WW Watershed Council honored in Oregon
By Terry Murry on Thursday, October 17th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
SALEM – The Oregon State Land Board honored several projects for contributing to the health of waterways wetlands, and lands. One Stream Award went to those working together on the North Fork Walla Walla River Restoration project. The award was presented by Gov. Tina Kotek, State Treasurer Tobias Read, and Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade.
The Walla Walla Basin Watershed Council and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation identified the area as a top priority for restoring the watershed. Council Executive Director Troy Baker said that while the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation is an instrumental partner for the watershed, it was not involved in this specific project.
“Their ongoing contributions to the basin’s overall health and sustainability are highly valued and recognized by the Walla Walla Basin Watershed Council,” Baker said.
“Dedicating our efforts to this project area to rebuild the vibrancy of habitat components vital to steelhead resurgence also benefits countless other cherished fish and wildlife species,” Eric Hoverson, a watershed restoration specialist with the council, said in a prepared statement. “The extensive restoration efforts devoted to this worthy cause is not only commendable, but essential for retaining the north fork as a stronghold and safe haven for such a resilient, majestic species that have evolved to survive various environmental challenges since time immemorial.”
The project took multiple actions to increase base flow and duration, reduce water temperature and turbidity, and improve access to quality upstream habitat. Those actions include reestablishing ground and surface water interaction, protecting spring wetlands, planting thousands of trees, and relocating exposed channels into forested locations.
The team was also praised for building strong relationships with key landowners resulting in large donations of material, alignment of cattle management strategies, and 10-year agreements that ensure adequate land is available for the project to meet its objectives.
Project partners included the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Trout Unlimited, Dennis Dauble, Eastern Oregon Contracting, Cross Trail Outfitters, Aquatic Contracting, Triple River Construction, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Walla Walla 2050 Watershed Strategic Advisory Committee, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Manulife Investment Management, U.S. Forest Service, Walla Walla County Conservation District, and the Bureau of Land Management.
While it was led by the council, the project team included other representatives. They are Cramer Fish Sciences, Jacobs Engineering Group, R6 Construction, the Rea and Sams families of cooperating landowners, Konen Rock Products, Stonehill Properties, Bonneville Power Administration, and the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Funding.
Photo via the State Land Board: From left to right are Walla Walla Watershed Council Executive Director Troy Baker, Gov. Tina Kotek, Oregon Treasurer Tobias Read, Walla Walla Basin Watershed Council Restoration Specialist Eric Hoverson, and Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade.
Editor’s note: This report was modified on Oct. 22 to reflect that while the Walla Walla Watershed Council values its relationship with CTUIR, the Tribes were not a partner on this specific program. This modifies a news release from the Oregon Land Board.
