Make a donation, and our volunteers will plant native trees and shrubs in your honor or in the honor of someone you choose.

Featuring original, limited-edition block prints by Cottage Grove artist Tony Willey!

• Donate $ 30 ▪ Receive your choice of block print + 5 trees planted
• Donate $ 50 ▪ Receive your choice of block print+ 1 tree + 10 trees planted
• Donate $ 200 ▪ Receive your choice of block print+ 2 trees + 50 larger trees planted
• Donate $ 250 to $ 2,000 ▪ Receive both block prints+ 5 trees + 75 larger trees planted

We will plant cascara, vine maple, willow, big leaf maple, cottonwood, oak, and ninebark.

Council volunteers will plant, mulch, and maintain your trees.

Donations made to “Coast Fork Fund, McKenzie Watershed Alliance” are tax deductible.

Call the Coast Fork office (767-9717) or

email coastfork@willamette.net for more information.

At the Creswell Garden Park, November 22nd, more than 20 eager-to-work folks showed up to help plant trees and perform other needed activities, including members of the University of Oregon softball team.  Another great day where great people helped the Garden Park Restoration Project continue its great success.

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At the Holiday Open House, November 19th, about 20 members of the Coast Fork Council and other interested community members got together for an early holiday celebration.  Attendees had an opportunity to give the present that keeps on growing by donating to the Council.  Those who donated will have a tree planted in their honor and received their choice of a unique, original block print by Cottage Grove artist Tony Willey.   Fern Hill Nursery also provided many native species for purchase.  Coordinator Pam Reber presented an overview of the year’s activities and the Biennial Report was available.  Stephanie Schroeder, from Willama Restoration Project, described the success of the STREAM education program:  Students Trained in River Enhancement, Assessment, and Monitoring. Over 150 Cottage Grove students benefited from  water quality and riparian health curriculum during the 2007-08 school year.

The Mt. Pisgah Mushroom Show on Sunday, October 26th, was the most successful mushroom show ever with over 5,000 people attending.  Many stopped by our booth and signed up for more information or to volunteer!

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At the Garden Lake Park Work Party on Saturday, October 25th, over 25 students and adults participated in cutting blackberries and mulching trails with bark. Special thanks to the UO Softball team and Creswell High School!

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More than 30 people attended an update on the Willamette Valley Floodplain Restoration Feasibility Study on October 22nd. The presentation included large maps of the watershed prepared by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The maps showed possible projects that could help return the river’s floodplain to its historical condition, with areas color coded to indicate levels of project feasibility as well as existing projects.  Corps Project Manager Christine Budai explained that the maps showed 35 possible areas for restoration.  Eventually 10 will be selected for which the Corps will pursue congressional funding.

Both the Coast Fork and Middle Fork Watershed Councils in partnership with the Corps will be contacting landowners in the flood plain and making site visits to possible restoration areas.  With input from landowners, they will assess the level of local interest and feasibility for pursuing each project.  Eventually a draft of the 10 proposed projects will be sent to Washington, D.C., for congressional approval and funding.

Greg Taylor, fisheries biologist with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, outlined the effects floodplain restoration has had and may have on the fish populations in the valley.  He discussed water temperature control measures in effect at several dams and ongoing mitigation efforts to lessen the environmental impact of those dams.

Merri Martz, biologist with Tetra Tech, explained the Corps maps and project approval process.  She noted that some worthwhile projects may be identified that don’t make the top 10.  She expressed the possibility that the local watershed councils might be able to step in to execute and pursue other funding for them.

For an interesting and detailed view of the watershed maps and possible restoration projects, please stop by the Council office.
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The second annual Friends of Mosby Creek Picnic took place on Sunday, September 14th at Blue Mountain Park, with support of the Coast Fork Willamette Watershed Council. Mosby Creek is the focus of a broad collaboration between these local groups, ODFW, BLM, and Weyerhaeuser to improve habitat for spring Chinook, cutthroat trout, and Western pond turtles.

Volunteers created a display and interpretive signage of the native flora just for this event. The rustic site had floodplain and riparian characteristics that the council seeks to enhance in future projects with local landowners.

Site visits are beginning this winter! Please call the office at 767-9717 to schedule one today.

For immediate release October 9, 2008

Contact: Pam Reber 541-767-9717 or coastfork@willamette.net

Coast Fork Willamette River Public Meeting:

Fisheries, Floodplain & Partnerships, An Evening of Speakers, Maps and Opportunities

Interested in the ‘big picture’ on issues relating to the Coast Fork Willamette River?

