Meeting Notes: March 5, 2003

Steering Committee: Chuck Lane reported three items

1. 1. Need to develop a contract with the Council’s Coordinator (Sandra Coveny) which will be based on the recent performance evaluation and council priorities identified at the council self-evaluation workshop in November 2002. The workshop identified 8 top priorities to address over the next two years. Steering committee is also developing a prioritization and evaluation methodology for the implementation plan.
2. 2. Since the steering committee was established, the composition has changed, with a resultant loss of gender diversity (all members are currently middle-aged white men). In response to this issue, the steering committee is trying to recruit people. They are interested in council member nominations, and encourage council members to invite their nominees to attend council meetings

Land/Air/Water Use: Kim
E&S consultants conducted the phase I water quality monitoring program, this committee is looking to develop next steps including identifying a funding source. Watershed Council GIS Kiosks – Working on an initiative to get the information from watershed councils to the public.

Fish Passage Committee: Mark Taratoot
Looking for new members to address growing action plan. They have been in the process of identifying culverts in the watershed so that they can be prioritized according to restoration benefits.

Outreach & Education: Kim Bredensteiner
Need volunteers for the summer solstice celebration, and to be at tables during summer events in the region (DaVinci days, etc.).

Summer solstice celebration: speakers and band confirmed. Speakers: Jim Lichatowich, Kathleen Dean Moore, Freeman House. Featured band will be The Nettles.  Silent Auction during the celebration will raise money for the council. The committee needs donations – items or services – for the auction

Watershed Action Plan

Liz Dent: Introduced herself and outlined her progress in developing the action plan, which began in late September. Her main jobs have been:

1. 1. Working with the subcommittees, particularly the technical advisory review committee, to pool information about what has been done so far by the council and is reformatting and streamlining the information into one document.
2. 2. Developing GIS layers/maps of historical and current conditions of the watershed in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The project is looking at riparian, wildlife & fish habitat, and wetlands conditions. Her goal is to develop a long term action plan for the watershed council that serves landowners as a guide for identifying restoration opportunities and funding sources, to improve the health of the watershed by implementing restoration projects with private landowners.

Coordinator’s Report

• 11 March, Watershed Education Day – Will present legislators with the newly produced Atlas of Watershed Activities in the Willamette River Basin.
• Reviewed recent setbacks to the Clean Water Act, and has information available outlining the changes.
• Outlined some of the trends in the Oregon Political environment regarding support for Watershed councils. Although there is limited interest in dismantling OWEB, and working through the Soil & Water Conservation District framework, the Governor has pledged support to OWEB and the Oregon Plan.
• OWEB Water Quality Monitoring Grant was submitted for phase II water quality monitoring to identify areas for projects that will address water quality issues

RAINWATER HARVESTING - Robert VanCreveld: Rain harvester in Newport, Oregon. This presentation covered why, where, when and how to gather and store rainwater for domestic (potable & non-potable) uses and irrigation – to create a dependable, safe source of water that is off the grid!

In summary: In order to benefit from the costs and work associated with rainwater harvesting, you need to be sure that you are able to collect enough rainwater to meet your families water needs during the dry season, or in the event of a drought. The first step is calculating your family’s needs. Then you calculate the amount of rain you can gather – based on the surface area of your roof, and an estimate of the LEAST amount of rain your region receives in a year. If it rains enough, your roof is large enough to collect enough, to meet your family’s needs – you may be in the market for a rain harvesting system.

The basic components of the system are: a roof, a storage system, a delivery system, and a treatment system. The amount of maintenance it requires is relatively minimal once it is set up – the major drawback is the initial expense, particularly for the storage tanks.

Rainwater harvesting systems are exempt from Oregon’s Water Law and Portland is currently looking to develop incentives for homeowners to invest in rainwater harvesting. For more information about rainwater harvesting, contact Mr. VanCreveld robert@edgewaterenviro.com, as he has been harvesting rainwater in his Newport home for many years