LUCKIAMUTE WATERSHED COUNCIL

October 12, 2006

VOLUNTEER HALL, MONMOUTH, OR

 

 

ATTENDANCE:

 

Council                                                Staff                                         Guests

Ann Stewart, Vice chair                      Charles Redon                                       Kelly Gordon

Kenn Carter, Treasurer                                                                                   Brad Schmidt

Kirk Lewis                                                                                             Lea Tebo

Jo Yeager                                                                                              Christine Hurst

Garth Mulkey

Shawn Irvine

Tammee Stump

Jim Clawson, Secretary

 

 

INTRODUCTIONS:

The meeting was called to order by Vice Chair Ann Stewart at 7:05 pm.  Minutes for the September 14 meeting were accepted. The agenda was altered to allow Shawn Irvine to present earlier.

 

BUSINESS:

 

Restoration and Conservation Action Planning

Shawn Irvine presented the matrix and explanation sheets for the planning session at the November meeting. He will be facilitating the session which should take about 2 hours. The members were asked to review the matrix items.  This session focuses on prioritizing the types of projects of interest to the LWC. Similar sessions might be devoted to Education/Outreach and other needed topics.

 

New Member Approval

Tammee Stump provided some background on her interest in becoming a Council member. There was some discussion on the criteria of representation. Tammee was unanimously approved for Council membership with the decision as to what category left to the Steering Committee to decide.

 

Umbrella Council

Major discussion of applying alone for the OWEB Council Support Grant for 2007-09. The question of being better off financially alone or as the Umbrella Group seemed unanswerable with the information at hand. The consensus of the Council was to accept the option and submit a funding application as a solo council.

 

Chair’s Report

Ann reported that two OWEB Grant applications were signed and submitted, one for Gail’s writing project and the other for work (Limiting Factors Analysis for steelhead productivity) in the Pedee Creek subbasin, which was shifted from the Maxwell Creek subbasin where not enough background information (ODFW habitat inventory) is available.

 

Treasurer’s Report

Kenn Carter passed out the financial reports from the Polk SWCD and the Salem/Keiser Urban Watershed Councils Association.  A budget for the council is under preparation and should be ready at the next meeting.

 

Administration Committee 

Jim Clawson reported that the Administration Committee members are also now the Steering Committee. However work on a financial policy is underway and will be presented at a meeting in the near future.

 

 

 

Education and Outreach

Jo Yeager reported that the sign project is in progress. She will be conducting a Backyard Naturalist class in the evenings this winter.

 

Luckiamute Landing State Natural Area

Kirk Lewis reported that the 900 acre State Natural Area was still in the process of public meetings.  Boating and hunting issues are under consideration, more or less, by the Marine Board and ODF&W.  Two future meetings on the plan are scheduled.

 

Board Member Perspective

Jim Clawson led off by describing the Polk Soil and Water Conservation District, which he represents.  The District is governed by a Board of elected volunteers representing five watershed areas and two at-large. The Polk SWCD was formed in 1956 through a process involving county landowners. While the Districts are local entities, they are under the general supervision of the Oregon Department of Agriculture, Division of Natural Resources. The District prepares an annual work plan and annual report which are submitted to the ODA. Districts such as Polk and now Benton who have a tax levy are subject to the public budget law process which requires an advisory committee to review the budget and make recommendations to the Districts. Polk SWCD has technical staff available to assist with projects and conservation planning within the county. Jim indicated we are not taking full advantage of collaboration with the District and also OSU Extension (this should also include Benton County).

 

LWC MEMBER/PUBLIC REPORTS

Kirk Lewis brought up the success of the OWEB Small Grant Process and requested someone join him as a backup as the LWC representative. He also described the Southeast Polk County Area Advisory Committee and their concerns for more attention to water supplies and land use. He pointed that there is no water storage on the Luckiamute River.  Kenn Carter reported on the success of the “Celebrate the Creek Day” on Rickreall Creek.

 

Adjourn at 9 p.m.

Next meeting:  Thursday, November 9, 2006, 7:00 p.m., Monmouth Volunteer Hall, devoted largely to the Restoration and Conservation Action Planning Process.

Committees meet at 6:00 p.m. at Rick’s Place, Monmouth.

 

Minutes submitted by Jim Clawson, Council Secretary