Landowner Resources
Private landowners own a large amount of the overall land base in the Calapooia watershed. Continued landowner involvement is critical to further improving watershed health, anadromous fish populations, and water quality for the Calapooia watershed, and the CWC is committed to working with these stakeholders.
What We Do
We work with landowners looking to restore and improve land to provide natural habitat for native species. We help find funding to assess, design, implement and maintain restoration efforts.
Typically our projects are greater than 25 acres, or involve riparian and instream restoration. If you have a smaller area of land, we still encourage you to reach out to discuss options.
Restoration projects should fit the following objectives:
- Shade is restored through establishment of native vegetation, which protects against higher water temperatures
- Native riparian forests contribute coarse woody debris recruitment essential for fish spawning habitat and in-stream habitat complexity
- Excluding livestock from riparian areas and streams using fencing to improve water quality, protect native planting, and reduce erosion and sediment loads
- Stabilizing riverbanks to minimize erosion using native vegetation decreases sediment loads
- Protect streambanks from erosion
- Install a streamside buffer
- Manage pastures & pasture weeds
- Provide stockwater in pastures near streams
- Plan & install a livestock exclusion fence
- Manage mud & manure
- Responsibly fertilize
- Plan & manage irrigation
- Sustainably manage forest lands
- Enhance wildlife habitat
- Manage wells & septic systems
What We Don't Do
As a non-government nonprofit organization, the council is not involved in any inspection, investigation or reporting of environmental violations.
Please contact the following agencies for reporting and inquiry –
Report Environmental Violations
EPA Enforcement & Compliance History Online (ECHO) Reporting Form
DEQ Pollution Complaint Form Leave a voicemail 1-888-997-7888
DEQ Environmental Emergency Response Line 1-800-452-0311
In-Stream Resources
Instream Conservation – supports and assists in the restoration of stream habitat for wild and endangered salmon and steelhead throughout SW Washington and the greater NW.
Willamette River Initiative – Studies, reports, resources and more regarding the Willamette River Basin.
Field Guide to Common Fish of the Willamette Valley Floodplain – from Oregon State University.
Willamette River Basin Planning Atlas – an in depth report on Trajectories of Environmental and Ecological Change for the Pacific Northwest Ecosystem Research Consortium.
Stream-A-Syst: A Tool to Help Your Examine Stream Conditions on Your Property.
Guide to Placing Large Wood in Streams – ODFW
Oregon Aquatic Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Guide – Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds
Restoring Salmon Habitat for a Changing Climate, et al 2012 RRA
Conflict Resolution in Water Resources: Global Perspective and Local Successes by Aaron T Wolf, Ph.D. Department of Geosciences, OSU.
Biological and water quality responses from hydrologic disturbances (Calapooia River), Danehy 2011
Impact of land use patterns and agricultural practices on water quality in the Calapooia River Basin of western Oregon Journal of Soil and Water Conservation
Conservation Programs
Across Oregon, motivated landowners are removing invasive plants, replacing culverts, restoring wetlands, establishing native plants, and taking large and small actions to enhance habitat for fish and wildlife. Landowners with an urban backyard, a few acres in the foothills of the Cascades, or a large ranch in eastern Oregon can all take action to benefit Strategy Species and Strategy Habitats.
However, a number of challenges slow progress toward conservation success. Landowners need to assess which aspects of a project they can do themselves, which aspects require assistance, and know whom to ask for assistance. Here are some agencies that can provide the information and support to help support these efforts of our local landowners.
Greenbelt Land Trust – Greenbelt Land Trust has protected 3,660 acres of critical habitats, rivers, trails, and working lands throughout the mid-Willamette Valley. GLT offers several tools to help willing landowners protect their land. They work with landowners to choose a protection strategy that meets their conservation goals and financial needs and that is consistent with GLT’s mission.
The Oregon Conservation Strategy – is a blueprint for conservation in Oregon and an overarching state strategy for conserving fish and wildlife. It provides a shared set of priorities for addressing Oregon’s conservation needs. The Conservation Strategy brings together the best available scientific information, and presents a menu of recommended voluntary actions and tools for all Oregonians to define their own conservation role. 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.
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) -Farm Services Agency: Conservation Programs – oversees a number of voluntary conservation-related programs. These programs work to address a large number of farming and ranching related conservation issues including: Drinking water protection, Reducing soil erosion, Wildlife habitat preservation, Preservation and restoration of forests and wetlands, Aiding farmers whose farms are damaged by natural disasters.
The Nature Conservancy – For over 50 years, TNC has worked to protect forest and grasslands across Oregon—and since 2007 has also helped manage marine reserves and marine protected areas off the coast.
Willamette Partnership – Helping cities and organizations across the West change how they build infrastructure, protect critical habitat and water sources, and manage farms and forests as a way to strengthen community resilience.
United State Department of Agriculture (USDA)-Natural Resources Conservation Services Oregon – NRCS works with partners to develop local Conservation Implementation Strategies to help agricultural producers in those targeted areas implement conservation practices that address the resource concerns. Two current programs are being offered for landowners: Oak Habitat Restoration & Forest Resistance and Resilience. These programs offer technical and financial assistance to private landowners and operations interested in preserving natural resources on the land.
