The LWC's Project Manager, Michael Cairns, has been working with property owners to develop natural resource enhancement projects. On October 9, we learned that we have received assistance from OWEB Small Grants to help the landowners cover much of the project installation costs.
Lower Plunkett and Vincent Creeks will see improvements as the landowners add 45 logs to their portion of these streams. Another couple will use the funding to improve the riparian area of lower Teal Creek by clearing out invasive blackberries and planting native trees & shrubs. Approximately $15,000, in total, will be granted by OWEB to cover most of the costs for these restoration efforts.

Learn more about the local Small Grant Program here.

Do you have a natural area on your property you'd like to enhance or restore? Contact the LWC Project Manager, Michael Cairns, for free advice and assistance.

Michael Cairns
Project Manager
lwc@wou.edu
(503) 838-4275

Thanks to all the volunteers who came out on a cloudy, Saturday, morning for the bi-annual Buena Vista Road clean-up. The group of eight covered the one-mile stretch of road in just an hours time. By 10:00 AM there were 12 yellow bags piled together with an old TV set, numerous tires and a beat-up garden bench to boot! Who knew what could all be thrown on the side of the road?
Last Spring the LWC adopted the one-mile section of Buena Vista road through the Polk County Public Works Program. This section of road includes the Luckiamute River crossing and borders the Luckiamute State Natural Area. Twice a year Council volunteers will be working to keep the trash out of the river and our watershed clean along Buena Vista Road. Join us for our next work party in May 2008.


Volunteers admiring their mornings work. From left: Kirk Lewis, Michael Cairns, Tom Smith, Ron Nestlerode, Jo Yeager, Wade Edris, John Petersen

More than 50 people attended the third-annual Luckiamute River and Ash Creek Celebration on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Airlie Winery, on Sept. 15th.
Truman Price led the celebration with his foot-stomping fiddle. Next up were several readings by local authors telling stories about their experience in the watershed. Last but certainly not least, was the opportunity to highlight some of efforts made by volunteers this past year. Gail Oberst was awarded 'Volunteer of the Year' for her numerous hours spent staffing the LWC booth at community events, faithfully recording meeting minutes, and writing press releases for the LWC, just to mention a few! Thank you Gail! Many other volunteers were recognized for their contributions to the LWC and the Watershed, for the full list click here. The day gave us all a chance to sit back, listen to great music, share stories, and learn about all the great volunteer work going on in the Luckiamute Watershed! The Pinot Noir from Airlie Winery was superb too.

Construction crews recently removed the remains of the old, Mountain Fir Timber Company dam on Ash Creek near the F Street Bridge in Independence. The effort is part of a multi-agency project organized by Luckiamute Watershed Council to restore the creek and open 7 miles of its south fork to migrating fish.
The old dam was broken and nonfunctional, and was a trap for litter as well as an impediment to fish. In place of the dam, the LWC will place 50 or so boulders in the stream to create pockets of calm water that will serve as winter refuge for rearing steelhead and Chinook salmon. Adjacent to the bridge is a refurbished neighborhood park with newly planted tree seedlings and picnic tables. More information here

By Polk County Itemizer-Observer

LWC is inviting the public to its 3rd Annual Luckiamute & Ash Creek Celebration from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15th at Airlie Winery. This year’s festivities will include live music by Truman Price, a guided vineyard tour, readings from local writers, wine tasting and volunteer awards. Come help us celebrate the accomplishments made to improve the Luckiamute River and Ash Creek watersheds. The family friendly event is free.
Airlie Winery is located at 15205 Dunn Forest Road, between Monmouth and Corvallis, directions are available at the winery's website, www.airliewinery.com

Christine Hurst
Outreach Specialist
hurstc24@hotmail.com
503-838-8804

LWC is sponsoring "Writing Your Watershed," a series composed of four Saturday workshops. Luckiamute River and Ash Creek watershed residents will be taught to write personal essays that focus on their present and past experiences in the watershed. The essays will be collected for publication as a book scheduled for release this winter. For a sneak peak of essays, come hear the readings at the 3rd Annual Luckiamute & Ash Creek Celebration on Sept. 15th at Airlie Winery. Through this experience the LWC will develop workshop curriculum that can be used in other watersheds. More information here

