Description:
This report summarizes accomplishments of the McKenzie River Focus Watershed
Council (MWC) in the areas of coordination and administration during Fiscal Year
2000. Coordination and administration consist of prioritization and planning for projects;
project management and implementation; procurement of funding for long-term support
of the Council; and watershed education/outreach program for residents and local
schools.
Key accomplishments in the area of project planning include coordinating: monthly
Council and executive committee meetings; staffing the Upper Willamette Spring
Chinook Working Group; staffing the water quality technical committee; and guiding
education and stewardship projects.
Key accomplishments in the area of project management include the completion of the
McKenzie-Willamette Confluence Assessment; securing funds for project planning in
the confluence area; near completion of the BPA funded McKenzie sub-basin
assessment; development of a framework for a McKenzie Watershed Conservation
Strategy; an evaluation of Council’s monitoring programs - ambient water quality,
storm-event water quality, Tier III water quality, and macroinvertebrate monitoring.
The Council, in cooperation with the McKenzie River Cooperative, completed habitat
enhancements in the Gate Creek and Deer Creek sub-watersheds. This partnership
recently submitted Bring Back the Natives grant for initiation of projects in other
McKenzie tributaries. The Council will also be working with a local business to develop
a river-side riparian enhancement and native landscaping project on the lodge grounds.
This will serve as a demonstration project for blending fish and wildlife habitat concerns
with maintaining grounds for business opportunities.
Accomplishments in the area of procurement of funding included developing the
FY2000 Scope of Work and budget for approval by the Council and BPA; providing
quarterly budget and work program progress reports to the Council; and securing
additional funding from Council partner organizations and foundations. Highlights in the
area of watershed education/outreach include the MWC’s lead role in convening the
Watershed Education Network for teachers as part of its educational mission;
production of newsletters and brochures; and coordination of media coverage of
watershed-related issues.
MWC completed all tasks outlined in the FY2000 Scope of Work with the following
staff: Watershed Coordinator (1.0 FTE), Project Coordinator (.25 FTE), and Education
Coordinator (0.5 FTE). Coordination of these activities by MWC improves resource stewardship and protects fish and wildlife habitat through increased collaboration
among Federal, state, and local government agencies, and landowners within the
watershed. Increasing awareness and expanding knowledge affects behavior positively
and promotes attitudes that encourage watershed stewardship. During Fiscal Year
2001, MWC intends to focus on an Implementation Strategy based on the McKenzie
sub-basin assessment results; implementation of projects recommended from the
McKenzie-Willamette confluence assessment; and increasing its presence at the local
level through contact with watershed residents and groups.