River Checkup

Pretend that a doctor performed a free CAT-scan & diagnosis of your body and offered to give you a detailed look at where you are healthy, and where things need a tune up. This forum is like a free check up; only the patient is our local section of river.

Who has time for their own health care, let alone that of the river? If our river wasn’t healthy, our communities wouldn’t be nearly as appealing to live in and our economy would suffer.

In addition, the Coast Fork Willamette Watershed Council wants to make sure local residents are aware of the state and federal dollars available for river ‘tune up’ and enhancement work . . . think of it as health care for the river.

Public Encouraged to Participate

On Wednesday, October 22^nd, a public meeting focused on the Coast Fork tributary of the Willamette River will be held from 5-8:30pm at the Cottage Grove Community Center, 700 E. Gibbs. This event will feature an open house 5-6:15pm, with maps, refreshments and an informal discussion session with experts from the Corps of Engineers Floodplain Restoration Feasibility Study (based in Portland), Tetra Tech, a biological consulting firm, and The Nature Conservancy’s Freshwater Program.

Beginning at 6:30pm, speakers will begin. Corps biologist Greg Taylor will give an overview of the fisheries issues that his agency is responsible for, including the recent ‘Biological Opinion’ on salmon. Merri Martz with Tetra Tech will outline the studies being conducted on the river, and introduce the maps and their purpose. In addition to speakers, there will be an overview of the maps and a question and answer session.

This event is free and open to all members of the public and refreshments will be served.

joan-hagar-flyer_sept-2408Coast Fork Willamette Watershed Council presents:

Joan Hagar, USGS Researcher
on
‘How Hardwoods Provide Habitat’
Wednesday, September 24th 7-8:30pm
Join Us! Free & open to the public! Questions? 767-9717
Cottage Grove Community Center
700 E. Gibbs, downtown Cottage Grove

The research of Joan Hagar is relevant for foresters and residential landowners alike. By broadening our understanding of the role of hardwoods, choices about plantings and management strategies can be made that benefit native species in conjunction with their primary purpose of economic output, beautification or shade.

Hardwoods = Broadleaf trees, shrubs, and herbs* that are not conifers, non-coniferous vegetation

Hardwoods make a vital contribution to ecosystem function and diversity in Pacific Northwest conifer forests. At least 78 forest-dwelling wildlife species (vertebrates) in Oregon and Washington are strongly associated with non-coniferous vegetation, primarily because of the diversity of food resources provided. A rich community of herbs, shrubs, and broad-leaved trees provides the foundation for food webs in Pacific Northwest conifer forests. Given the number of species associated with hardwoods in conifer-dominated forests, maintaining habitats that support diverse plant communities, particularly broad-leaved trees and shrubs, can be an important component of management strategies intended to foster biodiversity.
*okay, herbs are not hardwoods, but for this they are lumped in as ‘non-coniferous’.

Coast Fork Willamette Watershed Council Events:

Sunday August 24th 1-5pm
Coast Fork Annual Celebration

BBQ, potluck & mini-float trip–a thank you to all our volunteers & participants!
at a private residence
RSVP & directions call 767-9717

Sunday September 14th 1-4pm
Friends of Mosby Creek Annual Picnic

Potluck, speakers and tours.
at Blue Mountain Park 76132 Blue Mountain
School Road–driveway across from the school goes to the park!
Call 767-9717 or 942-7676 for more information

Wednesday September 24th 7-8:30pm

Coast Fork Public Meeting featuring Joan Hagar, USGS
How Hardwoods & Native Plants Provide Habitat
at the Cottage Grove Community Center, 700 E. Gibbs

All volunteers and council participants are invited!

Sunday August 24th 1-5pm

BBQ & Mini-Float on the Coast Fork

At the Walken Property, RSVP for directions at 767-9717 or coastfork AT willamette DOT net

Plan to meet at 11am for the mini-float.

We assemble at the site at 1pm

Food at 2pm

Join us in thanking our volunteers at a beautiful site along the Coast Fork Willamette River!

http://www.thecreswellchronicle.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=5444

Thanks so much to everyone who joined our tour of the Garden Lake Park Project on June 23rd! And thanks to the Creswell Chronicle for covering this event!

