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North Santiam Watershed Council June 2008 Update
The North Santiam Watershed Council will provide opportunities for stakeholders to cooperate in promoting and sustaining the health of the watershed and its communities. Greetings!
Our next meeting is June 12 at 7:00 pm in the Stayton Community Center. Agenda includes our annual work plan progress review and the watershed council self evaluation to build the 2009-2010 council support grant application and work plan. For more information contact Liz Redon at 503-930-8202, nsantiam@peak.org.
Council Update:
Summer Projects- While Steering Committee meetings take a break over July and August, watershed restoration work is underway. This summer the Watershed Council will be working with landowners on a couple side channels and tributaries to address two priority concerns for the watershed; including, salmon and steelhead habitat and the listing of the North Santiam River on the 303(d) list of water quality impaired waterbodies for too high summer temperature.
When noxious weeds, such as Reed Canary Grass, Himalayan Blackberry and False Brome, take advantage of disturbed areas they can take over large areas and create monoculture plant communities. When an area lacks diversity in native vegetation due to noxious weeds, habitat quality for fish and wildlife is degraded as follows: Noxious weeds can decrease bank stability, which can lead to erosion. Noxious weeds replace native vegetation that provides shade which can protect water quality by preventing water from heating up from solar radiation. When there are noxious weeds instead of native tree species along a stream, there is a decrease in large wood recruitment of trees that age and fall into the stream to provide habitat complexity for salmon and steelhead.
To address these concerns, projects will include: Removing noxious weeds. Planting a diversity of native tree and shrubs along waterways to increase shade and habitat quality. Sloping banks where erosion is a problem to connect waterways with the floodplain. Adding large wood structures to stream to provide habitat complexity.
In addition to these actions, the Council will also be replacing undersized culverts on a side channel to connect waterways and allow fish passage into off channel habitat important to salmon and steelhead. Restoring tributaries and side channel areas provide important habitat to salmon and steelhead, improve stream connectivity with the floodplain which can reduce erosion and flooding problems and improve water quality by providing shade and groundwater connectivity that keeps waters cool.
To learn more about our projects or to inquire about a project on your property, contact the Watershed Council at nsantiam@peak.org or 503-930-8202.
Krautmann Oak Savannah Jefferson Farm Restoration Project and Tour- A common role of the North Santiam Watershed Council is to assist landowners with restoration goals that benefit natural resources, such as water and habitat quality, which typically also benefits the health and sustainability of the land. The Watershed Council does this by providing various resources as needed for a particular site, including securing grant funds and technical assistance to implement a project. Over the last couple years the Watershed Council assisted Heritage Seedling, Inc. with an Oak Savannah restoration project by assisting with securing and managing grant funds. Over 135 acres of oak savanna, upland and wet prairie are being restored on the 388 acre farm owned by Mark and Jolly Krautmann, owners of Heritage Seedlings, Inc. The restoration is part of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program with grant funding provided by an Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Landowner Incentive Program grant, two Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board grants, and a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant. The starting conditions at the project site included 50 acres of intact oak savanna with very large old-growth oak trees with an understory of mostly non-native pasture grasses and forbs, and areas of old-growth poison oak and blackberry; and 85 acres comprised of savanna oaks overrun with thick stands of young-oak, conifer, and brush, with an understory of both native and non-native grasses and forbs, and a patch of mature oak woodland. From 2004-2006 the 50 acres of intact oak savanna was cleared of brush and prepared for seeding of native grasses during fall 2006 using well-timed glyphosate treatments. Native forbs were sown fall 2007 after treating the broadleaf weeds for one season with a non-volatile broadleaf herbicide. Plugs of native plant species listed and threatened, endangered or species of concern were planted fall of 2007 as well. From 2004 -2007, 60 of the 85 acres of oak savanna with a good native forb component was brush mowed, and the trees thinned to about 10 stems/acre using low-impact rubber-tracked skid-steers with a variety of attachments. To increase the native diversity, this area has been augmented with native forbs using a variety of seeding techniques and planted with plugs and bulbs. The tree and brush work will be completed in 2008/2009. To view reports of this oak savanna restoration work at the Jefferson Farm, please visit the Heritage Seedling, Inc. website (http://www.heritageseedlings.com/) Stewardship Page under “Restoration Work” (site work photos are in each report). NEW “to do”! - An additional 35 acres of fallow bentgrass fields adjacent to the savanna will be restored to upland prairie in hope of enticing one of Oregon’s State’s Symbolic Species, Western Meadowlark, to nest.
