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 Upper Lower Rogue Middle Rogue Josephine Seven Rogue Curry Basins & the Headwaters of the Rogue and Little Butte begin in Douglas & Klamath Counties Little Butte Illinois Williams Bear Valley Creek (all WC’s average Creek less than 2 full time staff) Applegate Watershed Councils in each County Jackson County Josephine County Curry County •Applegate River •Applegate River •Lower Rogue •Bear Creek ~Williams Creek • •Illinois Valley •Seven Basins •Middle Rogue •Upper “Stream Restoration Alliance” WHAT DO COUNCILS DO & WHAT CAN WC’S BRING TO THEIR COMMUNITIES? Watershed Councils bring together local stakeholders from multiple interests in collaborative partnerships to work towards watershed protection and restoration.

Funds & Involvement Created Council Acreage Population through 3 WC Projects/Events  Applegate 498,000 12,000 Project Funding $ 600,000  Bear Creek 253,440 203,000 (2011) In-Kind Contributions $97,000  Little Butte 238,598 11,600 Landowner Involvement 95  Seven Basins 261,760 13,000 Public Events Held 55  Upper Rogue 798,841 10,000 #’s are approximations for 2011

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

THROUGH COLLABORATION &

PARTNERSHIP, COUNCILS:  Focus Resources  Promote Cooperative Solutions

 Work Together To Identify Issues  Agree On Common Goals For Watershed Protection & Enhancement  Foster Communication Among All A short list of Council Partners…… Watershed Interests Planning & Coordinating Partners Rogue River Guides Association Crook Timberlands NRCS Rogue Basin Coordinating Council Salmon Safe Menasha ODF Jackson Soil & Water Conservation District SOLV Middle Rogue Steelheaders Oregon State Parks Josephine Soil & Water Conservation District Southern Oregon Fly Fishers Oregon State Parks RVCOG Curry Soil & Water Conservation District Southern Oregon Steelheaders Rogue Flyfishers Illinois Valley Soil & Water Conservation Forest Restoration Collaborative “Knitting Funding Partners Oregon Hunter's Association District Circle” Bear Creek Greenway Foundation Rogue Basin Coordinating Council BLM, USFS, NOAA/NMFS, USFWS, BOR, Southern Oregon State University World Wildlife Fund Jackson County CWMA EPA, NRCS, FSA Rogue River Keepers Southern Oregon Fly Fishers Jackson SWCD ODFW, OWRD, ODEQ, ODF, ODOT, ODA, Josephine County Rogue River Guides Association Jackson County Rd & Parks Dept. OWEB Curry County The Orvis Company Network of Oregon Watershed Councils Council of Governments Oregon State Parks National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Tillamook Bay WC (RVCOG) Jackson County CWMA National Forest Foundation South Santiam WC Bear Creek Watershed Education Partners The Nature Conservancy Flintridge Foundation Partnership for Umpqua River WC Jackson County Lone Rock Timber Company American Rivers OSU Extension Jefferson Nature Center City of Rogue River American Forests Rogue Flyfishers Medford Water Commission City of Gold Hill Rogue Flyfishers Southern Oregon Steelheaders Network of Oregon Watershed Councils Jackson County Fire Plan OWEB City of Rogue River Oregon Council of the Federation of Fly Evans Valley Fire Department Title II Jackson County Fire Plan Fishers Rogue River Fire Department Southern Oregon Steelheaders Lone Rock Timber Co. Oregon State University Extension Service Applegate Fire District Laird Norton Family Foundation Oregon Sea Grant Southern Oregon Land Conservancy Southern Oregon Steelheaders Ecotrust GEOS WISE project - Water for Irrigation, Streams & Tillamook Bay WC The Carpenter Foundation Southwestern Oregon Community College Economy South Santiam WC The Nature Conservancy Copeland Sand and Gravel Partnership for Umpqua River Middle Rogue Steelheaders Emerging Partners Fish America Oregon Sea Grant Grande Ronde Tribe Klamath Bird Observatory Jackson County Libraries Project & Program Implementation Neilson Research Corporation Curry Anadromous Fishermen Partners Northwest Biological Consultants City of Gold Beach BLM Pacific Rivers Council Inc. Port of Gold Beach USFS Reach, Inc. Southwestern Oregon Community College ODFW

Collaboration & Partnership Through the RBCC

 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

www.roguepartners.org The RBCC Restructuring

Proposal

 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 continued

 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

APPLEGATE RIVER WATERSHED COUNCIL PRESENTED BY JANELLE DUNLEVY

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.

www.apwc.info Established 1994

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.

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: Yale Creek RR: Pre & Post Treatment  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. Students Learn causes of soil erosion and how to prevent it learn about winter cover crops  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. Fuels Reduction & Forestry Collaboration

 Pilot Joe & Pilot Thompson: www.blm.gov/or/districts/medford/forestrypilot  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

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

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

Partners: Lomakatsi Restoration Project; City of Ashland Parks & Recreation; Helman School; Jobs Council

TOTAL PROJECT COST: around $70,000 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

Pump and controls

Wheeline System FISHERIES ENHANCEMENT

Fish Ladder - Little Butte Mill Dam

Completed Weir

North Fork Fish Screen SEVEN BASINS WATERSHED COUNCIL PRESENTED BY GAIL GROGAN PERROTTI Seven Basins Neighborhood Fire Planning Project Resiliency in Action

• 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

Fish Habitat & Riparian Restoration

West Fork Evans Creek Restoration Project

RIPARIAN RESTORATION: Gold Ray Dam Riparian Restoration Streamside Gardening

INVASIVE WEEDS

Regional Garlic Mustard Treatments 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

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 Log structures at work,slowing placed in one mile of channel. 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 [email protected] 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

www.salmonsafe.org/rogue 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