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Joseph Creek Watershed Project. Bruce , Dunn1, Childers, Rod2, Melville, Erin3, Van Alstine, Barbara4, Warnock, Cynthia5, Shepard, Phil6, Snyder, Diane7, Wyffels, Sam8, 1 668 NW 1st, Enterprise, OR2 668 NW 1st, Enterprise, OR3 668 NW 1st, Enterprise, OR4 668 NW 1st, Enterprise, OR5 668 NW 1st, Enterprise, OR6 668 NW 1st, Enterprise, OR7 668 NW 1st, Enterprise, OR8 668 NW 1st, Enterprise, OR
ABSTRACT- Since the listing of the Snake River Chinook Salmon under the ESA, Wallowa County has been proactively working to improve the ecological health of the watersheds AND the economy of the area. Wallowa County responded by writing the Wallowa County-Nez Perce Tribe Salmon Habitat Recovery Plan . This plan called for site specific watershed assessments to be done for the entire county. In 1996 the County appointed a Natural Resource Advisory Committee (NRAC) to advise the Court on resource issues and to coordinate implementation of the Salmon Plan. In 2000, the County Commissioners, their Natural Resource Advisory Committee (NRAC), the Forest Service, Wallowa Resources, several State agencies, tribal representatives, and environmental group representatives initiated a watershed analysis of the Upper Joseph Creek Watershed (UJCW) in an attempt to increase efficiencies of planning and implementation of restoration projects. The parties created a shared vision of land stewardship and restoration priorities, and began the Community Planning Process, the only known assessments where the county is in charge of the analysis. The UJCW project (174,000-acre watershed, 77,000 acres of USFS lands) has currently invested over $1,000,000. The first phase involved community participation in the assessment of forest, range, and other resource conditions. To date accomplishments include the removal of 58 fish passage barriers, development of 3 vegetation reduction projects, renovation of 25 off-stream water facilities, and various weed treatments. An additional 200+ projects have been identified and will be implanted over the next 7 years. In 2006 the NRAC began its second watershed analysis: the Lower Joseph Creek assessment. In both assessments, sub-committees of the NRAC were formed to gather and analyze information and make recommendations for projects and/or management changes. A complete copy of the Upper Joseph Creek Watershed Assessment can be found at: http://http://www.wallowaresources.org/fieldproject1.htm
KEY WORDS: Collaboration, Assessment, Community, Economics
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