Search

Search Results

• 1. [Article] Yaquina and Alsea River Basins Estuarine Wetland Site Prioritization Project Final Report

  Abstract -- The project surveyed estuarine wetland sites in the Alsea and Yaquina basins. Sites surveyed were tidal wetlands falling within Jefferson’s (1975) plant community categories of low silt marsh, ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Yaquina and Alsea River Basins Estuarine Wetland Site Prioritization Project Final Report Abstract -- The project surveyed estuarine wetland sites in the Alsea and Yaquina basins. Sites surveyed were tidal wetlands falling within Jefferson’s (1975) plant community categories of low silt marsh, low sand marsh, sedge marsh, immature high marsh, and mature high marsh. (Mud flats, algal flats and eelgrass beds were not included.) The goal was to prioritize these tidal wetland sites for protection and restoration activity. The information provided by this study provides a basis for working with interested landowners to develop site-specific action plans. Development of these action plans will require landowner contact, field work, and other steps outlined elsewhere in this report. Title: Yaquina and Alsea River Basins Estuarine Wetland Site Prioritization Project Final Report Abstract -- The project surveyed estuarine wetland sites in the Alsea and Yaquina basins. Sites surveyed were tidal wetlands falling within Jefferson’s (1975) plant community categories of low silt marsh, low sand marsh, sedge marsh, immature high marsh, and mature high marsh. (Mud flats, algal flats and eelgrass beds were not included.) The goal was to prioritize these tidal wetland sites for protection and restoration activity. The information provided by this study provides a basis for working with interested landowners to develop site-specific action plans. Development of these action plans will require landowner contact, field work, and other steps outlined elsewhere in this report. Close

• 2. [Article] Rock and Richardson Creek Watershed Assessment

  Abstract -- The intent of this assessment is to provide a framework for action based on a review of the many recent studies that have been completed in this area. The Clackamas Basin Atlas, funded by the ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Rock and Richardson Creek Watershed Assessment Abstract -- The intent of this assessment is to provide a framework for action based on a review of the many recent studies that have been completed in this area. The Clackamas Basin Atlas, funded by the Environmental Protection Agency and coordinated by Metro, provides a basin-wide perspective on the entire area. Metro followed up this effort with a landscape study focused on Rock and Richardson Creeks. Pacific Rivers Council and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) have done fish surveys and analyzed the health of aquatic life. During the development of this assessment Clackamas County was in the midst of completing a stormwater management plan for the proposed urban areas. This assessment summarizes the findings of these and several other studies, and provides a context for moving forward with creek protection and restoration. Title: Rock and Richardson Creek Watershed Assessment Abstract -- The intent of this assessment is to provide a framework for action based on a review of the many recent studies that have been completed in this area. The Clackamas Basin Atlas, funded by the Environmental Protection Agency and coordinated by Metro, provides a basin-wide perspective on the entire area. Metro followed up this effort with a landscape study focused on Rock and Richardson Creeks. Pacific Rivers Council and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) have done fish surveys and analyzed the health of aquatic life. During the development of this assessment Clackamas County was in the midst of completing a stormwater management plan for the proposed urban areas. This assessment summarizes the findings of these and several other studies, and provides a context for moving forward with creek protection and restoration. Close

