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.
 

Campaign for Water, Parks and Wildlife

The Campaign for Water, Parks & Wildlife is endorsed by the Coast Fork Willamette WSC

 Oregonians for Water, Parks and Wildlife
a project of The Conservation Campaign

Newsletters
Summer 2010 Newsletter
Winter 2010 Newsletter
Coast Fork Willamette Watershed Council

Welcome to the Summer 2010 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

Clicking on this map will open a PDF file that can be viewed/zoomed and printed.

This is a large file and may take several seconds to open.
(2.2MB file size)

Urban Riparian & Wetland Inventory Underway

Wetlands and riparian zones provide vital ecosystem services to urban and rural lands. The quality of water we have now and will have in the future depends significantly on the condition of the lands that this water comes in contact with prior to use-whether that use is by a fish or a farmer. Riparian zones are the transition area between water and land that provide vital shade and habitat cover for fish while wetlands provide flood storage and water filtration, just to name a few of the free 'services' we receive from these landscape features.

Urban habitats are just as important as rural ones for these features, but not all habitats are created equal. That's the reason for the inventory-to document the size and quality of the riparian and wetland zones within city limits and some outlying areas that may be incorporated into Urban Growth Boundaries (UGBs) in coming years. The process used starts with a map, then upon landowner permission results in a site visit with a soil sample and analysis of the plant communities on site.

Lane Council of Governments (LCOG) co-sponsored two public open houses in February 2010 on the Riparian and Wetland Inventory being conducted with the cities of Cottage Grove and Creswell, as well as several other small communities in the area. The Coast Fork Willamette Watershed Council co-promoted these events and residents of Cottage Grove were notified in their invitation letter that they could request site visits from the Watershed Council if they wanted to learn more. Wetland consultant John Gordon of ESA Adolfson has been hired to conduct the field surveys.

The purpose of this inventory will be to provide planning data, largely required in order to comply with Oregon Statewide Planning Goal 5. At a municipal level, knowledge of the quality and location of wetlands and riparian zones will assist property owners and the cities with knowing how to proceed when permits are requested for building, zone changes, or even restoration activities. The inventory will also be used to guide enhancements of public and private open space that may qualify for grant funds for habitat, recreation, paths and trails, visual quality, public safety, and the urban interface. A final report will be available at city offices (Creswell & Cottage Grove) upon completion. These partner organizations are available to answer questions. If you received a landowner permission form, please fill it out and complete it in order to have this valuable inventory conducted on your property. It was noted at the Cottage Grove meeting that this inventory may actually save landowners money down the road.

You can see the PDF wetland map of Creswell HERE.  (2.2MB file size)

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!

Help support restoration and the
Coast Fork Willamette Watershed Council.

Give the gift that keeps on growing and supports a healthy watershed!

More Donation Info HERE

We have special edition prints from local artist Tony Willey. For a donation of $30 or more, you will receive both a print and 5 trees planted in honor of you or someone you choose.

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?

Garden Lake Riparian Restoration Project

Centrally located in the Creswell park situated in the NE corner of the I-5 interchange, this 34-acre park is home to a variety of water birds, raptors and migrating songbirds. As the ponds are in-line with Hill Creek, their condition affects the ability of that system to support native cutthroat trout, Western pond turtles and other aquatic species.

More Information and link to restoration photos HERE

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

TMDL Implementation Planning

The Coast Fork Council is exploring involvement with local municipalities Creswell & Cottage Grove) on their water  quality requirements.

The pollutants of concern in the Coast Fork include:
     TEMPERATURE, NUTRIENTS, & MERCURY

Habitat restoration such as tree planting can SHADE waterways, which reduce temperatures. The Council will be assisting in the identification of solutions for pollution mitigation and prevention!

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.