State of Oregon Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) – The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) is a voluntary program for agricultural landowners. This unique state and federal partnership allows landowners to receive incentive payments from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) for establishing long-term, riparian buffers on eligible land. The purpose of the program is to restore, maintain, and enhance streamside areas along agricultural lands to benefit fish, wildlife, and water quality.
Linn Soil & Water Conservation District – has responsibility for the natural resource programs; control and prevention of soil erosion, prevention of flood water and sediment damage, conservation and development of water resources, water quality management and protection (both surface and groundwater) and promotion of health, safety and general welfare of the people of Linn County and the State of Oregon.
Vegetation Management
Vegetation is a natural part of river ecosystems providing shade and cover; promoting bank stability; enhancing physical in-channel features; providing an input of woody debris; filtering sediment and serving as a source of nutrients to support fauna and flora. Management of vegetation in and alongside watercourses is currently undertaken for a range of purposes including agriculture, recreation and flood risk management. Where management is required to maintain the use of the channel, good practice vegetation management measures promote activities which support diversity of vegetation, allow natural regeneration and prevent the spread of non-native, invasive species. – Environment Agency Gov.UK
Oregon State University Extension Catalog: Weeds and Invasive Species – A comprehensive resource for publications relating to forestry for landowners from OSU.
The Rapid Revegetation Approach – Publication regarding the loss of native riparian, vegetation and dominance of invasive species in the Pacific Northwest. Peter Guillozet, Kendra Smith and Kathleen Guillozet.
Oregon State University Extension Catalog: Forest Health, Insects and Disease – Selection of publications regarding forest health.
Live staking guide from Sound Native Plants Certain species native to the Pacific Northwest will grow new plants from cut sections of branches planted into moist soil. We find that willows and black cottonwood generally have the highest success rates. Cuttings are relatively inexpensive and simple to install-under the right conditions, they are easy and economical to plant.
Pollinator guide from Xerces.org Pollinators in natural areas support diverse plant communities, wildlife food webs, and adjacent farms. Incorporating pollinator needs into a site management plan will result in excellent habitat for all wildlife of all types.
Reed canary grass guide from Invasive.org Reed canary grass is known for dense monocultures and is difficult to control. Herbicide application in late summer or early fall provides the most effective control especially for large populations. Cutting of reed canary grass is largely unsuccessful due to the rapid regrowth of the plant.
Native vs Invasive Species – A picture guide of native plants in the Pacific Northwest and their invasive imitators.
White Oak Restoration, BLM – Less than 1% of oak-dominated habitats are protected in parks or reserves. Private landowners hold the key to maintaining this important natural legacy.
A Practical Guide for Oak Release – by Constance A. Harrington and Warren D. Devine
Wetland Prairie Restoration Manual from Cascade Prairie Oak Partnership
Shade Tool – A tool for assisting municipalities in developing riparian shade inventories from Science Direct
United State Department of Agriculture (USDA)-Natural Resources Conservation Services Oregon – NRCS works with partners to develop local Conservation Implementation Strategies to help agricultural producers in those targeted areas implement conservation practices that address the resource concerns. Two current programs are being offered for landowners: Oak Habitat Restoration & Forest Resistance and Resilience. These programs offer technical and financial assistance to private landowners and operations interested in preserving natural resources on the land.
Wildfire Prepardness
Willamette Partnership provides a comprehensive list of resources, financial & technical assistance, and health services to communities recovering from wildfires.
Oregon State University Extension Service is offering a regular Wednesday webinar series to educate and support wildfire preparedness.
Wildfire Information from Direct Energy provides a helpful and easy guide to preventing and preparing for potential wildfires.
Project Monitoring Notifications
94% of the land in the Calapooia Watershed is privately owned by landowners, so from time to time, it may be necessary for us to access the river and tributaries that runs through these areas. When this need arises, we take care to provide written notifications of any such projects or monitoring to the registered landowners. We value and appreciate our partnerships with our landowner stakeholders and are always willing to discuss any particular concerns or questions regarding these projects.
CWC Contacts:
Collin McCandless, Executive Director 541-224-4531
Cris Salazar, Habitat Restoration Program Manager 541-391-3820
LANDOWNER ALERT
emerald ash borer
OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY is asking landowners to learn about the present threat to Oregon ash trees. Oregon ash is known to be highly susceptible to EAB.
Oregon ash is a key part of riparian forests and wetlands west of the Cascades. It grows along streams, rivers and wetlands below 2,000’ elevation, with 80 percent of the species occurring below 1,000’ elevation. At the lowest elevations (below 500’) it forms pockets of pure stands.
Besides native Oregon ash, susceptible EAB hosts in Oregon include common landscape ash species: green, white, narrow‐leafed (especially the cultivar ‘Raywood’), and European ash. EAB is also known to feed on botanical relatives of ash, including white fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) and cultivated olive (Olea europaea). In the eastern U.S., EAB has caused over $2 billion in damages. Most of the costs are from losses in residential property values, tree removal and replanting in urban areas. EAB moves quickly; it can cause nearly complete mortality of ash trees within about 10 years after detection.