What is a Watershed?
A watershed is typically defined as the area of land where all precipitation drains to a common water body, such as a river or lake. Watersheds are not made of water, but of land. This means the boundaries of a watershed are determined by the shape of the land that surrounds them.
Often called a drainage basin or hydrologic unit, a watershed can cover a large multi-state area like the Columbia River watershed or a relatively small area, like the watershed of a small stream, pond, or wetland. Larger watersheds are made of numerous smaller watersheds, often called sub-watersheds or sub-basins. No matter where you stand, a watershed surrounds you.
What is a Watershed Council?
The 1995 Oregon Legislature unanimously passed House Bill 3441 that provides guidance in establishing watershed councils, and clarifies that formation of a council is a local government decision, with no state approval required. Watershed councils are locally organized, voluntary, non-regulatory groups established to improve the conditions of watersheds in their local area. Councils are required to represent the interests in the basin and be balanced in their makeup.
Bringing together local stakeholders from private, local, state, and federal interests in a partnership, councils plan watershed protection and restoration strategies in a holistic way–from ridge top to ridge top, and from headwaters to mouth. Through this watershed partnership, council members collaborate to identify issues, promote cooperative solutions, focus resources, agree on goals for watershed protection and enhancement, and foster communication among all watershed interests.
ORS 541.388 Voluntary Local Watershed Councils
- Local government groups are encouraged to form voluntary local watershed councils in accordance with the guidelines set forth in subsection (2) of this section. The Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board may work cooperatively with any local watershed council that may be formed. Requests from local watershed councils for state assistance shall be evaluated on the basis of whether the requesting organization reflects the interests of the affected watershed and the potential to protect and enhance the quality of the watershed in question.
- Local watershed councils formed under subsection (1) of this section shall consist of a majority of local residents, including local officials. A watershed council may be a new or existing organization as long as the council represents a balance of interested and affected persons within the watershed and assures a high level of citizen involvement in the development and implementation of a watershed action program. A local watershed council may include representatives of local government, representatives of nongovernmental organizations and private citizens, including but not limited to:
(a) Representatives of local and regional boards, commissions, districts and agencies;
(b) Representatives of federally recognized Indian tribes;
(c) Public interest group representatives;
(d) Private landowners;
(e) Industry representatives;
(f) Members of academic, scientific and professional communities; and
(g) Representatives of state and federal agencies. - If more than one watershed council exists in a county, each watershed council shall periodically report the activities of the council to the county
governing body. - The Oregon Department of Administrative Services may provide to voluntary local watershed councils and their officers, employees and agents acting within the scope of their employment or duties, protection against liability as part of the insurance provided to the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board pursuant to ORS 278.120 to 278.215. The Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, after consulting the Oregon Department of Administrative Services and local watershed councils, shall establish guidelines for liability coverage and limits of coverage. The Oregon Department of Administrative Services shall determine any additional contributions to be apportioned to the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board for extending insurance to voluntary local watershed councils, and the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board shall pay the assessments from such moneys as may be available for those assessments. [1993 c.601 s.3; 1995 c.187 s.7; 1999 c.300 s.1]
What Benefits Do Watershed Councils Provide to Local Communities?
- Councils are comprised of people from local communities and represent local knowledge; therefore, providing local people with a voice in natural resource management that can significantly influence watershed management decisions.
- Councils work across jurisdictional boundaries and across agency mandates.
- Councils can be a forum to bring local, state, and federal land management agencies and plans together with local property owners and private land managers.
- Councils are highly effective in planning, development, and implementation of projects to maintain and restore watershed biological and physical processes for the sustainability of their communities.
- Councils identify landowner participants for important projects, develop priorities for local projects, and establish goals and standards for future conditions in the watershed. On-site projects are implemented in an effort to enhance the watershed’s ability to capture, store, and beneficially release water.
- Education projects are undertaken to inform people about watershed processes and functions so that they can learn how to contribute to maintaining and restoring watershed resources.
- Councils provide coordinated, broad-based review of land management plans to local, state, and federal decision-makers.
- Councils help bring state, federal and private funding to local communities for ecosystem restoration, monitoring, and education.
- Together with their partners, councils make a significant positive impact on the local natural resources, economy and community.
North Santiam Watershed Council
The North Santiam Watershed Council formed in 1995 and was recognized by the Marion and Linn County Commissioners in 1998. The Council consists of a general membership that is open to any individual and community, business and government group having an interest in the watershed and that supports the Council’s mission. A Steering Committee serves as the decision-making body of the organization and includes representatives from the diverse interests and geographic regions of the watershed. General and Steering members are welcome and encouraged to participate in Council programs and serve on sub-committees or teams addressing the natural resource management concerns of the watershed.
The Oregon Plan
- Mission: “To restore our native fish populations – and the aquatic systems that support them – to productive and sustainable levels that will provide substantial environmental, cultural, and economic benefits.”
- Timing: The final draft of the Oregon Plan was adopted by legislation and submitted to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) in March 1997 to assist in the NMFS’s Endangered Species Act (ESA)-listing decision scheduled for April 1997.
- Four Essential Elements:
1. Community-Based Action- Oregon Plan recognizes government alone cannot conserve and restore salmon across the landscape, and that it requires local community and landowner involvement. This element identifies watershed councils, soil and water conservation districts, and other grassroot efforts as vehicles for getting the work done.
2. Coordinated Agency Programs- This element calls for all government agencies that impact salmon to be accountable for coordinated programs in a manner that is consistent with conservation and restoration efforts.
3. Monitoring- The monitoring program combines an annual appraisal of work accomplished and results achieved.
4. Appropriate Corrective Measures- Oregon Plan includes an explicit process for learning from experience, discussing alternative approaches, and making changes to current programs. - Originated as an effort to address declining populations of coastal coho salmon; however, it has been expanded to address other species of concern. For example, the Steelhead supplement to the Oregon Plan was release February 1998.
- Funding:
$ Federal Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Funds - ESA recovery
$ Ballot Measure 66 – “Salmon and Parks” measure allocated 15% of Oregon Lottery net receipts to statewide conservation program.
$ Salmon Plates (e.g. Mad Creek Fish Passage Project)
