Josephine & JACKSON Counties

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1 Page 1 of 23 The APWC has been a very successful watershed council for the last 20 years, averaging 3-5 projects per year with anywhere from 1 to 40+ landowners participating in the projects. Josephine & JACKSON Counties We are currently working on large landscape scale projects that incorporate the Applegate landscape from the streambed to the top of the watershed ridges and everything in between.

2 Page 2 of 23 WHAT IS A WATERSHED COUNCIL? A non-regulatory, community group of volunteers with an interest in watershed health. Designated and recognized by the County Commissioners as allowed by state legislation. Councils are required to represent the diverse stakeholders in the basin and be balanced in their makeup. The APWC is a 501 (c) 3 Non-Profit Organization.

3 Page 3 of 23 APPLEGATE WATERSHED 4th Field HUC Applegate WS ~493,000 Acres (770 sq. miles) 262,400 Acres in Jackson Co. & 172,800 Acres in Josephine Co. 711 Stream Miles, Miles of Stream Listed as 303(d) Land Use in the Applegate Rural Res. 20% Priv. Forest 10% Publicly Managed 70%

4 Page 4 of 23 The Rogue Basin covers 5 Counties: Jackson Josephine Curry & the Headwaters of the Rogue and Little Butte begin in Douglas & Klamath Counties (all WC s average less than 2 full time staff) Jackson County Applegate River Bear Creek Little Butte Creek Seven Basins Upper Rogue River ROGUE BASIN WATERSHED COUNCILS Total Acreage: 3,309,831 Lower Rogue Illinois Valley Middle Rogue Watershed Councils in each County Josephine County Applegate River ~Williams Creek Illinois Valley Middle Rogue Stream Restoration Alliance Williams Creek Seven Basins Applegate Upper Rogue Little Butte Bear Creek Curry County Lower Rogue

5 Page 5 of 23 WHAT DO COUNCILS DO & WHAT CAN WC S BRING TO THEIR COMMUNITIES? Watershed Councils bring together local stakeholders from multiple interests in collaborative partnerships to work towards watershed protection and restoration. Funds & Involvement Created through APWC TCHRP P1 Project Funding $ 287,000 In-Kind Contributions $37,000 Landowner Involvement 11 Public Events Held 7 # s are approximations for Council Acreage Population Lower Rogue 226,668 Illinois Valley 637,540 Middle Rogue 425,243 (less W/S 104,058) Applegate 493,000 12,000 Bear Creek 253, ,000 (2011) Little Butte 238,598 11,600 Seven Basins 261,760 13,000 Upper Rogue 798,841 10,000 Population Information from 2011

6 Page 6 of 23 APWC Projects COMPLETED PROJECTS Beaver Creek Sedimentation Reduction Project: This project has been completed. When we are able to complete monitoring of this previously sediment limited creek, we hope that we will be able to remove it from the 303(d) water quality list. Riparian Restoration Program: Program began in the early 2000 s working with landowners to restore native riparian areas by removing invasive species and replanting natives. This program has worked with over 30 landowners in the last few years. The APWC would like to Continue this program into the future, pending funding Current projects include Humbug Creek near Hwy 238 and Yale Creek on Yale Creek Ranch Cultivating Healthy Watersheds Education Program: Through the CHW school program, K-12 students learn about watershed-friendly farms, sustainable farming practices and forest management. Hand-on projects provide active learning experiences that enhance habitat for fish and wildlife, help kids build skills, and learn to be good watershed stewards. Our E&O Committee is working to reestablish this program. However, without designated staff and funding this program has been difficult to schedule in with our restoration projects. Yale Creek RR: Pre & Post Treatment Students Learn causes of soil erosion and how to prevent it learn about winter cover crops

7 Page 7 of 23 APWC Projects CURRENT PROJECTS Thompson Creek Restoration P1: ~1.8 miles of Creek of habitat restoration for aquatic and wildlife species. This work includes riparian restoration, stream bank stabilization, large wood. Little Applegate Measuring Device Project: Installation of measuring devices on open irrigation ditches to help water users manage their water rights. Fish Barrier Assessment Project This project will update the APWC s current fish passage barrier list and ground truth barriers in the Thompson Creek, Slate Creek & Humbug Creek drainages. Iron Creek Habitat Improvement Project Iron Creek is in ODFW s top five coolest streams list in the Applegate. This stream has a barrier issue at the South Side Road culvert. This project means to address upstream access to important habitat. Waters Creek Riparian Fencing Project This project will assist a landowner in the construction of almost 2100 of riparian fence. The landowner will then change their farming practices from full season hay production to 1 cut production and then pasture for cattle. The goal of this project is to save irrigation water and keep it in-stream and project their lush riparian vegetation. Butcherknife Creek Culvert This project will replace a very dilapidated culvert with a bridge. ODFW has been an instrumental partner, but we are having problems getting forward momentum with this project. Thompson Creek: Blackberry Removal & Replanting of Native Trees/Shrubs Thompson Creek: Large Wood Yale Creek: Irrigation Measuring Device