• 3. [Article] Lower Rogue Watershed Assessment

  Abstract -- Thank you for your interest in The Lower Rogue Watershed Assessment. The Lower Rogue Watershed Council’s mission is: To help foster, develop and coordinate a basin-wide approach to resource ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Lower Rogue Watershed Assessment Abstract -- Thank you for your interest in The Lower Rogue Watershed Assessment. The Lower Rogue Watershed Council’s mission is: To help foster, develop and coordinate a basin-wide approach to resource planning and management so as to protect, enhance and restore the natural resources of the entire Rogue Basin through a framework of assessing the Lower Rogue Watershed’s condit ions and trends, implementing and monitoring proven management practices, and testing new management practices that are designed to support environmental integrity and economic stability for the communities of the Lower Rogue Watershed. The “Lower Rogue Watershed” consists of all lands and waters that drain into the Rogue and Illinois Rivers within Curry County. Title: Lower Rogue Watershed Assessment Abstract -- Thank you for your interest in The Lower Rogue Watershed Assessment. The Lower Rogue Watershed Council’s mission is: To help foster, develop and coordinate a basin-wide approach to resource planning and management so as to protect, enhance and restore the natural resources of the entire Rogue Basin through a framework of assessing the Lower Rogue Watershed’s condit ions and trends, implementing and monitoring proven management practices, and testing new management practices that are designed to support environmental integrity and economic stability for the communities of the Lower Rogue Watershed. The “Lower Rogue Watershed” consists of all lands and waters that drain into the Rogue and Illinois Rivers within Curry County. Close

• 4. [Article] Ashland Watershed Assessment and Action Plan

  Abstract -- The assessment of the Ashland and Neil Creek watersheds began June 23, 2004 and concluded with this report submitted December 31, 2007. The area studied lies along Interstate 5 about ten miles ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Ashland Watershed Assessment and Action Plan Abstract -- The assessment of the Ashland and Neil Creek watersheds began June 23, 2004 and concluded with this report submitted December 31, 2007. The area studied lies along Interstate 5 about ten miles north of the Oregon-California border as shown on Map 1. This project, one of many being completed across Oregon with funding from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB), followed the components and methods outlined in OWEB’s Watershed Assessment Manual (July, 1999) supplemented by a later draft chapter to address Urban Issues. The process identifies voluntary individual and community Action Plans and fish-friendly practices that address priority local issues. The focus of this assessment is to document current and historic conditions; identify social and physical processes within the watershed that affect fish and riparian habitat, water quantity and quality; and current and potential hazards to the urban and rural residential environment. Soil conservation, erosion prevention, and flood protection are important factors in these issues. Most emphasis is on aquatic, hydrologic, and riparian systems. This watershed assessment builds on regional restoration priorities identified previously and provides a framework for the Bear Creek Watershed Council (BCWC) to better identify and prioritize issues affecting this watershed. Recommendations from this assessment help plan, propose and implement watershed restoration and improvement activities. Title: Ashland Watershed Assessment and Action Plan Abstract -- The assessment of the Ashland and Neil Creek watersheds began June 23, 2004 and concluded with this report submitted December 31, 2007. The area studied lies along Interstate 5 about ten miles north of the Oregon-California border as shown on Map 1. This project, one of many being completed across Oregon with funding from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB), followed the components and methods outlined in OWEB’s Watershed Assessment Manual (July, 1999) supplemented by a later draft chapter to address Urban Issues. The process identifies voluntary individual and community Action Plans and fish-friendly practices that address priority local issues. The focus of this assessment is to document current and historic conditions; identify social and physical processes within the watershed that affect fish and riparian habitat, water quantity and quality; and current and potential hazards to the urban and rural residential environment. Soil conservation, erosion prevention, and flood protection are important factors in these issues. Most emphasis is on aquatic, hydrologic, and riparian systems. This watershed assessment builds on regional restoration priorities identified previously and provides a framework for the Bear Creek Watershed Council (BCWC) to better identify and prioritize issues affecting this watershed. Recommendations from this assessment help plan, propose and implement watershed restoration and improvement activities. Close

