Project Completion Report
Mid Coast Watershed Evaluation and Restoration Project
OWEB Grant # 205-102
Lincoln Soil and Water Conservation District
Prepared By Mark Stone and Christopher Wood
PROJECT COMPLETION REPORT
MID COAST WATERSHED EVALUATION AND RESTORATION PROJECT
OWEB GRANT# 205-102
The Mid Coast Watershed Evaluation and Restoration Project (MCWERP) was a continuation of the work started by the Lincoln Hire the Fisher Program. Work was continued in cooperation with the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (ODFW), the Lincoln Soil and Water Conservation District (LSWCD), the Mid Coast Watersheds Council (MCWC) and other agencies and private landowners in gathering Aquatic Habitat Inventories, Salmon and Steelhead spawning survey data and Temperature data. Data is collected under ODFW and Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) protocols and is available to all agencies and individuals involved in watershed enhancement activities.
Public Outreach
Public outreach continues to be an important part of this project. Crew participated with agencies, Watershed Basin Planning Groups and local schools, doing watershed presentations and demonstrating watershed function with the stream table.
MCWERP crew frequently uses their field knowledge to provide information and locations of stream sites to LSWCD and Mid Coast Watersheds Council staff. We also make our library of collected data available to all agencies, researchers and any other interested parties. The data is compiled in binders and organized so as to be readily accessible. For instance, our AQI data collected for the Big Creek Basin was a key part of “Limiting Factors Assessment and Restoration Plan prepared under OWEB Tech Grant # 205-104. Occasionally, calls come into the LSWCD office from property owners about situations of concern on their property or other issues in the watershed. MCWERP crew fields some of these calls and tries to answer questions or connect people with the individuals or agency that can best assist them with their needs.
The MCWERP crew takes advantage of every opportunity to talk with property owners and others in the watershed about salmon habitat, restoration and other watershed issues. From requests for permission for access for survey work, to visits with folks met during surveys, our work provides an excellent chance to answer questions and promote the importance of watershed restoration. We invite people to participate in the Watershed Council process, and give them information on who to contact for further information on restoration projects for their own property.
Aquatic Habitat Inventory
Sites for Aquatic Habitat Inventory (AQI) were chosen in a cooperative effort with ODFW and the Mid Coast Watershed Council. Selected sites were in places that had proposed or completed restoration activities. This effort provides baseline data for long-term analysis of effects of projects by providing a picture of before and after habitat conditions. In addition to collecting AQI data, we also digitize and collate it in preparation for analysis. Analyzed data is available in this office and from ODFW where it is included in the database of the statewide Aquatic Inventory Project. Also all AQI data is included in the GIS data base. Digitized copies of the raw data are filed with ODFW and are at the LSWCD office.
Aquatic Habitat Inventory Sites 8 mi.
Big Creek Basin
Big Creek 2.4 mi.
Dicks Fork 2.5 mi.
South Fork 1.2 mi.
Big Elk Basin
Bull Creek 1.4 mi
Salmon River Basin
Crowley Creek . 5 mi
Adult Spawning Surveys
Before starting on Coho spawn surveys, MCWERP Crew did Spring Chinook Surveys on the Alsea and Siletz Rivers. This consisted of surveying approximately 20 miles of the Alsea and 14.5 miles on the Siletz. Coho Spawn Surveys were ODFW Random and Supplemental surveys. MCWERP crew has assisted ODFW in pioneering work in establishing a group of sites for steelhead spawn surveys. Crew has located, marked, and surveyed various sites in the Mid-Coast area for an ongoing steelhead assessment program. They have also assisted ODFW with some new field techniques for Spawning Surveys. Lamprey Eel surveys were conducted simultaneously with Steelhead surveys.
Steelhead Surveys-2005
Total 26.67 mi.
Alsea River Basin
Fall Creek Upper .82mi
Fall Creek Lower 1.3mi
Drift Creek 1.5 mi.
Flynn Creek upper .3mi.
Flynn Creek Lower 1.31mi
Gopher Creek .9mi
Salmon River
Mainstem 1.4 mi.
Trout Creek 1.0 mi.
Crowley Creek .5 mi.
Siletz River
Drift Creek upper 1.0 mi.
Drift Creek Lower .84 mi.
