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Council Activities Within the watershed, the Council encour- ages members to work together in a non- hostile setting to develop common goals and objectives for the basin. It also serves as an educational forum and evaluates basin projects against a checklist of criteria to promote watershed health and vitality (see sidebar for WIRE criteria). The Council also uses some of its funding from the Idaho Legislature to encourage stew- ardship projects. In its first two years, the Council has approved 12 projects through its WIRE process and has allocated over $25,000. The Sheridan Creek project, for example, is a cooperative effort among the Council, the Idaho Soil Conservation Commission, the U.S. Forest Service and private land- owners to facilitate physical and water quality recovery of the creek. The project includes fencing of riparian areas in Harriman State Park to control livestock use of the riparian zone, a water well to ease the need for Sheridan Creek water for livestock and ultimately the diversion of the lower end of the creek -currently diverted into acanal -back into its original channel. Unqualified Success? No one is willing to declare the Council an unqualified success. So far, the Council has mainly encouraged people to talk to each other. It is still relatively new -untested against the real tough issues where give and take is really needed. Yet the Council is charting relatively untraveled waters. To be successful, the Council needs to create its own legitimacy -basin residents and others need to embrace the idea that the Council is the forum for discussion and action. For More Information Contact: Henry's Fork Watershed Council c/o Henry's Fork Watershed Center P.O. Box 852 Ashton, ID 83420 Phone: (208) 652-3567 37 Watershed Integrity Review and Evaluation (WIRE) criteria ^ Watershed Perspective: Does fhe project employ or reflect a total watershed perspective? ^ Credibility: Is the project based upon credible research or scientific data? ^ Problem and Solution: Does the project clearly identify the resource problems antl propose workable solutions that consider the relevant resources? ^ Water Supply: Does the project demonstrate an understanding of water supply? ^ Project Management: Does project management employ accepted or innovative practices, set realistic time frames for their implementation and employ an effective monitoring plan? ^ Sustainability: Does the project emphasize sustainable ecosys- tems? ^ Social and Cultural: Does the project sufficiently address the watershed's social and cultural concerns? ^ Economy: Does the project promote economic diversity within the watershed and help sustain a healthy economic base? ^ Cooperation and Coordination: Does the project maximize cooperation among all parties and demonstrate sufficient coordina- tion among appropriate groups or agencies? ^ Legality: Is the project lawful and respectful of agencies' legal responsibilities?