Long Tom Watershed Council - Subwatershed Enhancement Program

  Long Tom Watershed Council
  751 South Danebo Ave.,
  Eugene, OR. 97402

Dana Erickson,
Watershed Coordinator/
Executive Director,
Ph: 541-683-6578

Cindy Thieman,
Restoration & Monitoring
Program Director,
Ph: 541-683-2983

Amanda Wilson,
Fiscal Manager,
Ph: 541-683-6949

Christy Yost,
Outreach & Admin Specialist,
Ph: 541-683-6949

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Sub-watershed Enhancement Program

People can think about the whole watershed once in a while, but they can most easily understand their local creek basin and how to act on their own property.

WHAT IS IT?

One Council goal is to help people solve the known problems in their creek basin in a proactive and positive manner. We have accomplished this by sharing and explaining the current data to small groups in private settings co-hosted by a sub-watershed resident. There we can answer the tough questions that come up to people’s satisfaction, help to identify possible solutions, and assisting during implementation as needed.

There are ten main creek sub-watersheds in the greater Long Tom Watershed. For each, the Council built a creek profile listing the special features and known impairments based on current data from the Watershed Assessment, Water Quality Monitoring Program, and local scientific knowledge. We also have detailed maps, photos, and other resources available to draw from.

WHY WOULD I PARTICIPATE?

People may participate because they want to do their part to keep the water clean and the land healthy, and to make sure they are not contributing to pollutants in the creek with excess nutrients, sediment, and bacteria off their land. Others may want the chance to learn what the issues are and get them taken care of before anyone else feels compelled to do it – perhaps even to have a success story to tell about the experience.

Downed wood in the stream creates channel complexity and catches sediment to build good creek-bottom habitat.

A wooded swamp holds and cools water and provides excellent habitat for trout.

RESULTS THUS FAR…

Generous landowners in Ferguson and Elk Creek basins hosted the first meetings and initial results have been heartening, with five projects resulting from just three meetings and tours. One thing that helped allay fears was to know that the Council has no wish to single anyone out as having problems on their place. Any given stream section is influenced by not only the lands immediately around it, but also by whatever happens upstream, downstream, historical events, and natural causes.

THE AMAZON DIFFERENCE

The Amazon Creek basin is very urbanized and complex in nature, and this required a different approach. Dedicated residents and representatives from the City of Eugene and non-government organizations have been working steadily to draft objectives, determine what is already being done toward those, and identify actions the Council can work on. They share their results with the Council on an ongoing basis so the group can stay active and effective in the urbanized portion of the watershed.

We are thankful for each person who is willing to take a step toward making their creek healthier. If there’s any singling out it is to say thank you.