nehalem watershed restoration tour 2007

Nehalem Watershed Nehalem Watershed Restoration Tour 2007Restoration Tour 2007

10 years of watershed restoration 10 years of watershed restoration and native salmon recovery…and native salmon recovery…

Sponsored by: Upper and Lower Nehalem Watershed CouncilsFunded by: Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission

Photo by Don Best

Welcome…

Who:Who:

The Upper Nehalem Watershed CouncilThe Upper Nehalem Watershed Council– Established in January of 1996Established in January of 1996

Recognized by Columbia County - Board of Commissioners in July 1996Recognized by Columbia County - Board of Commissioners in July 1996 Recognized by Clatsop County - Local Government Group in August 1997Recognized by Clatsop County - Local Government Group in August 1997

The Lower Nehalem Watershed CouncilThe Lower Nehalem Watershed Council– Established in 1997Established in 1997

Recognized by Tillamook County - Board of Commissioners 1997Recognized by Tillamook County - Board of Commissioners 1997

a diverse representation of the stakeholders groupsa diverse representation of the stakeholders groups who have interest in the health and productivity of the who have interest in the health and productivity of the

Nehalem watershed…Nehalem watershed…

Where:Where:

The Nehalem Basin The Nehalem Basin North Pacific Coast of OregonNorth Pacific Coast of Oregon

Temperate rainforest ecosystemTemperate rainforest ecosystem 44thth field - 17100202 - HUC field - 17100202 - HUC 855 square miles, 599,660 acres855 square miles, 599,660 acres 1,258+ miles of salmon bearing streams1,258+ miles of salmon bearing streams 37% public forest land37% public forest land 50% private forest land50% private forest land 13% agriculture and rural residential, 13% agriculture and rural residential, Towns/cities = Towns/cities = Timber, Vernonia, Mist, Timber, Vernonia, Mist, Birkenfeld, Jewell, Elsie, Hamlet, Nehalem, Birkenfeld, Jewell, Elsie, Hamlet, Nehalem, and Wheelerand Wheeler

Why:Why:

UNWC mission:UNWC mission: The Upper Nehalem Watershed Council The Upper Nehalem Watershed Council

is a dedicated and dependable grassroots organization with a proven is a dedicated and dependable grassroots organization with a proven track record of success and measurable results. We value productive track record of success and measurable results. We value productive forests; cool, clean, clear water; sustainable ecosystems; and healthy forests; cool, clean, clear water; sustainable ecosystems; and healthy communities full of informed citizens. We are working diligently to communities full of informed citizens. We are working diligently to reforest our waterways and improve salmon habitat in respectful reforest our waterways and improve salmon habitat in respectful cooperation with local stakeholders.cooperation with local stakeholders.

LNWC mission:LNWC mission: The Lower Nehalem Watershed Council The Lower Nehalem Watershed Council

is dedicated to the protection, preservation and enhancement of the is dedicated to the protection, preservation and enhancement of the Nehalem watershed through leadership, cooperation and education.Nehalem watershed through leadership, cooperation and education.

The Councils strive to meet the goals of theOregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds

What we do:What we do:

Public Outreach and EducationPublic Outreach and Education Partnership BuildingPartnership Building Watershed Assessment/issue IDWatershed Assessment/issue ID Action Plan DevelopmentAction Plan Development Water Quality/Quantity/Biological MonitoringWater Quality/Quantity/Biological Monitoring Riparian RestorationRiparian Restoration Salmon Habitat/Passage Improvement Salmon Habitat/Passage Improvement Project Effectiveness MonitoringProject Effectiveness Monitoring Noxious Weed ControlNoxious Weed Control Organizational DevelopmentOrganizational Development FundraisingFundraising AccountabilityAccountability

Watershed OutreachWatershed Outreachreaching out to the watershed community…reaching out to the watershed community…

Vernonia Salmon Festival

Forestry and project tours

Hands-onVolunteer tree plants

Council sponsored:Public forumsLandowner workshopsCouncil presentationsDisplays at public eventsProject toursNewspaper articlesPublications

River exploration

Hands-on EducationHands-on EducationOregon Youth Conservation Corp…Oregon Youth Conservation Corp…

