February 5th meeting notes:
Introductions: Facilitator – Kim Bredensteiner
Committee Reports

Steering: Liz Dent reported on her work on Council funding, presently balanced. Coordinators report for Dec./Jan. was reviewed, all is going well.
Land, Air and Water Use: Discussed assembling GIS workstation to provide access to watershed data at libraries. Are actively compiling public notices on proposed land/water use in watershed
Water Quality Monitoring: Monitoring report released, presented tonight
Fish Passage: Reviewed WS/County assessment & reviewed action plan
Outreach and Ed: Revisited action plan. Planned for Solstice celebration, logistics.

Coordinator Report: 1.5 pp. report distributed. Highlights:

• Attended Willamette Coordinator’s meeting. Topic: upcoming legislative session, OWEB/restoration funding. Bill to abolish OWEB would give granting authority to SWCD’s, thru ODAG. Will have hearing in committee next week. Sandra will send out bill summary on listserve when avail. Urges legislator contact.
• Member noted that OWEB funding was only intended as start-up funding. We need to expect more in-kind support for projects and raise our own funds. Sandra noted that we pursue grants and leverage income to increase funding. Funding staff is the difficulty. Member pointed out that issue is how WSC’s relate to State government, and agenda would change from OWEB to ODAG.
• Sandra reminds all to plan for 6/21 Tyee WSC Solstice celebration.
• Has applied for grant from HP for 4 computers to libraries & high schools for GIS workstations for accessing WS info.

Presentation:  Sharon Sternadel: Philomath H.S Senior Thesis: WQ Monitoring Local Swimming Holes

• Introduction: Collected WQ data at 9 sites on Marys, Long Tom, Alsea, Willamette, and Luckiamute, in coop. With Benton Co. Health Dept. Compiled results and posted on website: http://www.geocities.com/majestmoose. (Plans to move data to B. Zybach’s OSU sponsored site).
• Results: Ph, temp, turbidity, E. coli count, dissolved oxygen, and visible depth sampled in summer of 2002. State Lab analyzed E. coli samples – an isolated spike found at Mill Creek Park. Overall, Alsea Falls was the cleanest site, and Long Tom river was the least. Her favorite swimming hole is the Fish Hatchery site!

Presentation:  Richard Raymond, E&S Env. Chemistry Inc.: Phase I WQ Monitoring Report

• Benthic macroinvertebrates collected/analyzed by Philomath H. S. advance biology class students under direction of Jeff Mitchell on 9/01, same 15 Marys River sites as the rest of the WQ monitoring. Results were distributed (and are avail. on website and as a CD by request). Sample site characteristics, diversity index and predominant organisms, max. 7-day high temp (summer, 2001) were presented. Diversity greatest higher in the basin assoc. with substrate variability and better WQ. Fine-grained substrate lower in basin assoc. with less diversity. WQ probably limiting diversity @ Oak Creek site, where diversity index is relatively low.
• WQ monitoring included temp., specific conductivity, turbidity, dissolved oxygen (DO), Ph, phosphorus, nitrate, bacteria. High degree of seasonal and spatial variability in these parameters, that are important to understand in analyzing results. For example, there is a linear increase in temp. with river mile in summer. DEQ standard is for 7-day running average. Many of readings are consistently cooler than the 17.8 degree C standard, inconsistent with 303d listing based on measurements at Hwy 99 bridge. (Results posted on our website).
• Monitoring shows five sites “impaired for temp. (>17.8) in lower basin. Oak Creek “impaired” re: E. coli (5 day method), potentially so at other sites. DO OK for rearing, possibly impaired for spawning standard (11 mg/liter).
• Future study will focus on
  · Upper basin sites with low DO, bacteria
  · Mid-basin potential turbidity issues and bacteria sources near Philomath
  · Muddy Creek elevated coliform, turbidity, nutrient inputs and low DO
  · Oak Creek – bacteria, low macroinvertebrate diversity
  · Marys Peak area- fecal coliform source

Mark your calendars! The 2003 Marys River Watershed Celebration is scheduled for June 21st from 10:30 to 5:30! Kickoff for the watershed action plan, and a summer filled with restoration workshops, tours, and project assistance and planning for interested landowners.
Tour: Buchanan Family Farm Wetlands Restoration Project
Speakers: Kathleen Dean Moore, local author, Jim Lichatowich, Fisheries Biologist, Freeman House, Mattole Watershed Council Executive
Music: AMADAN – Stout Irish Music!!!