7:10 Announcements/Reports from around the watershed/Announcements.

-Benton County Extension Service will hold well water clinics . Call 745-5546 for info.

-Reports have been filed to OWEB for the temperature monitoring and modeling study on the Mary's River.

-Oregon Sea Grant has handouts available on Coho, Chinook, and Steelhead. Call 737-0793.

-The SWCD Board met and has agreed to cosponsor the pesticide reporting law on March 7 2000.

-The only significant rainfall in December happened on the 16th. Most of the low streams maintained low turbidity. Oak Creek had a turbidity

reading of 183 nfu’s at the upper reach and gained almost 100 nfu’s going through OSU property.

7:18 The Education and outreach committee currently consists of 7 members and operates on a consensus basis. Tara Nierenberg is the chair of the committee. As with other committees the education and outreach committee does not decide council policy, but rather makes recommendation which are passed on to the council as a whole. Currently, Todd Kesterson is working on creating a council display which will be placed at all council meetings and at other public events. A brochure will also be produced. Work is progressing on the first copy of the newsletter, which will be done in cooperation with Philomath High School students. This newsletter will feature oral histories from across the watershed. A video is also being planned with the Philomath High School students. Additionally, the website is being updated, and Sandra is being trained to do the updating herself in the future. The next committee meeting is scheduled for Jan 10 at 7 pm in room 64 at Philomath High School.

7:27 Culvert Committee Report- A field trip was conducted last month in the vicinity of Philomath. A cross section of culverts with various problems were examined.

7:30 Steering Committee Report- The steering committee continued work on the bylaws, but no specific recommendations are ready to be presented to the council. The steering committee agreed that the pesticide monitoring panel discussion will be a joint effort between the MRWC and BSWCD. In February, the general council meeting hopes to feature a summary of SB 1010. The next steering committee meeting is scheduled for Jan. 18th.

7:37 Coordinator's Report–The National Marine Fisheries Service has published it's proposed 4D rules defining what is a "take" for each of the 13 listed species. The public will have opportunities to respond to these at a series of public hearings. Sandra is currently reviewing these 4D rules.

7:55 Report on Oak Creek Action Team.–The Oak Creek Action team, initiated by Oregon State University (OSU), was in response to the governor's orders as of spring 1999 that all state agencies were to report on what they were doing to help the Oregon Plan. OSU chose to concentrate on Oak Creek. Since then regular meetings have been taking place. A preliminary report was issued in June, and a final report is due some time this month. Six issues were identified: 1) livestock waste, 2) riparian condition, 3) storm water drainage, 4) toxic waste, 5) water withdrawals, and 6) dams and barriers. More information on Oak Creek and the Action Team can be found at: http://www.orst.edu/dept/oakcreek/

8:55 Adjourn