Curry, Josephine, JACKSON, Douglas & Klamath Counties

WHAT IS A WATERSHED COUNCIL? A non-regulatory, community group of

volunteers with an interest in watershed health. Designated and recognized by the Jackson

County Commissioners as allowed by state legislation.

Councils are required to represent the diverse stakeholders in the basin and be balanced in their makeup.

All Jackson County Councils have achieved 501 (c) 3 Non-Profit Organization status.

ROGUE BASIN WATERSHED COUNCILS

The Rogue Basin covers 5 Counties:

Jackson Josephine

Curry & the Headwaters of the Rogue and Little Butte

begin in Douglas & Klamath Counties

(all WC’s average less than 2 full time staff)

Jackson County •Applegate River •Bear Creek •Li t t le But te Creek •Seven Bas ins •Upper Rogue River

Josephine County •Applegate River ~Wi l l iams Creek •I l l ino is Val ley •Midd le Rogue “Stream Restoration Alliance”

Curry County •Lower Rogue

Watershed Councils in each County

Middle Rogue Seven

Basins Lower Rogue

Illinois Valley

Upper Rogue

Little Butte

Bear Creek Applegate

Williams Creek

WHAT DO COUNCILS DO & WHAT CAN WC’S BRING TO THEIR COMMUNITIES?

Council Acreage Population

Applegate 498,000 12,000

Bear Creek 253,440 203,000 (2011)

Little Butte 238,598 11,600

Seven Basins 261,760 13,000

Upper Rogue 798,841 10,000

Watershed Councils bring together local stakeholders from multiple interests in

collaborative partnerships to work towards watershed protection and restoration.

Funds & Involvement Created through 3 WC Projects/Events Project Funding $ 600,000 In-Kind Contributions $97,000 Landowner Involvement 95 Public Events Held 55

Information from 2011 & prepared for the 2012 Jackson County Commissioners Watershed Council Presentation

#’s are approximations for 2011

THROUGH COLLABORATION & PARTNERSHIP, COUNCILS:

F o c u s R e s o u r c e s P r o m o t e C o o p e r a t i v e S o l u t i o n s

W o r k To g e t h e r To I d e n t i f y I s s u e s A g r e e O n C o m m o n G o a l s F o r

W a t e r s h e d P r o t e c t i o n & E n h a n c e m e n t F o s t e r C o m m u n i c a t i o n A m o n g A l l

W a t e r s h e d I n t e r e s t s

A short list of Council Partners…… Planning & Coordinating Partners Rogue Basin Coordinating Council Jackson Soil & Water Conservation District Josephine Soil & Water Conservation District Curry Soil & Water Conservation District Illinois Valley Soil & Water Conservation District BLM, USFS, NOAA/NMFS, USFWS, BOR, EPA, NRCS, FSA ODFW, OWRD, ODEQ, ODF, ODOT, ODA, OWEB Rogue Valley Council of Governments (RVCOG) Bear Creek Watershed Education Partners Jackson County Jefferson Nature Center Medford Water Commission Network of Oregon Watershed Councils Oregon Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers Oregon State University Extension Service Southern Oregon Land Conservancy WISE project - Water for Irrigation, Streams & Economy Copeland Sand and Gravel Fish America Klamath Bird Observatory Neilson Research Corporation Northwest Biological Consultants Pacific Rivers Council Inc. Reach, Inc.

Rogue River Guides Association Salmon Safe SOLV Southern Oregon Fly Fishers Southern Oregon Steelheaders Forest Restoration Collaborative “Knitting Circle” Southern Oregon State University Rogue River Keepers Josephine County Curry County Oregon State Parks Jackson County CWMA The Nature Conservancy Lone Rock Timber Company City of Rogue River City of Gold Hill Jackson County Fire Plan Evans Valley Fire Department Rogue River Fire Department Applegate Fire District Southern Oregon Steelheaders Tillamook Bay WC South Santiam WC Partnership for Umpqua River Oregon Sea Grant Jackson County Libraries Curry Anadromous Fishermen City of Gold Beach Port of Gold Beach Southwestern Oregon Community College

Crook Timberlands Menasha Middle Rogue Steelheaders Oregon State Parks Funding Partners Bear Creek Greenway Foundation World Wildlife Fund Southern Oregon Fly Fishers Rogue River Guides Association The Orvis Company National Fish and Wildlife Foundation National Forest Foundation Flintridge Foundation American Rivers American Forests Rogue Flyfishers OWEB Title II Southern Oregon Steelheaders Laird Norton Family Foundation Ecotrust The Carpenter Foundation The Nature Conservancy Middle Rogue Steelheaders Project & Program Implementation Partners BLM USFS ODFW

NRCS ODF Oregon State Parks RVCOG Rogue Flyfishers Oregon Hunter's Association Rogue Basin Coordinating Council Jackson County CWMA Jackson SWCD Jackson County Rd & Parks Dept. Network of Oregon Watershed Councils Tillamook Bay WC South Santiam WC Partnership for Umpqua River WC OSU Extension Rogue Flyfishers Southern Oregon Steelheaders City of Rogue River Jackson County Fire Plan Lone Rock Timber Co. Oregon Sea Grant GEOS Southwestern Oregon Community College Emerging Partners Grande Ronde Tribe

9 Member Watershed Councils: LRWC, IVWC, SRA, APWC, WCWC, 7BWC, BCWC, LBCWC,

URWC

Since 1999 the RBCC has served as a valuable clearinghouse for information exchange and activity coordination among its member watershed councils.

