Wasco County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) provides local leadership in implementation of several full-scale watershed enhancement projects focused on improving watershed health. Working in close partnership with Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) our team's strength is our ability to develop and implement scientifically sound, economically feasible resource management plans for private landowners.

This project combines two previously independent contracts within Wasco County. Project 2002-019-00 (Develop Riparian Buffer Systems in Lower Wasco County) has been combined with project 2001-021-00 (15 Mile Creek Riparian Buffers). This new project, EXP WASCO COUNTY RIPARIAN BUFFERS, covers all anadromous streams in Wasco County and associated tributaries with a critical connection to supporting anadromous species.

The goal is to establish nineteen Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) buffer agreements (on anadromous fish streams) which will be signed by landowners annually, committing desired property to CREP rules, i.e. shrub/tree/grass planting, weed control, livestock exclusion. Wasco SWCD staff will track contracts to ensure a smooth process between landowners and partner agencies. This tracking entails monitoring the approval process on completed plans through SWCD, NRCS, and FSA County Committee sign-off and Farm Service Agency (FSA) contracting. Work elements reflecting this quantity of agreements include 6 new contracts and 13 renewals, some of which may be combined under new FSA rules. Four of the new contracts are designated as placeholders. At least four landowners have expressed interest in the program, although exact locations and estimated number of acres are not available at this time.  It is assumed that all expiring contracts will be renewed, although the decision rests with each individual landowner. Buffer contracts are eligible to be renewed for an additional 15 years, resulting in continued riparian protections. The process includes assessment of the existing buffer status, updating the conservation plan and CREP agreement, and providing technical assistance to landowners. The landowner is responsible for all implementation activities.

CREP is a popular program in Wasco County. Over 330 miles of stream are enrolled in the CREP program, protecting nearly 10,000 acres. Not all of the enrolled segments are anadromous; however, CREP buffers provide positive impacts on downstream water quality, benefitting anadromous species. In the Fifteenmile drainage, 81% of perennial anadromous streams are enrolled in the program.  

This program meets a critical need in Wasco County, OR. SWCD Technicians coordinate with the ODFW Fifteenmile project as appropriate.

This project fills a critical staffing need to conduct assessments and develop plans to address the growing backlog of potential projects. Plans developed under this project are used for federal contracts to implement riparian buffers. The SWCD uses the USDA NRCS Nine step planning process to develop these plans: (1) Identify problems and opportunities, (2) Determine Objectives, (3) Inventory resources, (4) Analyze resource inventory, (5) Formulate alternatives, (6) Evaluate alternatives, (7) Decision - Select Alternative, (8) Implement the Plan, (9) Evaluate plan (monitor).

Vegetation, especially trees, in the riparian buffer improve fish habitat by limiting how much solar radiation can reach the stream surface. As a result, stream water temperatures are lower, and they fluctuate less during the day compared to non-shaded portions of the stream. Trees also provide woody debris for the stream, an important component of fish habitat. Continuous riparian buffers provide the most cumulative benefit, thus it is important to enroll as many properties into the CREP program as possible.

Notes:
Operation and Maintenance (O&M) are not required in this project:
Actual O&M is a funded item in the CREP contracts whereby the landowner receives a small fee per acre to cover maintenance costs. The landowner is responsible under the contract for the maintenance. O&M is a contractual requirement and is funded by USDA.

Monitoring is accomplished through visual inspections. Additionally, records of stream miles, acreage and number of plans completed will be tracked for reporting purposes:

Farm Service Agency (FSA) has programmatic responsibility for managing CREP contracts to ensure contract terms are being met. NRCS has responsibility for technical supervision of all installed practices. NRCS delegates authority to the SWCD to provide this technical supervision as long as the SWCD adheres to NRCS standards and specifications. Through this delegation, SWCD technicians will use the NRCS Stream Visual Assessment Protocol (provided by NRCS) as the principal monitoring and evaluation tool to evaluate and describe both pre- and post- CREP project conditions.