Tour Information - Heritage Seedling, Inc. invites you to see this incredible site as the area is being restored to its former savanna glory. They will discuss the restoration methods they have tried and battles still to be fought in the long-term management strategy for the site – including weed control, native plant establishment, fire, and mowing. Date: Wednesday June 25th 2008; 9 am - 1 pm (bring a lunch and we can have a picnic in the prairie!); Tour leader: Lynda Boyer, Restoration Biologist and Native Plant Manager, Heritage Seedlings, Inc.; Please RSVP if you can to lboyer@heritageseedlings.com. Directions- Google Map Search – “Jefferson Hwy SE Oregon” the arrow is just about where the farm gate is located north of Steiwer Rd SE. From I-5 North or South, take exit #244 (N. Jefferson), head south on Jefferson road/Oregon 99E SE for less than 1 mile, just after the road bends there will be a green farm gate on the left (east side) [you can see Steiwer Hill in the distance], go through that gate (if you come to Steiwer Rd after mp 1 you have gone too far), follow the gravel road to the hill and park either on the edge of the gravel at the base of the hill or in the mowed bentgrass field.
Open Positions on Steering Committee- There are currently three steering positions open including: small cities, natural resources, and upper basin (represents are above Detroit Dam). To qualify for these positions, individuals must live or derive economic benefit from the North Santiam Watershed and support the Council’s mission. Minimum time commitment to serve on the steering committee is 2 to 3 hours a month for meetings and can be more depending on the individual’s interest to participate in natural resource related projects. Serving on the North Santiam Watershed Council steering committee provides citizens an opportunity to represent said interest group in watershed management decisions that guide council projects, education and organizational direction.
Partners Update:
View Army Corps of Engineers presentation to learn about water management as it relates to Detroit Lake - You can download the “Water Management Update slide presentation” at https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/V/proj_detbc.asp.
Watershed Fact/Resources:
“The Oregon Conservation Strategy focuses on habitat restoration and maintenance to address the needs of game and non-game species— healthy fish and wildlife populations need healthy habitats.” - http://www.dfw.state.or.us/conservationstrategy/
“In Oregon, more than 44 percent of land is privately owned, making private landowners essential partners in efforts to conserve fish, wildlife and habitat. There are a number of agencies and programs that can provide technical aide or financial assistance for voluntary conservation. These programs vary in the amount of funding available, eligibility, and requirements such as cost-share. Contact your local Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Watershed Council or Soil and Water Conservation District to learn what programs might be appropriate for your property.” To see a brochure describing the variety of available programs go to the “Incentive and Assistance Programs for Private Landowner” link at http://www.dfw.state.or.us/conservationstrategy/tools.asp.
Calendar:
June 12 - North Santiam Watershed Council Meeting, 7 pm to 9 pm, Stayton Community Center. Agenda will include the annual work plan reporting and draft action plan priorities map. Everyone is welcome to join us and participate!
June 16 – Marion Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) Landowner Assistance Program (LAP) deadline at 1pm. The LAP enables landowners to implement ground conservation methods via a 50% cost share in which Marion SWCD pays half of the project cost, up to $5,000, and landowners are required to provide remaining project funds using labor (i.e., sweat equity), materials, and/or cash. The grant application cycle occurs once per year; grants are awarded in July and projects must be completed by the following June. Furthermore, projects must address a specific natural resource issue based on the following LAP Project Priorities: Heavy use area protection, Livestock building gutter/roof runoff reduction, Noxious weed removal, Micro irrigation systems, Erosion control, Pasture management, Wildlife habitat enhancement, Native plantings, Watering facilities away from sensitive areas, Wildlife habitat enhancement, and Manure storage facilities. If you have any of these resource concerns, or others, please contact Marion SWCD to set up a site visit with one of the planners to receive informational materials, technical consultation or help you in applying for a LAP grant. Please call 503-391-9927 for further information.
June 25 - Krautmann Oak Savanna Jefferson Farm Tour; 9 am -1 pm (bring a lunch and we can have a picnic in the prairie!); Tour leader: Lynda Boyer, Restoration Biologist and Native Plant Manager, Heritage Seedlings, Inc.; Please RSVP if you can to lboyer@heritageseedlings.com. Directions- Google Map Search – “Jefferson Hwy SE Oregon” the arrow is just about where the farm gate is located north of Steiwer Rd SE. From I-5 North or South, take exit #244 (N. Jefferson), head south on Jefferson road/Oregon 99E SE for less than 1 mile, just after the road bends there will be a green farm gate on the left (east side) [you can see Steiwer Hill in the distance], go through that gate (if you come to Steiwer Rd after mp 1 you have gone too far), follow the gravel road to the hill and park either on the edge of the gravel at the base of the hill or in the mowed bentgrass field.
No Steering Meetings in July and August. We will reconvene in September.
Sept – Annual Meeting/Restoration Tour – To Be Determined.
Watershed Council Contact Information: Liz Redon, Council Coordinator Contractor, 503-930-8202, liz_redon@msn.com.
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