Coast Fork Events

You can go to our Events page to see what coming next.

Cottage Grove, OR - Winter scene

 

River Celebration Day of Events a Success

On September 17th, 2011, 29 people participated in the Annual River Celebration Work Party in the Riverwalk neighborhood near Chambers Bridge along the Coast Fork Willamette River. The work party was a huge success with a total of seventy-eight trees treated for ivy by “girdling”. Ivy girdling is a method in which the ivy vines are severed at about chest-height and the bottom section of the ivy is removed from the base of the tree. The remaining ivy, having been disconnected from its roots, dies off in time, allowing the tree to resume healthy growth and provide vital shade to the river—keeping the water cool and providing suitable habitat for aquatic species. Volunteers participated from the Cottage Grove Ministerial Association, Lane Community College, the Cottage Grove Vision Keepers, and the Coast Fork Willamette Watershed Council.

After the hard work was done for the day, volunteers enjoyed snacks and company at a Riverwalk model home, thanks to Hayden Homes, Inc. and the City of Cottage Grove. The River Celebration continued in the afternoon, with wine tasting, food and guided nature tours of Row River Nature Park. The Watershed Party was hosted by Iris Winery. Participants engaged in a winery tour and wine tasting, enjoyed local corn and veggies provided by Hanson’s Coast Fork Farm and also attended a guided tour of Row River Nature Park. The Row River Nature tour emphasized educating attendees about the enhancement project taking place at RRNP, including vegetation management, wildlife habitat and featured turtle and bird watching.

Camas Swale land now protected forever

See this article in the Creswell Chronicle about our work with the McKenzie River Trust to conserve valuable wetlands in Camas Swale.
 

Newsletters
Spring 2011 Newsletter
Summer 2010 Newsletter
Winter 2010 Newsletter
 

Welcome to the Spring 2011 edition of the Coast Fork Willamette Watershed Council quarterly newsletter.  Each quarter, look in our newsletter upcoming events, updates on current projects, opportunities to volunteer, important restoration information, and more!  Clicking the Newsletter link to the left will open a PDF file of our newsletter.

If you would like to receive a printed copy of our newsletter, please email your name, address, telephone, and email to our Executive Director

Over 2,010 Trees Planted at East Regional Park in the first week of 2010

Getting the new year off to a positive start, on Wednesday January 6, 2010, the Coast Fork Willamette Watershed Council moved over 2,000 trees into position at their future home at this project site in Cottage Grove. Employing the help of the whole student body at Kennedy Alternative High School, trucks were loaded with trees by students, teachers, and volunteers forming a ‘fireline.’ Later, a smaller crew of Kennedy Conservation Corps students and teachers joined Watershed Council volunteers and staff unloading those trees at the park and moving additional trees from the US Forest Service Dorena Tree Improvement Center. Willows and red-twig dogwood comprised the majority of the plants (technically shrubs) chosen for their suitability to the wet edge of the ponds in this floodplain of the Row River.

Students participated in the collection of the plant material under leadership of Matthew Hall at Kennedy High School. For the last two years, Rob Cox of the US Forest Service coordinated the planting and grow-out of these plants at the Dorena facility. The Watershed Council wants to thank all our partners, including the City of Cottage Grove, for their cooperation and contributions to this project.

Students will return to the site to assist in the planting of these trees. In addition, the Watershed Council contracted with Oregon Woods to conduct both brush cutting and tree planting. An auger on a Bobcat was at work at the park while volunteers delivered the trees and hundreds of trees have already been planted. Park users may notice that the City added some gravel to the site to mitigate mud.

A test planting was conducted on December 13th with volunteers who planted 140 trees into cobbly soil. Special thanks to Andy McClean, Smith-Lund-Mills, and the Coast Fork Willamette Watershed Council volunteers for their contributions to this effort. Community members can find out how to get involved at the January 27th Watershed Council meeting at 6:30 pm at the Cottage Grove Community Center, 700 E. Gibbs.

Questions about the details of the restoration effort can be directed to Project Manager Pat French at (541) 913-2716.

Public Meetings

Public meetings are usually held on the 4th Wednesday of each month
6:30 – 8:30 pm

at the Cottage Grove Community Center (700 E. Gibbs)

Don't know what a watershed is? Look here for a brief description of what the 'Coast Fork Willamette Watershed' is all about.

Coast Fork Willamette Watershed Council now has a Facebook Page!

Community
Alerts

Japanese Knotweed

Do you have this plant in your yard?

If you do, then you have a very invasive weed and it should be eliminated.
What is it and why is it so invasive?

Coast Fork Action Plan

In 2005, the Coast Fork Willamette Watershed Council completed the Lower Coast Fork Assessment. Drawing from recommendations in this local document, and a diversity of reference materials, the Coast Fork Action Plan was completed in June 2007. This document serves as an outline of both geographic and ecological priorities for the restoration work implemented by our council. Our Technical Committee uses this framework to guide project choice and development.

As we strive to represent local interests, please bring any missing priorities or updates to our attention!

This project was funded by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality 319 program and the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board.

Action Plan

ODFW Fish Monitoring & Council Partnership

ODFW Fish Biologist Erik Moberly works closely with volunteers to install & maintain the hoop fish trap in Hill Creek above Garden Lake Park and the screw trap on Mosby Creek. The Council relies on partnerships with local natural resource agencies for this data about key species.Last Fall, ODFW planted Spring Chinook in Mosby Creek at the request of a local timberland manager. All interested parties will be awaiting the return of the juveniles that successfully emerged from the redds! A Mosby Creek Stakeholder Group is now forming to plan restoration projects in this important tributary. To get involved contactVolunteers are needed to check the hoop fish trap to be located at Hill Creek above Garden Lake Park and the screw fish trap on Mosby Creek

Please contact us and we will let Erik know you are interested.

  Contact the watershed office

Donations

Excited to have an active Watershed Council in the Coast Fork Watershed?

If you like the work we are doing, please support us!

A tax-deductible donation is possible due to a partnership we have with the Coast Fork Fund/McKenzie Watershed Alliance

 Consider making a donation to your watershed.

See how HERE

Visit our Gallery movie for some interesting watershed photos 

WILLAMETTE RIVER WATERSHED

Nestled between the Cascade Mountains and the Coast Range of Oregon, the Willamette Valley represents a unique geographical area. Its mild climate and fertile soils have long been a place of human habitation. The watershed is also an important tributary of the Columbia River, one of the largest in the US. The importance of this region ecologically and economically cannot be understated, thus the stewardship of this landscape and its waterways are key to the health of this place and its inhabitants.

Enjoy your watershed.