Involving local youth in hands on watershed restoration since 1997

Learning as they go…

Watershed AssessmentWatershed Assessmentconditions of the the past vs the present…conditions of the the past vs the present…

present view

present forest cover

field verification

Riparian Conditions AnalysisRiparian Conditions Analysisunderstanding the present, planning for the future…understanding the present, planning for the future…

Upper Nehalem River

Conifer Medium Dense29%

Mixed Medium Dense16%

Conifer Regen Dense14%

Road3%

Conifer Small Dense7%

Conifer Small Sparse0%

Shrub1%

Grass7%

Mixed Medium Sparse0%

Mixed Small Dense3%

Hardwood Small Dense6%

Conifer Medium Sparse0%

Hardwood Medium Dense9%

Mixed Small Sparse1%

Conifer Regen Sparse0% Water

2%

Hardwood Small Sparse0%

Conifer Medium Dense

Mixed Medium Dense

Conifer Regen Dense

Road

Conifer Small Dense

Conifer Small Sparse

Shrub

Grass

Mixed Medium Sparse

Mixed Small Dense

Hardwood Small Dense

Conifer Medium Sparse

Hardwood Medium Dense

Mixed Small Sparse

Conifer Regen Sparse

Water

Hardwood Small Sparse

Watershed Health MonitoringWatershed Health Monitoringfrom the headwaters to the bay, and all points in between…from the headwaters to the bay, and all points in between…

Volunteer monitoring - Volunteer monitoring - 10+ years10+ years

Partners:U and L NWC volunteers, landowners, DEQ, EPA, ODFW, Xerces Society,Contractors and the City of Vernonia, Nehalem and Manzanita

All data collected using state protocols

Volunteers trained by DEQ staff

DEQ assisted councils in developing a Quality Assurance Project Plan

Water QuantityWater Quantityfrom draught to flood… from draught to flood…

Rock Cr GaugeNehalem USGS Gauge

Volunteer flow monitoringLow flows limit salmon rearing potential

High flows accelerate soil erosion, cause property damage and disturb salmon redds

UNWC installed RC gauge for City of Vernonia`s Water Curtailment Plan

Partners in flow monitoring:OWRD, USGS, ODFW, City of Vernonia, City of Nehalem, Water Watch, and volunteers

1996 storm approachesAverage rainfall

1996 precipitation

Water QualityWater Qualitycool clean clear water, good for all…cool clean clear water, good for all…

Beneficial usesBeneficial uses

Water Quality – TemperatureWater Quality – Temperaturefinding the heat sources…finding the heat sources…

Partners: Nehalem Valley Chapter - Izaak Walton League, DEQ, BLM, volunteers and landownersSites: 80+ basin wideDuration: 15 yrs of data collection

Forward Looking Infra-red

North Coast - TemperatureTotal Maximum Daily LoadEstablished 2002

Cooler waterbenefits all life…

humans, salmon, insects,

amphibians

302.9 stream miles impaired

Water Quality – TemperatureWater Quality – Temperature

The Nehalem is water quality limited from the headwaters to the bay…

More temperature…

Water Quality – TurbidityWater Quality – Turbidityfinding the source of sediment…finding the source of sediment…

Partners: UNWC and LNWC Volunteers, DEQ staffSites: 100+Duration: 7yrs

WQ – BacteriaWQ – Bacteriaprotecting beneficial uses…protecting beneficial uses…

Dedicated volunteers collected bacteria samples from 15 lower Nehalem sites: 1/mth for 6 yrs

DEQ TMDL data

10 miles of fecal coliform

impairment

Biological - Aquatic HabitatBiological - Aquatic Habitatassessing quality of habitat…assessing quality of habitat…

locating and prioritizing project reaches…locating and prioritizing project reaches…

Partners: Boswell associates, OWEB, ODFW, council volunteers

Biological - Salmon PresenceBiological - Salmon Presencenative salmon populations persist in the Nehalem…native salmon populations persist in the Nehalem…

a precious resource… a precious resource…

Biological - Macro invertebrateBiological - Macro invertebratemacros “tell all” about water quality… all we need to do is listen…macros “tell all” about water quality… all we need to do is listen…

