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<br />the state's strategic water management group on
<br />August 11, 1992. The strategy is based on a belief
<br />that watersheds represent the infrastructure for
<br />complex ecological systems and that improved
<br />coordination of existing governmental programs, rather
<br />than new initiatives, can best 'protect, enhance and
<br />restore the state's watersheds.'
<br />
<br />The proposal notes that, 'the cornerstone of the
<br />strategy is the establishment of watershed
<br />partnerships among local residents, state and federal
<br />agency staff, and other citizens interested in the
<br />improved management of a particular watershed.' The
<br />proposed framework has four major components: (1)
<br />a goal statement and listing of objectives and
<br />principles; (2) criteria for identifying target watersheds
<br />in need of enhancement, restoration or protection; (3)
<br />a flexible process to guide activities at the watershed
<br />level; and (4) a set of watershed management tools.
<br />
<br />Last month, Oregon Governor Barbara Roberts
<br />released a watershed health/salmon recovery proposal
<br />targeting the Grande Ronde and South Coast/Rogue
<br />River Basins. Both areas face significant watershed
<br />problems, including the listing of anadromous fish and
<br />other species as threatened or endangered. The
<br />proposal emphasizes actions to improve watershed
<br />and ecosystem health through "streamflow, water
<br />quality, wetland and riparian enhancement, fish
<br />passage and habitat Improvement, and reforestation.'
<br />The governor has asked for $10.2M from state lottery
<br />revenues to: (1) pinpoint specific watershed
<br />improvement needs; (2) reach a consensus on how to
<br />address these needs; and (3) fund recovery actions
<br />and monitor resutts.
<br />
<br />The Oregon Water Resources Department would
<br />manage and coordinate the watershed health project,
<br />which involves nine agencies participating through a
<br />core team and two field action teams, working with
<br />local participants. Twenty-three new positions would
<br />be created in six of the agencies. State agencies
<br />would receive $3.4M, and the remaining $6.8M would
<br />be directed towards contracts and grants to compile
<br />information and assist in designing and implementing
<br />recovery projects. Specific benchmarks for evaluating
<br />progress would include: (1) miles of assessed streams
<br />meeting water quality standards; (2) percentage of key
<br />streams meeting instream flow needs; and (3) the
<br />percentage of key subbasins with increasing or target-
<br />level salmon populations. State funding is expected to
<br />
<br />serve as a catalyst for substantial additional financial
<br />support and participation from federal, local and .
<br />private sources.
<br />
<br />Bill Bradbury, President of the Oregon Senate, has
<br />introduced and helped pass Senate Bill 1112,
<br />authorizing and directing the Water Resources
<br />Department to administer and coordinate a program
<br />regarding watershed and salmon restoration and
<br />enhancement. The bill specifically declares, "It is the
<br />policy of the state of Oregon to protect and restore the
<br />viability of Oregon's watershed ecosystems and the
<br />viability of the salmonid fish species that depend on
<br />them...to promote and enhance sustainable,
<br />harvestable salmonid fish populations for the
<br />environmental, economic and social benefit of all
<br />Oregonians.' The bill further notes the need to avoid
<br />listing such species under provisions of the
<br />Endangered Species Act. The bill also addresses
<br />voluntary and incentive-based local involvement in
<br />watershed restoration and partnership programs to
<br />maximize opportunities to leverage federal grants and
<br />private funds to match state contributions.
<br />
<br />The Water Resources Department, in cooperation
<br />with other agencies, is to administer a program and
<br />provide grants, as well as: (1) contract or otherwise
<br />provide for compiling and disseminating research .
<br />data; (2) identify high priority watersheds; (3)
<br />cooperate in developing restoration objectives,
<br />implementation strategies, and evaluation methods;
<br />and (4) Implement restoration, rehabilitation and
<br />protection projects. Of note, the Bradbury bill also
<br />establishes an operating account within the state
<br />treasury to pay for program administration using
<br />certain dedicated fees, as well as any money received
<br />from gills, grants, appropriations or other sources.
<br />
<br />House Bill 2215 has also been introduced, at the
<br />request of Governor Roberts and the strategic water
<br />management group, to encourage the formation of
<br />voluntary partnerships and local watershed councils,
<br />as well as pilot watershed action programs.
<br />
<br />WSWC/NARF SYMPOSIUM
<br />
<br />The WSWC and the Native American Rights Fund
<br />will cosponsor their 3rd Symposium on the Settlement
<br />of Indian Reserved Water Rights Claims in Bismarck,
<br />North Dakota on September 7-9 ryvSW #996). An
<br />agenda and registration form are enclosed.
<br />
<br />The WESTERN STATES WATER COUNCIL is an organization of representatives appointed by the Governors of .
<br />member states - Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota,
<br />Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, and associate member state Oklahoma
<br />
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