8 Page 8 of 23 APWC Projects CURRENT PROJECTS Humbug Creek Reed Canary Grass Project: Humbug Hwy 238 is inundated with RCG and during the winter 2014 the stream in this section went subterranean causing the death of at least 2 fish. This project will work to eradicate the RCG create better stream flow and fish passage. Thompson Creek Habitat Restoration Project P2: This project will bring on more landowners and additional acreage to be treated for invasive species from the mouth of Thompson Creek up to Phase 1. This project is not contiguous but we had to limit the number of landowners because of the extent the project has currently reached, 18 committed landowners, ~2.63 stream miles & ~48 acres of land to be treated. Provolt Seed Orchard Partnership The BLM, Provolt Seed Orchard, may eliminate seed collection in the near future. This will give the facility new opportunities including: access to the Applegate River, riparian restoration, educational events and workshops, and potentially much more. Beaver Reintroduction Program Funding will allow the APWC to gather historical information from long time landowners regarding the distribution of beaver around the Applegate Valley. Humbug Creek Thompson Creek Phase 2 Provolt Seed Orchard

9 Page 9 of 23 APWC Projects PROPOSED PROJECTS Applegate Community Events 8/6/14 Damnation Red Lily Applegate Watershed Kiosk Updates APWC/SOU 2011 Applegate Video Project Aquatic & Riparian Committee Meetings (2 nd Weds. each month) Education & Outreach Committee Meetings Re-establish CHWEP for students in Applegate watershed General Board Meetings (4 th Thurs. each month) Hyde Bar Decommissioning See Our Salmon Event Rogue Basin Ecosystem Outreach Applegate Effectiveness Monitoring Program O'Brien & Sturgis Ditch Water Quantity Project Phase II of Middle Applegate Project ("Pilot Thompson") Applegate Dam Aggregate Extraction & Habitat Enhancement Project Applegate Riparian Restoration Program ( XX) Barrier Removal Program Cantrall Buckley Riparian Restoration Project Forest Creek Habitat Restoration Project Keeler Creek Riparian & Stream Restoration Project Prescribed Fire Program Waters Creek Habitat Restoration Bridgepoint In-Stream Improvement Project Laurel Hill Irrigation Dam Project Munger Creek W. Fork Williams Creek 1 of 3 Applegate Watershed Kiosks Keeler Creek Educational Program w/williams Elem.

10 Page 10 of 23 Thompson Creek Phase 1 11 Landowners ~1.8 Miles of Creek ~22 acres of Riparian Restoration Over 10K Stems Planted 5 Large Wood, In-stream Habitat Structures in Bank Stabilization In-Stream Structures in 2014 Multiple In-Stream Habitat Cover Logs/Root wads in 2014

11 Page 11 of 23 Thompson Creek Phase 1 Lulka Before & After

12 Page 12 of 23 Thompson Creek Phase 1 Bango Before & After E. Temple Before & After

13 Page 13 of 23 Thompson Creek Phase 1 Volunteer Planting Days

14 Page 14 of 23 Thompson Creek Phase 1 Natural regeneration of Big Leaf Maple & Cottonwood stake leafing out Planting crew and machine in area where invasive blackberries have been removed Plantings with plastic mulch, riparian fence. Native planting protected by tree cages where livestock are present.

15 Page 15 of 23 Thompson Creek Phase 1 Wildlife friendly livestock fence with smooth bottom wire. Low impact range-land gates will be left open when no livestock are present. Donated Burlap from Dutch Bros Coffee. Volunteer installed tree cage, mulch mat and Ponderosa Pine, with wild turkey. Burlap mulch used on plantings near stream with risk of getting washed away. Plastic mulch used in areas of high historic invasive vegetation cover

16 Page 16 of 23 Thompson Creek Phase 1 Klinefelter: Before & After

17 Page 17 of 23 Barrier Assessment Project What is a fish passage barrier? Any structure which could or does impede fish movement and migration Can be completely passable or have a complete barrier, partial barrier, or unknown status Natural or artificial structures: bridges, cascades, culverts, dams, debris jams, fords, natural falls, tide gates, and weirs In the project area, steelhead, coho, chinook, and other aquatic species' habitats are limited by impassable and partially passable barriers Butcherknife Cr. Culvert Slate Cr. Harbolt Dam Williams Cr.

18 Page 18 of 23 Barrier Assessment Project Board Shanty Creek at North Applegate Road Landowner reports hundreds of juvenile steelhead in pool every spring

19 Page 19 of 23 Volunteers Sign Up for BAP

20 Page 20 of 23 Fuels Reduction & Forestry Collaboration Pilot Joe & Pilot Thompson: APWC has volunteers collaborating with BLM and project stakeholders to help with development and monitoring Goal is to demonstrate successful landscape restoration on Dry Forests to help in fuels reduction, forest resiliency, wildlife habitat and provide timber sales & local jobs Photos provided by BLM, from 10/2011 Middle Applegate Presentation AFTER BEFORE

21 Page 21 of 23 How Can MRS Help the APWC Succeed Continue your support through volunteer efforts Assist in project development through your expertise and funding Join an APWC committee or come to our board meetings Keep track of upcoming events from our website Support WC s through positive input to the STATE LEGISLATURES and the OREGON WATERSHED ENHANCEMENT BOARD MEMBERS

22 Page 22 of 23 Thank You for Your Time Thompson Creek Drainage Photo by Chas Rogers Janelle Dunlevy, Coordinator

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