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Project Need:
The Deschutes Basin lies just east of the Cascade Range and is the
second largest river basin in Oregon. It is one of the most diverse in
the State, encompassing portions of five ecoregions: Cascades, Eastern
Cascades, Northern Basin and Range, Blue Mountain and Columbia Plateau.
While portions of the Basin receive large amounts of snow, the
landscape is generally defined by its arid nature. Wetlands account for
less than 2% of the Basin, most of which are associated with riparian
areas along rivers. The relative scarcity of wetlands makes their
protection and restoration important to watershed restoration efforts.
Not only is the Deschutes Basin ecologically diverse, it is socially
and economically diverse as well. The Basin contains some of the
fastest growing counties in Oregon, including Deschutes, Jefferson and
Crook. A rapid transition is currently taking place, from an
agricultural economy to one based on tourism and goods and services.
The agricultural development of the past 100 years combined with the
current urbanization of the Deschutes Basin has had and will continue
to have a substantial impact on wetland resources.
Project Description:
The Deschutes Wetland Inventory Project was created to encourage
stakeholders in the Deschutes Basin to develop and implement a
collaborative approach to wetland protection and restoration that
incorporates a broad spectrum of perspectives.
There are currently many groups in the basin interested in undertaking
restoration or conservation projects. While there are some watershed
assessments completed, the information has not been compiled to form a
large picture and prioritization for opportunities in the overall
basin. This project will provide the larger context, which will
strengthen the more localized plans and efforts and set up a framework
for sharing resources, funding and process for implementing the plan.
Lack of information has been identified as a significant limiting
factor for watershed restoration.
The final product of this project will be a map and associated report
locating the presence and conditions of wetlands throughout the
Deschutes Basin. The plan will also identify and prioritize wetland and
water resources conservation and restoration opportunities. Since the
watershed assessments completed within the Deschutes Basin have
identified conservation and restoration of wetlands as high priorities
and the keys to watershed health, The information in the proposed study
will supply the next steps and tools needed to achieve the conservation
goals outlined in the assessments and watershed plans. The tools and
strategies outlined will also identify projects, opportunities and
funding sources for individual landowners interested in improving water
quality and conserving and retaining water on their land.
In addition, the Wetland Inventory Project partners will work with
irrigation districts and farmers to evaluate the use of wetlands for
improving tailwater runoff from agricultural lands, thus addressing one
of the major rules (OAR 603-095-1640) created by the Lower and Middle
Deschutes Agricultural Water Quality Management Plans (SB1010).
Project Objectives:
Identify wetland restoration and protection opportunities throughout
the basin that are of the highest priority from an ecological
standpoint.
Determine the viability of using market based mechanisms, including
wetlands mitigation banking, as tools to fund restoration of critical
habitats identified under objective number one.
Develop consensus around restoration and protection priorities amongst
agencies and other community interests in the Deschutes Basin.
Project Partners:
Deschutes Resources Conservancy
Upper Deschutes Watershed Council
Deschutes Basin Land Trust
Crooked River Watershed Council
US Fish and wildlife Service
US Forest Service
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Irrigation Districts
To learn more about the TWC
Deschutes Basin Regional Plan, Contact
Us.
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