RBCC engages in projects that transcend individual watershed boundaries SW OR Salmon Restoration Initiative Development of Rogue Basin Regional Restoration Priorities Rogue Basin Fish Passage Technical Team (RBFPTT) RB Fish Access Team (RBFAT) & Rogue Basin Fish Passage

Strategic Plan Watershed Health Factors Assessment Jackson Cooperative Weed Management Area

Collaboration & Partnership Through the RBCC

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Current main source of Council Support Funding is provided through OWEB Currently each Council receives between $85,300 and $108,775

per biennium (2011-2013)

Since December 2012 the 9 WC’s have been working together to: “benefit from consolidated and standardized functions that will

create a framework structure for greater capacity by enabling greater ecological, economic & social outcomes.”

Our Objective is to create a model that will transform the WCs and the RBCC into a fundamentally changed and effective partnership that will allow flexibility and maintain opportunity for both: Independent council decision making and actions and Multi-council and regional decision making and actions

The RBCC Restructuring Proposal

Driving forces behind the current Restructuring Proposal OWEB currently funds just over 60 WCs around the state OWEB would like to streamline their Council Support application

process and eventually reduce the total number of WCs funded OWEB would like WCs to build stronger collaborations

Where do the WCs see themselves in the next year: WCs hold strong local ties to their watersheds Maintaining those ties and utilizing the RBCC to reduce admin

workload on the coordinators to enable more efficient program and project development

How might WCs change over the next year or two: Jackson County has 5 of the 9 WCs Some councils have discussed mergers requiring new

recognition from the Jackson County Commissioners Other councils hope to gain time that can be applied to

promoting and invigorating the local aspect of watershed health

The RBCC Restructuring Proposal continued

APPLEGATE RIVER

PRESENTED BY JANELLE DUNLEVY

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The APWC has been a very successful watershed council for the last 18 years, averaging 3-5 projects per year with anywhere

from 1 to 40+ landowners participating in the projects.

We are currently working on large

landscape scale projects that incorporate the Applegate

landscape from the streambed to the top of the watershed ridges and

everything in between.

WATERSHED COUNCIL

APWC MISSION STATEMENT The Applegate Partnership and Watershed Council (APWC) is a community-based non-profit

organization whose mission is to encourage and facilitate the use of natural resource principles that promote ecosystem health and

diversity while contributing to the economic and community well-being and resilience. Through community participation, volunteer efforts and partnerships with

landowners, agencies and interest groups, an integrated program designed to conserve, restore and sustain ecological structure and function in the Applegate watershed is implemented.

E s t a b l i s h e d 1 9 9 4

APWC Projects Thompson Creek Restoration:

1.8 miles of Creek with over 8 landowners ready to assist in riparian restoration, fish barrier removal, decommissioning of levees built after the 1964 floods, stream bank stabilization, large wood and irrigation efficiency projects.

Little Applegate Measuring Device Project: Installation of measuring devices on open irrigation ditches to help

water users manage their water rights

Beaver Creek Sedimentation Reduction Project: Final Phase of this project. When completed this sediment limited

creak could potentially be delisted from the 303(d) water quality list.

Riparian Restoration Program: Program began in the early 2000’s working with landowners to

restore native riparian areas by removing invasive species and replanting natives. This program has worked with over 30 landowners in the last few years.

Current projects include Humbug Creek near Hwy 238 and Yale Creek on Yale Creek Ranch

Cultivating Healthy Watersheds Education Program: Through the CHW school program, K-12 students learn about

watershed-friendly farms, sustainable farming practices and forest management. Hand-on projects provide active learning experiences that enhance habitat for fish and wildlife, help kids build skills, and learn to be good watershed stewards.

Students Learn causes of soil erosion and how

to prevent it learn about winter cover crops

Yale Creek RR: Pre & Post Treatment

Fuels Reduction & Forestry Collaboration

Pilot Joe & Pilot Thompson: APWC has volunteers collaborating with

BLM and project stakeholders to help with development and monitoring

Goal is to demonstrate successful landscape restoration on Dry Forests to help in fuels reduction, forest resiliency, wildlife habitat and provide timber sales & local jobs

Photos provided by BLM, from 10/2011 Middle Applegate Presentation

www.blm.gov/or/districts/medford/forestrypilot

Bear Creek Watershed Council Presented by Frances Oyung

MISSION To foster collaborative efforts that maintain, protect, and restore the

Bear Creek watershed - an integral part of the Rogue River basin.

