Minutes of October 4, 2006 Watershed Council Meeting:

Our October meeting was a business meeting and began with introductions. Wendy Hudson, acting regional representative for OWEB, introduced herself and complimented our Council's good balance of projects, particularly our "ridge-top to ridge-top" approach.
Gordon Cummings was nominated to the Steering Committee, and this passed unanimously.
Karen Fleck Harding narrated a slide program that provided an overview of all our current projects, as well as some for the future.
Some of these projects relate to cutthroat trout, and begin with culvert replacement, which leads to enhanced fish habitat. Landowners are generally happy to participate. Sometimes additional restoration projects and monitoring follow. Blakesley Creek in 2004, Woods Creek and Newton Creek in 2006 have had culvert replacement or dam removal projects. Starker Forest, a major landowner on Woods Creek, has identified 2 additional culverts they will replace next year.
Some of the other projects mentioned in her presentation:
" The Cardwell Hills Project, with 30 landowners participating and over 2,000 acres involved. This project has received attention from the Governor's office as a model for the State of Oregon.
" Western Pond Turtle projects, including a telemetry study with Pacific Wildlife Research and Philomath High School to determine where the turtles are nesting;
" OWEB Technical Assistance proposal for 3 landowners in Newton Creek wetlands;
" ODF&W Landowner Incentive Program for oak & meadow improvements on 9 private parcels;
" Philomath students working on wetland projects at Philomath Elementary and Newton Creek.
Ken Crouse demonstrated the CD he has created to access GIS (geographic information system) data about the watershed. It is a dynamic program and it can provide printed maps with different features. While it is not a full-blown GIS program, we can do considerable exploration and discovery with it. He graciously created free copies of this CD for us to take home and use, and hopes we can provide some feedback as to what works well and what doesn't.
Sandra Coveny, our watershed coordinator, handed out her September report. She is busy writing grant proposals, 3 of which deal with restoration projects and one for technical assistance.
The meeting adjourned at 8:55pm.