Goals of Visit. Explore interest and opportunities for a regional watershed science cooperative

Transcription

1 Goals of Visit Explore interest and opportunities for a regional watershed science cooperative Common mission water Everyone needs more data Multi-institution, institution, regional projects may be more successful in competing for funding or in securing appropriations. Describe project underway in Oregon Challenge seek stable funding for long-term term effort, especially federal funding to supplement strong local support.

2 The Watersheds Research Cooperative

3 Mission The mission of the WRC is to provide fresh science on the effects contemporary intensive forest management practices on hydrology, water quality, fish, and aquatic habitat. Definition of intensive management is fairly broad for WRC purposes.

4 What is a Contemporary Data Set? Harvest regenerated stand Existing road system Harvest uses contemporary harvesting equipment with a small environmental footprint Contemporary forest practices

5 Forest Practices Policy Process Management of non-fish-bearing streams (headwater streams). Effect on fisheries downstream. Cumulative Effects at the watershed scale.

6 Post-1990 History Private and State Lands New riparian rules in Listing of the Coastal Coho & the Governor s s Salmon Plan. IMST Landscape level focus. MOA & FPAC. Protection of headwaters streams identified as an area of emerging policy debate.

7 Jobs and the economy Forest sector in Oregon contributes 85,000 direct jobs and $12.5 billion annually to the economy. Each 10% of harvest can be associated with 8,500 jobs and over a billion dollars of economic value annually. In the absence of timely information, state and federal regulators could default to a precautionary approach in protecting aquatic habitat on private forestlands. Results also relevant to BLM and Forest Service as managers seek an improved scientific basis for aquatic protection strategies on federal lands and in understanding landscape scale cumulative effects where federal lands are interspersed with private lands.

8 Watersheds Research Cooperative Hinkle Creek is the current focus. Vision is to establish more replicates of Hinkle Creek across the state. Roseburg Forest Products has made a commitment to study Hinkle Creek for 10 years; program would benefit from longer-term stability on at least one site, perhaps on State Forest land.

9 Study Site Hinkle Creek watershed Owned by Roseburg Forest Products 5,000 acres (2,300 hectares) 30 miles east of Sutherlin Cascade foothills Harvest-regenerated, regenerated, 55-year old Douglas-fir Classic private industrial forest land

10 Hinkle Creek A Multidisciplinary Project Amphibians & Aquatic Invertebrates Hydrology and Water Quality Forest Management Fisheries

11 Hinkle Creek Integrated Studies 70 Discharge (cfs) Tags per day 60 SF Hinkle NF Hinkle Amphibian Abundance and Fish Density 06/01/03 10/01/03 02/01/04 06/01/04 06/01/03 10/01/03 02/01/04 06/01/04 Fish Movement and Stream Flow

12 Demonstration and Outreach Goals include public education, learning opportunities for students, and focus area for engaging policy makers. Already many tours for congressional staffers, state legislators, Board of Forestry, county commissioners, Douglas County school children.

13 Hinkle Creek Outreach & Information Sharing Local Schools Board of Forestry Resource Professionals

14 Planning for Site II Tentative location in Trask River drainage in NW Oregon. Mixed ownership of State Forest, Weyerhaeuser, and BLM. Detailed scoping is underway and looks promising. Launch of installation is contingent on funding.

15 Budget Requires about $900,000 annually to fully fund the current science and outreach program at each site, not including in-kind kind support. Ideal funding model is 75% federal, 25% local. To date about $2 million in cash has been invested, including $500,000 federal, $1.5 million local and OSU. Grassroots support has been great, but we need larger federal and state funding to realize the vision for this effort. Total funding -- $27 million over 10 years. If federal support is secured, need $225,00/site/year from local sources for match.

16 WRC Cooperators Roseburg Forest Products; Starker Forests; Boise Oregon Forest Industries Council (OFIC) Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (ODF&W) Douglas County Associated Oregon Loggers Nat. Council for Air and Stream Impr. (NCASI) BLM Forest Service (via Appropriation) Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) Umpqua Fisheries Enhancement Derby OFRI OSU College of Forestry/ Forest Research Laboratory/ FE Department

17 How can O&C Counties help? Provide political support as we seek federal appropriation. Support efforts to secure State and other local support. Provide support from County funds.

18 Thanks!! We appreciate your support!