamination from livestock. Additionally, more than 3,440 new wetland plants will help improve wildlife habitat. Some aspects of the project will take a while to implement and the anticipated overall positive benefits of the efforts may take as long as 10 years to be seen.
The visit to Willow Creek is just part of OWEB's Board meeting that will be held at the Ontario Holiday Inn, 1249 Tapadera Avenue in the Sawtooth/Wilderness Room. The Tuesday meeting begins at 8 a.m.; and the tour of Willow Creek is at 2 p.m. Anyone is welcome to join the tour, but should be prepared to provide personal transportation. At the conclusion of the tour, Board members and staff will remain at Willow Creek where they will attend a barbeque hosted by the Malheur Watershed Council. Wednesday’s session starts at 8:00 a.m. For more information, visit the OWEB Web site at www.oregon.gov/OWEB, or call 503-986-0178.
OWEB is a state agency that helps to maintain healthy watersheds and natural habitats that support thriving communities and strong economies. OWEB invests in local actions across the state to conserve and restore habitat supporting fish and wildlife, and clean water. 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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