Field collection

Lab: sort and ID

Bugs do not lie…

Oregon Plan Macroinvertebrate Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity for Fish Hawk Creek Above and Below Reservoir 1998 - 2002

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Year Sampled

Impairment Level

Above Lake Below Lake ODF Restoration Site

None

Slight

Severe

Moderate

Watershed RestorationWatershed Restorationunderstanding the watershed is the first step…understanding the watershed is the first step…

Riparian FencingRiparian FencingLandowner cooperation is key to water resource protection…Landowner cooperation is key to water resource protection…

Happy “Free to Grow” Cows

15 miles of riparian fence installed in cooperation with local Landowners

Riparian ReforestationRiparian Reforestationgrowing strong…growing strong…

95+ UNWC cooperators, to date

Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program 9 new sign-ups400+ acres in reserve

Partners:OWEB, DEQ, BLM, NRCS, ODF, FSA, ODFW, VCLC, VHS, Landowners.

200,000+native treesand shrubsplanted

North Coast North Coast Native Plant CooperativeNative Plant Cooperative

growing native plants from seed to riparian planting stock…growing native plants from seed to riparian planting stock…

Partners: Tillamook Bureau of Land Management and Watershed Councils = Yamhill, Tillamook Bay, Nestucca, Lower and Upper Nehalem, Scappoose Bay and Soil and Water Conservation District`s = Tillamook, Clatsop and Columbia, and Tillamook Estuary Partnership. Nursery meets all our riparian restoration needs!

Native Coho – RecoveryNative Coho – Recoveryraising salmon in the wild…raising salmon in the wild…

Nehalem “Native” CohoBorn to be Wild…

Salmon Habitat ImprovementSalmon Habitat Improvementbuilding habitat, increasing salmon production…building habitat, increasing salmon production…

Partners: Longview Fibre Co, Weyerhaeuser, Forest Systems, Oregon Wildlife Heritage Foundation, ODFW

Salmon PassageSalmon Passageremoving barriers one crossing at a time…removing barriers one crossing at a time…

Before

After

Before

During

After

Reflection Creek

East HumbugAfter

During

Before

Cedar Creek

Partners:Longview Fibre Co., Forest Systems, ODOT, County Rd. Departments, USFWSWonderland Rain Forest

Examples of Council barrier removal projects implemented to date…

More in the works…

More on salmon habitat…

Noxious Weed ControlNoxious Weed Control

Beautiful InvadersBeautiful Invaders

Beware:Beautiful invaders coming to a watershed near you…

Yellow Flag Iris

Purple Loosestrife

English Ivy

Scotch Broom

Nehalem Knotweed ControlNehalem Knotweed Controleradicating Knotweed from the headwaters down to the bay…eradicating Knotweed from the headwaters down to the bay…

Partners:North Coast Weed Management Area GroupNehalem Knotweed Task ForceClatsop SWCD, ODA, OSU Extension, UNWC, LNWC, Columbia SWCD, NRCS, and Landowners

Sea of Knotweed

Stem Injection

“Knot” in the

Nehalem!

Nehalem Bay EstuaryNehalem Bay Estuarywhere the river meets the sea…where the river meets the sea…

AssessmentAssessment

Assessment partners (recent):• DLCD - Oregon Coastal Management Program - Dynamic Estuary Information System• OWEB – Estuary Assessment• USFWS – Estuary Assessment

Critical salmon habitat

Nehalem Bay Clean-upNehalem Bay Clean-upEstuaries - the most abundant habitat in the world…Estuaries - the most abundant habitat in the world…

Estuary Clean-up results, average per biennial event:

Volunteers = 120+ Solid Waste = 65 cubic yardsScrap Metal = 400 lbsRecyclables = 120 gallonsHazardous Waste = 20 gallons

VolunteersVolunteersmake the watershed world go round… make the watershed world go round…

we could not do it with out them…we could not do it with out them…

Annual value ofVolunteer

contributionsto U&L Nehalem

Watershed Council projects

is: $60,000+

Natural Resource AdvisorsNatural Resource Advisorsonly the best for the Nehalem…only the best for the Nehalem…

OWEBOWEB ODFWODFW DEQDEQ NRCSNRCS BLMBLM OWRDOWRD ODAODA USFWSUSFWS DSLDSL NOAANOAA ACEACE

EducatorsEducatorsit takes a village to save a watershed…it takes a village to save a watershed…