VISION The Bear Creek Watershed Council seeks to restore

cool, clean, fishable, and swimmable streams throughout the watershed. We envision all people

who live or work in the watershed working together to protect the health of the watershed while fostering a

strong economy and community.

Photo by Brandon Goldman

Ashland Creek Confluence Riparian Restoration

Partners: Lomakatsi Restoration Project; City of Ashland Parks & Recreation; Helman School; Jobs Council TOTAL PROJECT COST: around $70,000

Removing over 11 acres of thick tall blackberries; replanting with natives to provide long term habitat improvement and stream

shading.

Whetstone Creek Assessment

Larson Creek at Ellendale Drive, Medford

Larson Creek at Black Oak Drive, Medford

Outreach & Education Using diverse strategies to reach residents and educate on watershed values.

LITTLE BUTTE WATERSHED COUNCIL

TIM WEAVER, COORDINATOR

Gadberry Riparian Improvement Project

Project goals and objectives 1. Reduce erosion into the creek 2. Reduce bacteria laden irrigation water into the creek through

improved vegetation filtering 3. Increase the shade cover along the riparian corridor 4. Enhance local and state partnerships for mutual benefit

Project activities

1. Remove the invasive blackberry brush in an area approximately 40’ wide by 3,400 long by both mechanical and chemical means.

2. Replant the entire riparian zone with mixed conifer and native plants.

3. Install a four-strand electric cattle exclusion fence on the entire length of the riparian project zone.

4. Provide a drip irrigation system for two years 5. Monitor the site before and after restoration

Tucker Ditch Irrigation Conversion

K-Line (Pod) System

Wheeline System

Pump and controls

FISHERIES ENHANCEMENT

Fish Ladder - Little Butte Mill Dam

North Fork Fish Screen

Completed Weir

SEVEN BASINS

PRESENTED BY GAIL GROGAN PERROTTI

WATERSHED COUNCIL

Seven Basins Neighborhood Fire Planning Project

• Collaborative effort

• 2002-2012 treatment of more

than 1,800 acres on private land & over 8,500 acres on BLM land

• New collaboration with NRCS

• ODF creating stewardship plans to meet NRCS program

• $380,000 in NRCS funds obligated

Resiliency in Action

Fish Habitat & Riparian Restoration

RIPARIAN RESTORATION: Gold Ray Dam

Riparian Restoration Streamside Gardening

West Fork Evans Creek Restoration Project

Garlic Mustard at Valley of the Rogue State Park

69+ Volunteers 4 person special teams

3 BLM and 5 Job Council Crew Days

1 acre of blackberry mulched

260+ bags of GM pulled 2 acres sprayed

INVASIVE WEEDS Regional Garlic Mustard Treatments

In 2010 12 partners worked to together to identify more than 20 new sites for treatment in 2011

EVENTS & WORKSHOPS See Our Salmon- 160 people participated this year!

Fundraiser - Rain Barrel Sale

West Branch Elk Creek Large Wood Project

Log and boulder structures placed in one mile of channel.

Log structures at work,slowing the water down, creating habitat for coho and steelhead.

Hawk Creek Large Wood Project

Big Butte Creek Large Wood Project

Environmental Education: May 11, 18 teacher workshops at the old fish hatchery in Butte Falls

Volunteer Collaboration!Helping at GRD

Rogue Basin Coordinating

Council Contact info:

Sam Whitridge, Coordinator coordinator@roguebasinwatersheds.org

www.roguebasinwatersheds.org 541-690-8799

MISSION: To enhance the success of

member councils in watershed protection and restoration, engaging in projects that transcend

individual watershed boundaries

Farmer’s Dam Removal Project

Project will result in: removal of concrete dam with non-

functioning fish ladder on the Little Applegate River

Almost 10cfs in-stream water right with one of the oldest priority dates

Objectives: improve fish passage, water quality and

quantity

Funding Source: OWEB grants funded the

installation of irrigation systems and transfer of old water rights to in-stream use for 8 landowners

Fish Passage: Dam is scheduled for removal in

the summer of 2012

Salmon Safe Rogue

Steering Committee has been

working hard to revitalize the Salmon Safe program in the Rogue Basin.

The Applegate was the 1st Place Based Program for Salmon Safe

The Revitalized program will work to recertify Applegate & Rogue Basin farms & vineyards and bring new farms, vineyards, and businesses into the Salmon Safe program

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How Can Jackson County Help the WC’s Succeed

Support the WC’s through positive input to the STATE LEGISLATURES and the OREGON WATERSHED ENHANCEMENT BOARD MEMBERS

Help streamline restoration projects through the Jackson County Planning Department

Assist in projects on the development level by working with WC’s to develop projects that benefit the watersheds and Jackson County

Thank You for Your Time

Emigrant Lake, Bear Creek Watershed Photo by Brandon Goldman