Yachats River
Mainstem Float 8.0mi.
South Fork Lower 1.0mi
South Fork Upper 1.5mi.
North Fork 1.0mi.
Grass Creek 1.0mi.
Ocean Outfall
Beaver Creek (Ona Beach) 2.2mi.
Trib. G .5mi
S Fork Spencer Creek .6mi.
Spring Chinook Survey 2005
Total 34.5 mi.
Alsea River 20.0 mi. (approx.)
Siletz River 14.5 mi. (approx)
Coho Adult Spawn Surveys 2005-2006
Total 10.16 mi.
Siletz River
Drift Creek upper 1.0 mi.
Drift Creek Lower .96mi
Bear Creek 1.0 mi
Yaquina River
Beaver Creek 1.0 mi.
Bear Creek (Big Elk) 1.0 mi.
Yachats River
South Fork Upper 1.5 mi.
Grass Creek 1.0mi
Axtel Creek 0.7 mi.
Ocean Outfall
South Beaver Creek 1.0 mi.
Big Creek (near Yachats) 1.0 mi.
Temperature Monitoring
Eight temperature loggers were placed in the Yaquina River at Eddyville and above. Four of the loggers were placed as part of a monitoring strategy on an OWEB involved project on Russ Glascock’s property. Locations were spread over 2 miles and selected in cooperation with ODFW and the Mid Coast Watersheds Council to build a data base to track changes over time resulting from the riparian planting portion of the project. All loggers were placed according to DEQ, and OWEB protocol. Information collected meets or exceeds DEQ requirements and has been digitized and submitted in EXCEL form for inclusion in DEQ data base and is available in EXCEL or hard copy at the LSWCD office. Also DEQ has posted our data on their website so it is available to anyone.
As a result of our temperature monitoring DEQ found that four sites in the Yaquina system had a very strange event that transcended years, sites and loggers. For some reason the sites below Buttermilk Cr., Trout Creek, above the Little Elk and below the Little Elk had a double hump. Instead of a nice rise and fall in temperature there was a second spike in the middle of the night (9:00PM to 3:00AM). We don’t know what this means but further investigation might be warranted.
Volunteer Effort
Unfortunately we did not have any volunteers to help in the completion of this project. Due to the nature of the survey work and the training required to carry out the surveys volunteer effort could not be used.
Participants Assisting in Completion of the Project
Many landowners both industrial and private contributed to our effort to complete this project. Some of the Timber Companies that allowed us to survey on their lands include Plum Creek, Green Diamond, Forest Capital Partners, Weyerhauser, Starker Forests, Elk Horn Forestry and others. Permission to access Industrial Timber lands is critical to the execution of many of our spawning surveys and Aquatic Habitat Inventories. Without a good working relationship with the Timber Companies it would be nearly impossible to complete this project.
Also the number of private landowners that allow us access to their lands is quite large. Almost every survey that we do has one or more private landowners. Without their cooperation our project would be impossible to complete. All of the sites for temperature monitoring on the Yaquina River were private landowners. Many of the Coho and Steelhead surveys have parts of them on private property and part on Timber Company or State or Federal lands. Without the cooperation of all effected parties our data could not be accurate or complete.
Several Agencies assisted us in the completion of this project. The Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife was a huge contributor to this project. They supplied training updates, AQI analysis, project coordination with spawn surveys, some survey supplies and expert advice for our many consultations. Some of the other participating agencies and organizations are as follows:
United States Forest Service, National Resources Conservation Service, Oregon Department of Forestry, Department of Environmental Quality, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, MidCoast Watersheds Council.
Information for Evaluating Strengths and Weaknesses
It is critical in this type of project to have good relationships with landowners. Do not trespass and always get permission before entering the property. When asking for property access permission, always offer to share collected data.
Communicate with project partners. Make sure you aren’t telling the landowner one thing while some other agency person is telling the landowner something else. Be sensitive to the landowner’s needs and questions. You are the direct link between some landowners and other agencies. Building a trusting relationship is extremely important.
Make sure that data collection protocols are consistent with widely accepted methods. Don’t reinvent the wheel! Communicate regularly with the designers of the protocol and stay updated with any changes and upgrades. Methods and protocols can change from year to year. Make sure that efforts aren’t being duplicated. Attending annual training sessions is also very important.
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