District Manager’s View

By Rick Woodley

December 2006

The Directors and Staff of the Klamath Soil & Water Conservation District remain committed to agriculture friendly conservation and community activities in the Klamath Basin. We have a firm commitment and dedicate our District resources to the Basin and its way of life. We have cultivated the ability to work with private landowners, local organizations, county, state, tribal, and federal agencies.

The “Wise Use of Natural Resources” through quality conservation projects, agricultural activities, wildlife habitat projects and educational outreach, benefit agriculture, economy, community, wildlife and our unique way of life in the Klamath County. Developing working relationships with private landowners is particularly enjoyable, however, it must be combined with other likeminded agencies and organizations to achieve success.

The KSWCD staff members, Larry Peach, Joyce Guthrie, T.J. Woodley and Lee Ashford continue to demonstrate unwavering commitment to the prosperity and environmental well being of the area. They are directly responsible for the successful implementation of conservation programs and grower participation in agricultural opportunities of which the District is involved.

Listed below is an executive summary of some of those activities of the past year.

· Contacted over 300 landowners regarding water quality, irrigation water management and NRCS EQIP. These contacts were pro-active and provided landowner education regarding SB1010 and the AgWQAMP for both the Lost River and the Klamath Headwaters Plans.

· Worked with 4 landowners regarding possible water quality concerns. The KSWCD provided technical assistance and secured funding to assist in water quality improvements.

· Presented 7 conservation awards to landowners and organizations.

· Made over 140 site visits on irrigation water management, conservation tillage and water quality.

· Distributed over 20 different articles in district newsletters, press releases and articles regarding educational outreach and other associated water quality issues.

· Held multiple meetings on water quality issues.

· Presented a 2-day workshop in Tucson, Arizona, in partnership with Oregon DEQ on the TMDL process and the Ag WQAMP developed by landowners in Klamath County.

· Conducted 3 workshops on water quality and other conservation programs including livestock stream fencing.

· Continue to work with the Lava Beds-Butte Valley RCD on issues relating to water quality on the Lost River watershed, which terminates in Tulelake, California.

· Presented a three-day workshop for Klamath City and Klamath County 6^th grade students on water quality. Held in conjunction with the OSU Forestry Tour at Clover Creek.

· Presented a 2 day and 1 night workshop on water quality and forest management programs at the Klamath Farm EXPO, for 4^th graders and community adults.

· Attended several power meetings where we discussed flood conversions to sprinkler irrigation for irrigation water management and water quality improvement.

· Established 6 juniper removal contracts exceeding 440 acres.

· Maintained a contractor list of 28 different interested people or companies for juniper removal to free up underground water supplies.

· Established 17 underground pipelines totaling over 23,000 ft for water quality and water conservation.

· Contracted and established 11 stream miles of willow caging, noxious weed eradication and livestock exclusion.

· Wrote over 40 conservation plans for Klamath County landowners.

· Established the CREP program which now comprises 29 contracts with 19 landowners. These contracts include 1550 acres and have protected nearly 41..5 miles of streambank in the County.

· Initiated and organized irrigation pump efficiency testing.

· We have an extensive no-till program for growers, using two District owned no-till grain drills. These conservation tillage programs have now exceeded 14,000 acres since the inception of the program.

· Assisted Klamath Basin irrigators, both on and off project in the power rate negotiations.

· Partnered with the NRCS in education outreach and project implementation regarding EQIP, the Conservation Security Program and a host of other programs.

· Worked closely with the Klamath County Commissioners to solve agricultural water problems in our area.

·  Participated on the executive committee for the ORE/CAL Resource Conservation and Development office.

· Maintained a partnership with the Tribes and the Watershed Council for the selection and administration of OWEB small grants. Nine different landowners were awarded OWEB small grants projects on water quality, habitat and a variety of other conservation improvements.

· Organized and hosted the Klamath Basin Renewable Energy Conference in partnership with the Klamath Water Users Association with support from the Klamath County Commissioners. The sponsorship also included many local business leaders from private and public industry.

The pledge of the KSWCD is to educate and assist landowners on conservation activities in their watershed. Our goal is to make certain that the KSWCD staff and directors are available to every landowner in Klamath County and to provide technical assistance

and explore funding possibilities to correct identified problems whenever possible.

The District is always looking for interested individuals to assist us in our work on behalf of the landowners of Klamath County. If you are interested in becoming involved with the Klamath Soil & Water Conservation District please contact the District Manager.