The Luckiamute Watershed Council has hosted several tours of agricultural operations in the watershed. The tours have given the community an opportunity to see what kinds of conservation projects have helped these successful businesses. Those attending also met council members and other landowners with an interest in watershed health.
The first tour held in May was of a seed crop farm which is converting to no-till production. At the Mulkey’s farm in the Soap Creek basin, Council members learned about the benefits to a farmer’s bottom-line, as well as, to the land when using no-till farming practices.
The next tour in June was of an organic dairy farm, situated on the banks of the Little Luckiamute River. Jon Bansen took the group on a walking tour of his dairy, all the while, explaining the conservation practices he’s implemented. Although the dairy is currently organic, within the next couple years Jon hopes to reach his goal of becoming sustainable as well.
In July the LWC in partnership with the OSU Extension Service and Oregon Small Woodlands Association toured a small timber operation. The Lamers’ forest property is located along hilltops that drain to the South Fork of Ash Creek. During the driving tour of the forest participants received an overview of the family run forestry operation. The group also learned about the history of the area and shared views of how stewardship of the land plays out in the business.
The final tour for this summer will be of the vineyards at Airlie Winery on Sept. 15th, as part of the LWC’s 3rd Annual Celebration. More information on the summer tour series here

Christine Hurst
Outreach Specialist
hurstc24@hotmail.com
503-838-8804

Volunteers Needed for Creek Clean-up: The Luckiamute Watershed Council invites volunteers to help clean up a section of the South Fork Ash Creek in Mt. Fir Park in Independence, as part of the local and statewide “Down by the Riverside” clean-up. This stream segment is currently undergoing a stream restoration by the LWC. We will be meeting at 9:00 am in the park located on F Street between 7th and 8th Streets. Ask for Adrienne. Please dress for the weather, bring gloves and wear sturdy shoes. Water and trash bags will be provided. For more information, call Michael Cairns at 503-838-4275.

In December, windstorms blew down thousands of trees and caused many disruptions to the lives of Willamette Valley residents. The Luckiamute Watershed Council had a tree blow down just outside while we were meeting in Monmouth! On the positive side, placing these downed trees in our smaller streams can provide high quality salmon, steelhead and trout habitat. Structures like these can capture gravel, provide refuge for fish and food for aquatic insects, and add complexity to our streams.
The Council is always looking for donations of logs for future stream restoration projects, and landowners interested in such projects. If you have medium to large diameter conifer trees you could donate for one of our projects, or if you would like technical assistance to place logs in your own streams, please contact the Luckiamute Watershed Council at (503) 838-8804.
Preferred logs are at least 18” diameter, 35-50 feet long, and with rootwads still attached. We may not be able to remove the logs from your property for several months, until funding or a transportation donation is secured.

The Institute for Applied Ecology and it's partners at the City of Corvallis, Benton County, Greenbelt Land Trust and Finley National Wildlife Refuge are planning an exciting season of rare and endangered Willamette Valley plant reintroductions.
Some outplantings with be in conjunction with local school groups and are a great chance to spend some time with local kids and work to steward our beautiful local landscape. More information here

LWC receives SMCF grant for Outreach Specialist The Luckiamute Watershed Council (LWC) has received a grant from the Spirit Mountain Community Fund in the amount of $3,000. Combined with funds from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, Weyerhaeuser, Polk and Benton Soil & Water Conservation Districts, and Polk County cities, these dollars will be used to hire a part-time outreach specialist. The duties of this person will be to inform the local communities about the presence of the LWC and engage individuals and organizations in LWC activities by building trust and working relationships. The LWC, officially chartered in 2001, strives for a sustainable ecosystem that supports a healthy watershed, and one that provides a strong socio-economic base for the watershed communities. It supports better stewardship of natural resources and an improved understanding of the biodiversity within the area. The LWC formed to share information, help address watershed management issues, and provide a framework for coordination and cooperation among watershed interests. Spirit Mountain Community Fund is the philanthropic arm of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon. Each year the Fund donates over $5 million to organizations within their 11-county area. “These investments allow our Tribe to support long-term environmental preservation efforts in a variety of communities. Having an outreach specialist will allow the Luckiamute Watershed Council to educate Polk and Benton county citizens on ways to protect the water quality that is critical to everyone in their communities”, said Fund Director Shelley Hanson.

Michael Cairns
Watershed Coordinator
lwc@wou.edu
(503) 838-4275

The Oregon Department of Transportation recently installed 10 signs on state highways indicating that motorists are entering either the Luckiamute or Ash Creek watersheds. The Luckiamute Watershed Council (LWC), with the help of donations from Weyerhaeuser and an anonymous donor, selected locations where Kings Valley Highway, Hwy 51, and Hwy 99W enter the watersheds. Signs are 12” x 18” and contain the LWC logo.