ROGUE RIVER WATERSHED COUNCIL

STREAM RESTORATION - THE COUNCIL IDENTIFIES CONDITIONS IN AND ALONG STREAMS THAT LIMIT HABITAT QUALITY FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE, AND WATER QUALITY. THE COUNCIL ENGAGES WITH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC LANDOWNERS AND LAND MANAGERS TO DISCUSS THESE LIMITING FACTORS, DEVELOP APPROACHES TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE THE IMPACT, AND IMPLEMENT ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION PROJECTS TO ADDRESS THEM. RESTORATION ACTIONS INCLUDING LARGE WOOD INSTALLMENT AND SIDE-CHANNEL RECONNECTION HELP RESTORE NATURAL STREAM PROCESSES. ADDITIONALLY, AQUATIC ANIMAL PASSAGE AND MOVEMENT ARE IMPROVED THROUGH PRIORITIZED BARRIER REMOVAL AND SUBSEQUENT IRRIGATION SYSTEM CONVERSION WHEN NECESSARY. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O. STREAMSIDE RESTORATION, INCLUDING RIPARIAN REHABILITATION, USES INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES TO HELP RECOVER NATIVE PLANT COMMUNITIES, PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON EXCLUDING LIVESTOCK AND SUPPRESSING NOXIOUS WEEDS. ADDITIONAL EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE NATIVE PLANT SURVIVAL ARE INCLUDED IN FUTURE STEWARDSHIP. WHEN NECESSARY, NATIVE PLANT SPECIES ARE PLANTED TO CONTRIBUTE SHADE TO THE STREAM AND INCREASE SLOPE STABILITY TO HELP PREVENT EROSION. MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, HOWEVER, WE ALLOW NATIVE SPECIES TO RECRUIT NATURALLY AT OUR STREAMSIDE RESTORATION PROJECTS. THESE ACTIONS RESTORE NATURAL PROCESSES THAT IMPROVE WATER QUALITY AND SUSTAIN HIGH-QUALITY AQUATIC AND TERRESTRIAL HABITATS THAT BUILD A RESILIENT ECO-SYSTEM AND ROBUST FISH, PLANT, AND ANIMAL POPULATIONS.

ENGAGEMENT - THE COUNCIL USES A VARIETY OF STRATEGIES TO COMMUNICATE AND ENGAGE WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT STREAM PROCESSES, FUNCTIONING WATERSHEDS, RESILIENT COMMUNITIES, AND COUNCIL ACTIVITIES. ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES INCLUDE ACTIVE SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS, A REGULARLY UPDATED WEBSITE, SHORT VIDEO PRODUCTIONS, AND VIDEO LIBRARY, AS WELL AS SHORT NEWSLETTERS (EVERY OTHER MONTH) AND LENGTHIER NEWSLETTERS (BIANNUAL). ENGAGEMENT ACTIONS SUPPLEMENT AND PROMOTE THE COUNCIL'S RESTORATION EFFORTS.