Oregon Watershed Enhancement BoardOregon Watershed Enhancement Board:: watershed health, salmon recovery, grant management watershed health, salmon recovery, grant management Oregon State UniversityOregon State University: Extension, Stewardship - group facilitation, watershed health seminars: Extension, Stewardship - group facilitation, watershed health seminars Portland State UniversityPortland State University:: graduate students - watershed assessment public education graduate students - watershed assessment public education University of OregonUniversity of Oregon:: RARE internship program - action plan development – public outreach RARE internship program - action plan development – public outreach Department of Environmental QualityDepartment of Environmental Quality:: water quality monitoring and data analysis water quality monitoring and data analysis Oregon Department of Fish and WildlifeOregon Department of Fish and Wildlife:: salmon recovery and stream restoration training salmon recovery and stream restoration training Oregon Water Resources DepartmentOregon Water Resources Department:: hydrology training, flow monitoring, water law hydrology training, flow monitoring, water law Oregon Division of State LandsOregon Division of State Lands: : wetland ID and protectionwetland ID and protection Oregon Department of ForestryOregon Department of Forestry:: forest health, riparian restoration, Oregon forest Practice Act forest health, riparian restoration, Oregon forest Practice Act Natural Resource Conservation ServiceNatural Resource Conservation Service:: river restoration, conservation planning river restoration, conservation planning Oregon Department of AgricultureOregon Department of Agriculture:: noxious weed control, farm conservation practices noxious weed control, farm conservation practices Nehalem Valley Izaak Walton LeagueNehalem Valley Izaak Walton League:: public education on local watershed health issues public education on local watershed health issues River NetworkRiver Network:: River Rally workshops - wide range of watershed health organizational training River Rally workshops - wide range of watershed health organizational training Oregon TroutOregon Trout:: Salmon Watch, River Keeper: citizen and youth salmon and river interaction Salmon Watch, River Keeper: citizen and youth salmon and river interaction Xerces SocietyXerces Society:: macro invertebrate collection and ID, project development training macro invertebrate collection and ID, project development training Technical Assistance Community ServicesTechnical Assistance Community Services:: non-profit development training non-profit development training Ford Family FoundationFord Family Foundation:: Ford Institute Leadership Program Ford Institute Leadership Program Coal Creek Education FoundationCoal Creek Education Foundation:: ecosystem, botany, creativity ecosystem, botany, creativity Vernonia Outdoor SchoolVernonia Outdoor School:: ecosystem, watershed and water quality classes for local students ecosystem, watershed and water quality classes for local students Oregon Forest Resources InstituteOregon Forest Resources Institute:: forest health, salmon recovery, tours forest health, salmon recovery, tours Vernonia Community Learning CenterVernonia Community Learning Center:: local outreach - hands-on restoration classes for local youth local outreach - hands-on restoration classes for local youth Vernonia and Neahkanie School DistrictsVernonia and Neahkanie School Districts:: hands-on watershed health for students hands-on watershed health for students Oregon Youth Conservation CorpOregon Youth Conservation Corp:: hands-on restoration training for local youth hands-on restoration training for local youth Boy and Girl Scouts of AmericaBoy and Girl Scouts of America:: hands-on local environmental learning projects for youth hands-on local environmental learning projects for youth

FundersFunders

OWEB = $1,620,000.00OWEB = $1,620,000.00 DEQ = $395,208.00DEQ = $395,208.00 NRCS = $128,500.00NRCS = $128,500.00 ODFW Restoration and Enhancement Board = $39,000.00ODFW Restoration and Enhancement Board = $39,000.00 BLM = $239,897.00BLM = $239,897.00 PSMFC = $2,300.00PSMFC = $2,300.00 USFWS = $44,130.00USFWS = $44,130.00 River Network = $8,000.00River Network = $8,000.00 Ford Family Foundation = $4,000.00Ford Family Foundation = $4,000.00 Oregon Wildlife Heritage Foundation = $6,000.00Oregon Wildlife Heritage Foundation = $6,000.00

RecipientsRecipients

Thank you!!!

There is no place like home…

Thank you for joining us!