If you are available to attend a monthly work party at Garden Lake (just a few hours on a Sat. morning), please go to this link to choose the dates that are best for you!

http://www.doodle.ch/42588nskrq4brhur

Living on the Land in Lane County

Creswell, OR

Living on the Land is a workshop series tailored for small acreage landowners. There are four workshops in the series and one field tour. Workshops will be taught by agency and industry professionals and local landowners. The field tour will have stops to visit with landowners in the Coast Fork Willamette River Watershed area. Participants will learn about some of the management practices these neighbors are implementing on their land. Living on the Land is sponsored by OSU Extension Service Small Farms Program, East Lane Soil and Water Conservation District and Coast Fork Willamette Watershed Council.

The classes will be held on Thursday evenings from 6 to 9 PM, beginning July 24 and concluding on August 14^th at the Creswell Community Center. Topics include Managing Soil to keep it Productive, Pasture and Grazing Management, Understanding Water Resources, Wells and Septic Systems and Weed Management. The Saturday field tour will be from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on August 2, 2008. Picnic lunch will be provided.

The registration fee for the entire series is $20.00 per person or $30 per couple from the same farm. Each participant will receive a class binder of educational materials and snacks will be provided during the evening sessions. Registration is required prior to the workshop series, class size is limited.

Registration materials are available online at http://smallfarms.oregonstate.edu/. For more information or to request a registration form contact Chrissy Lucas at the OSU Extension Small Farms Program, 541-766-3556 or Chrissy.Lucas@oregonstate.edu

Register early, space may be limited! Everyone must pre-register with Doug Garletts, please see his contact info below.

On Saturday morning, June 28th, the Coast Fork Willamette WATER OUZELS and the Coast Fork Council co-sponsor a clean up float that begins on the Row River at the East Regional Park boat launch (across the river from Killian’s market and next to the BMX bike ramps) and goes to Lynx Hollow State Park on the Coast Fork Willamette. Normally there is not a ton of trash, but plan for lots of stops with wildlife viewing opportunities and information about the river ecosystem and bring a picnic lunch, water and weather-appropriate clothing.

As always, we are encouraging SAFETY FIRST, so we hope to encourage participants to bring water craft that they are accustomed to navigating. There will be room in boats for people who do not have their own boats, if you sign up early. If you have a life jacket or other river gear, please plan to bring it and let us know.

Just sign up with Doug and plan to join us for a great day on the river!

Doug Garletts

email: Douglas.F.Garletts@usace.army.mil

work phone: 541-912-7820

From Doug:

The Willamette Water Ouzels and Coast Fork Willamette Watershed Council invite you to become a dipper and float the Row and Coast Fork Willamette River from East Regional Park to Lynx Hollow Park, a distance of around 6 miles. The goals of this semiannual event are to HAVE FUN, SEE SOME WILDLIFE, MEET EACH OTHER, and REMOVE SOME TRASH FROM THE LOCAL ECOLOGICAL EQUATION. The kind folks at Oregon SOLV have provided all the cleanup supplies such as rubber gloves, trash bags, and antiseptic hand cleaner.

Participants should show up with lunch, sunscreen, drinking water, raingear-just in case, good river footwear (old sneakers work fine) that you can get wet, warm synthetic clothing such as fleece and long underwear, fishing gear, binoculars, cameras in waterproof cases, nature books, first aid, and anything else that you may want to have on board. This reach is gentle with a few small minor rapids (class 2-waves, miss the rocks), which can easily be portaged.

This is mostly a bring-your-own-boat event, so if you feel confident navigating in moving water and willing, bring along your own watercraft capable of navigating a low gradient, sometimes shallow moving water body, your life vests, and at least a whistle per boat. Canoes, catarafts, rafts, kayaks, and drift boats all apply. The plan is to meet at the East Lane Regional Park, by the unimproved boat ramp located near the BMX track and across the Row River from Killian’s Market on Row River Rd (see map-green dot, Begin Float) at 9 am, Saturday, June 28^nd . This is just east of Cottage Grove. At the time of meeting we can run some vehicles to Lynx Hollow for the shuttle.

If interested in participating in this all-volunteer event, please call or email and leave your name, a number we can reach you with, the number of dippers in your party, gear status, and age of any children coming so we can get wet and be safe.

Questions and RSVP

Douglas.F.Garletts@usace.army.mil

Doug Garletts

541 912 7820 (wk cell)

Thanks!