Background:

The Grande Ronde Model Watershed Program (GRMWP) was created in April 1992 by designation of the Northwest Power Planning Council (NWPPC) and later affirmed by the State of Oregon Governor's Strategic Water Management Group (SWMG).  The program coordinates with numerous federal and state agencies, county governments, two Soil and Water Conservation Districts, the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, Eastern Oregon University, two Indian Tribes, local landowners and public interest groups.  Eastern Oregon University and Union County provide administrative support to the program.

The Grande Ronde Model Watershed Program has been funded by Bonneville Power Administration and other partners since 1992 to serve as a model watershed council for the State of Oregon.  

Eastern Oregon University administers this contract for the Executive Director and Monitoring Coordinator positions, including salary, benefits and travel.  The Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) will provide partial funding for the Executive Director salary, benefits and travel.  The Bureau of Reclamation provides technical engineering support through an engineer assigned to the Grande Ronde Basin and through support staff at its Boise office.

Partner Entities
Other support is provided through the Grande Ronde Model Watershed Program Board of Directors.  The following partners are represented on the Board: Union and Wallowa Counties, Nez Perce Tribe, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Eastern Oregon University, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Hells Caynon Preservation Council, Union County Economic Development, US Forest Service, Union and Wallowa SWCDs, and Wallowa County Stockgrowers.  

Staffing Organization and Assignments
The Grande Ronde Model Watershed Program is staffed by the Executive Director, Program Coordinator, Data Base/GIS Technician, Monitoring Coordinator, clerical staff, and contract Project Planner.  The Executive Director and Monitoring Coordinator are employed through this contract with Eastern Oregon University College of Arts and Sciences.

The Executive Director supervises and directs all activities of the GRMWP staff including accomplishment of all of the work elements delegated to various staff.  The Director accomplishes Work Element "Regional Coordination" which includes coordination, committee participation, task force participation, recovery planning and other participation.  Agencies, groups and processes the Director is involved in include the NOAA Recovery Planning, OWEB Rules Advisory Committee,  OWEB Outreach Program Committee, Title II Resource Advisory Committee, the Oregon Governor's office, regulatory agencies, NPCC and NPCC staff.

The Monitoring Coordinator collaborates with the GRMWP Contract Planner in the completion of Work Elements A-D and G-J.  Work involves all aspects of habitat project development including project planning and development, preparation and administration of subcontracts, project fiscal management, project solicitation and identification, landowner technical assistance, ESA consultation, permitting and reporting.  The Monitoring Coordinator directs the GRMWP project monitoring program including review of project monitoring plans and review of project progress and completion reports.  The Monitoring Coordinator operates several flow gauging stations in Wallowa County.