Rogue River Watershed Council

SEE SCHEDULE O.PROVIDE STEWARDSHIP OF THE MANY WATERSHEDS WITHIN THE ROGUE RIVER BASIN THROUGH RESTORATION, EDUCATION, MONITORING, PARTNERSHIPS, AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.

STREAM RESTORATION - THE COUNCIL IDENTIFIES CONDITIONS IN AND ALONG STREAMS THAT LIMIT HABITAT QUALITY FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE, AND WATER QUALITY. THE COUNCIL ENGAGES WITH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC LANDOWNERS AND LAND MANAGERS TO DISCUSS THESE LIMITING FACTORS, DEVELOP APPROACHES TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE THE IMPACT, AND IMPLEMENT RESTORATION PROJECTS TO ADDRESS THEM. INSTREAM RESTORATION ACTIONS INCLUDING LARGE WOOD INSTALLMENT AND SIDE-CHANNEL RECONNECTION HELP RESTORE NATURAL STREAM PROCESSES. ADDITIONALLY, AQUATIC ANIMAL PASSAGE AND MOVEMENT ARE IMPROVED THROUGH PRIORITIZED BARRIER REMOVAL AND SUBSEQUENT IRRIGATION SYSTEM CONVERSION WHEN NECESSARY. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.STREAMSIDE RESTORATION, INCLUDING RIPARIAN REHABILITATION, USES INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES TO HELP RECOVER NATIVE PLANT COMMUNITIES, PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON SUPPRESSING NOXIOUS WEEDS LIKE ARMENIAN (HIMALAYAN) BLACKBERRY AND POISON HEMLOCK, AMONG OTHERS. ADDITIONAL EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE NATIVE PLANT SURVIVAL ARE INCLUDED IN FUTURE STEWARDSHIP. WHEN NECESSARY, NATIVE PLANT SPECIES ARE PLANTED TO CONTRIBUTE SHADE TO THE STREAM AND INCREASE SLOPE STABILITY TO HELP PREVENT EROSION. THESE ACTIONS RESTORE NATURAL PROCESSES THAT IMPROVE WATER QUALITY AND SUSTAIN HIGH-QUALITY AQUATIC AND TERRESTRIAL HABITATS THAT BUILD A RESILIENT ECOSYSTEM AND ROBUST FISH, PLANT, AND ANIMAL POPULATIONS.

WATER QUALITY IMPROVMENT - THE COUNCIL WORKS TO ADDRESS ISSUES THAT POLLUTE AND WARM THE STREAMS IN OUR REGION. THE COUNCIL HAS DEVELOPED A COLLABORATIVE WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM THAT WILL HELP ACHIEVE THE GOAL OF CLEANER WATER. SPECIFICALLY, THE INTENT OF THE PROGRAM IS TO ADDRESS PERSISTENT WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS THAT INCLUDE HIGH TEMPERATURE, LOW DISSOLVED OXYGEN LEVELS, SEDIMENTATION, BACTERIA PRESENCE, AND NUTRIENT LOADING. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O. PROJECTS SUCH AS SIDE-CHANNEL RECONNECTION, NATIVE TREE AND SHRUB PLANTING ALONG STREAMS, CONVERTING FROM FLOOD TO SPRINKLER IRRIGATION, AND REDUCING STORMWATER RUNOFF IN URBAN AREAS PROVIDE WATER QUALITY BENEFITS INCLUDING DECREASED STREAM BANK EROSION, INCREASED SHADING, AND DECREASED LEVELS OF NUTRIENTS AND BACTERIA ENTERING STREAMS.

ENGAGEMENT - THE COUNCIL USES A VARIETY OF STRATEGIES TO COMMUNICATE AND ENGAGE WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT STREAM PROCESSES, FUNCTIONING, AND COUNCIL RESTORATION EFFORTS. ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES INCLUDE ACTIVE SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS, A REGULARLY UPDATED WEBSITE, SHORT VIDEO PRODUCTIONS, AND VIDEO LIBRARY, AS WELL AS BI-MONTHLY SHORT NEWSLETTERS AND BI-ANNUALLY LENGTHIER NEWSLETTERS. ENGAGEMENT ACTIONS SUPPLEMENT AND PROMOTE THE COUNCIL'S RESTORATION EFFORTS.

MONITORING - THE COUNCIL USES MONITORING INFORMATION TO GUIDE DECISIONS, DECIDE ON LIMITING FACTORS TO WATERSHED HEALTH ON WHICH TO CONCENTRATE, AND MEASURE THE SUCCESS OF THE COUNCIL'S ACTIVITIES. CURRENTLY, THE COUNCIL MONITORS WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS IN BEAR, LITTLE BUTTE, AND ELK CREEKS AS THEY RELATE TO A LARGE-SCALE IRRIGATION SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (WISE).