• 5. [Article] The Oregon Conservation Strategy, 2006

  Abstract -- State and federal agencies, as well as other organizations, have developed and led many plans during the years to guide conservation of Oregon's fish and wildlife and their habitats. Most of ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The Oregon Conservation Strategy, 2006 Abstract -- State and federal agencies, as well as other organizations, have developed and led many plans during the years to guide conservation of Oregon's fish and wildlife and their habitats. Most of these plans have focused on a particular species, area or natural resource. Although wildlife conservation often has been an implicit concern of these plans, many were developed primarily for other purposes. With the creation of this Oregon Conservation Strategy, Oregon has its first overarching state strategy for conserving fish and wildlife. The Conservation Strategy is an effort to use the best available science to create a broad vision and conceptual framework for long-term conservation of Oregon's native fish and wildlife, as well as various in­vertebrates and native plants. As a guide to conserving the species and habitats that have defined the nature of Oregon, this strategy can help ensure that Oregon's natural treasures are passed on to future generations. The Conservation Strategy emphasizes proactively conserving declining species and habitats to reduce the possibility of future federal or state listings. It is not a regulatory document, but instead presents issues and opportunities, and recommends voluntary actions that will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of conservation in Oregon. Healthy fish and wildlife populations require adequate habitat, which is provided in natural systems and, for many species, in landscapes managed for forestry, agriculture, range and urban uses. The goals of the Conservation Strategy are to maintain healthy fish and wildlife populations by maintaining and restoring functioning habitats, preventing declines of at-risk species, and reversing declines in these resources where possible. These goals fit well with ODFW's statutory obligation to protect and enhance Oregon's fish and wildlife and their habitats for use and enjoyment by present and future generations. However, this is not a management plan for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Instead, it is a broad strategy for all of Oregon, offering potential roles and opportunities for residents, agencies and organizations. It incorporates information and insights from a broad range of natural resources assessments and conservation plans, supple­mented by the professional expertise and practical experiences of a cross-section of Oregon's resource managers and conservation interests. It is designed to have a variety of applications both inside and outside of state government. Most important, perhaps, it establishes the basis for a common understanding of the challenges facing Oregon's fish and wildlife, and provides a shared set of priorities for addressing the state's conservation needs. The heart of the Conservation Strategy is a blueprint for voluntary action to address the long-term needs of Oregon's fish and wildlife. The future for many species will depend on landowners' and land managers' willingness to voluntarily take action on their own to protect and improve fish and wildlife habitat. The strategy outlined in this document considers fish and wildlife from a statewide perspective, establishing a broader context for decisions about the species and habitats in greatest need of conservation attention. It also recognizes that these issues vary in different regions, requiring conservation actions to be tailored to the unique needs of the fish, wildlife and human communities that coexist throughout Oregon. Much good work already is being done by private landowners. water-shed councils, conservation organizations and agencies like the many soil and water conservation districts. This strategy continues building on the solid foundation these groups have set for Oregon's conservation future. This document is called a strategy, not a plan, because its purpose is to help people make decisions more strategically about how they can invest time and resources in fish and wildlife conservation. To that end, the Conservation Strategy focuses on a suite of species and habitats, many of them closely linked, that are in greatest need of conservation attention. The strategy provides guidance on the types of actions most likely to benefit these species and habitats, and describes a variety of non-regulatory programs that can help landowners and land managers with implementation. For agencies and organizations working on a larger scale, the Conservation Strategy highlights specific geographic "Conservation Opportunity Areas" that provide good opportunities to address the conservation needs of high-priority habitats and species. These landscape-scale areas include both public and private ownership where targeted investments in conservation actions and incentives for private landowners are likely to generate the greatest long-term benefits for fish and wildlife. The expanding footprint of human development and 150 years of landscape alteration have left much of Oregon's fish and wildlife at varying degrees of risk. For example, the song of Oregon's state bird, the western meadowlark, is rarely heard in the Willamette Valley any more. A grassland bird still common in eastern Oregon, the meadowlark is not going to be a candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act any time soon. But the state bird is in trouble across a significant portion of its historic range in Oregon. Like most of Oregon's wildlife, it retains a natural resilience and will respond to improved habitat conditions. However, the meadowlark needs some conservation attention. For the western meadowlark and dozens of other similarly vulnerable species including fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, invertebrates and plants, the Oregon Conservation Strategy offers hope for a more secure future. Title: The Oregon Conservation Strategy, 2006 Abstract -- State and federal agencies, as well as other organizations, have developed and led many plans during the years to guide conservation of Oregon's fish and wildlife and their habitats. Most of these plans have focused on a particular species, area or natural resource. Although wildlife conservation often has been an implicit concern of these plans, many were developed primarily for other purposes. With the creation of this Oregon Conservation Strategy, Oregon has its first overarching state strategy for conserving fish and wildlife. The Conservation Strategy is an effort to use the best available science to create a broad vision and conceptual framework for long-term conservation of Oregon's native fish and wildlife, as well as various in­vertebrates and native plants. As a guide to conserving the species and habitats that have defined the nature of Oregon, this strategy can help ensure that Oregon's natural treasures are passed on to future generations. The Conservation Strategy emphasizes proactively conserving declining species and habitats to reduce the possibility of future federal or state listings. It is not a regulatory document, but instead presents issues and opportunities, and recommends voluntary actions that will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of conservation in Oregon. Healthy fish and wildlife populations require adequate habitat, which is provided in natural systems and, for many species, in landscapes managed for forestry, agriculture, range and urban uses. The goals of the Conservation Strategy are to maintain healthy fish and wildlife populations by maintaining and restoring functioning habitats, preventing declines of at-risk species, and reversing declines in these resources where possible. These goals fit well with ODFW's statutory obligation to protect and enhance Oregon's fish and wildlife and their habitats for use and enjoyment by present and future generations. However, this is not a management plan for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Instead, it is a broad strategy for all of Oregon, offering potential roles and opportunities for residents, agencies and organizations. It incorporates information and insights from a broad range of natural resources assessments and conservation plans, supple­mented by the professional expertise and practical experiences of a cross-section of Oregon's resource managers and conservation interests. It is designed to have a variety of applications both inside and outside of state government. Most important, perhaps, it establishes the basis for a common understanding of the challenges facing Oregon's fish and wildlife, and provides a shared set of priorities for addressing the state's conservation needs. The heart of the Conservation Strategy is a blueprint for voluntary action to address the long-term needs of Oregon's fish and wildlife. The future for many species will depend on landowners' and land managers' willingness to voluntarily take action on their own to protect and improve fish and wildlife habitat. The strategy outlined in this document considers fish and wildlife from a statewide perspective, establishing a broader context for decisions about the species and habitats in greatest need of conservation attention. It also recognizes that these issues vary in different regions, requiring conservation actions to be tailored to the unique needs of the fish, wildlife and human communities that coexist throughout Oregon. Much good work already is being done by private landowners. water-shed councils, conservation organizations and agencies like the many soil and water conservation districts. This strategy continues building on the solid foundation these groups have set for Oregon's conservation future. This document is called a strategy, not a plan, because its purpose is to help people make decisions more strategically about how they can invest time and resources in fish and wildlife conservation. To that end, the Conservation Strategy focuses on a suite of species and habitats, many of them closely linked, that are in greatest need of conservation attention. The strategy provides guidance on the types of actions most likely to benefit these species and habitats, and describes a variety of non-regulatory programs that can help landowners and land managers with implementation. For agencies and organizations working on a larger scale, the Conservation Strategy highlights specific geographic "Conservation Opportunity Areas" that provide good opportunities to address the conservation needs of high-priority habitats and species. These landscape-scale areas include both public and private ownership where targeted investments in conservation actions and incentives for private landowners are likely to generate the greatest long-term benefits for fish and wildlife. The expanding footprint of human development and 150 years of landscape alteration have left much of Oregon's fish and wildlife at varying degrees of risk. For example, the song of Oregon's state bird, the western meadowlark, is rarely heard in the Willamette Valley any more. A grassland bird still common in eastern Oregon, the meadowlark is not going to be a candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act any time soon. But the state bird is in trouble across a significant portion of its historic range in Oregon. Like most of Oregon's wildlife, it retains a natural resilience and will respond to improved habitat conditions. However, the meadowlark needs some conservation attention. For the western meadowlark and dozens of other similarly vulnerable species including fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, invertebrates and plants, the Oregon Conservation Strategy offers hope for a more secure future. Close