Gales Creek Watershed Conference, April 6 & 7, 2007

Sharing Success Stories in the Gales Creek Watershed

Talking Points

1) Human activities and practices have changed and shaped the watershed system. These practices (found in all of our watersheds) include

• eliminating/restricting floodplains along streams and channelizing streams – eliminating the natural processes such as flooding, (regenerate and build new habitats, construct new stream channels); resulting in channelized/incised streams lack of floodplains results in flashy high water events.
• removing native vegetation (including conifers along streams) (provided shade for cooler stream temperatures that aided fish and wildlife; provided system of insects for fish and wildlife; provide large wood recruitment into streams that provide pools for fish); often replaced with invasive weeds that establish a mono-culture and don’t provide shade.
• constructing stream crossings that prevent fish passage and added more silt to streams, decreasing water quality.
• building roads that contribute to sediment in stream.
• building and other developments that add impervious surfaces and increase storm-water runoff to streams.
• losing and fragmenting farm and forest lands as population increases convert these lands to more urban uses.

2) Gales Creek residents/landowners and other watershed residents are and can make changes in their practices that will help restore parts of the natural system.

These include

• replacing or removing fish passage barriers culverts
• re-vegetating riparian and upland lands with native vegetation
• treating and eradicating invasive weeds
• developing secondary stream channels that provide overflow channels and refuge areas for fish
• changing building practices so our developments have less impervious surfaces
• modifying and changing forestry and agricultural practices and homeowner and urban practices
• modifying and changing water uses such as water withdrawals from streams and identifying and using other sources of water

3) We all contribute to the problem and we all are part of the solution.

4) Find out about conditions, learn what you can do and take action.

Successes

1) Completion of Forest Grove Watershed Stewardship Management Plan for Clear Creek watershed, 2001

2) Fern Hill wetlands development as an educational resource for basin residents and visitors (kickoff on plans for visitor’s center)

3) Elimination of fish passage barriers, i.e., ODOT bridge, private landowner bridge on Bateman Creek; Washington County culvert replacement culvert that were fish passage barriers; ODF lands, private forestry lands, City of Forest Grove, Completion of fish ladder at Clear Creek

4) Tualatin River Watershed Council focus on and completion of habitat enhancement plan, 2003, on five mile stream reach (provided analysis and potential projects that will improve stream conditions and benefit native fish);

5) Completion of Council studies, showing how the creek dynamics, processes, vegetation tie together --- and the human aspect/effects

6) Agencies, organizations and landowners partnering for watershed health.

7) Landowner interest and commitment to manage properties for watershed health

8) School involvements—SWRP high school level/Earth Club-Key Club in Rippling Waters project; Roots to Shoots through Tom McCall, Gales Creek Elementary School; Pacific University student and staff participation and leadership in B Street and Gales Creek restoration.

9) Reduction of livestock operation pollution over time.

10) More restoration projects (both public and private) occurring in the basin

Challenges

1) Managing future growth including minimizing the impact of growing population/development on watershed health.

2) Ascertaining the floodplain locations on Gales Creeks to ensure sustainable development.

3) Proving more incentives to private property owners to restore native bottomland over long term.

4) Maintaining minimum flows in the creek during summer and fall.

5) Maintaining large wood in the creek.

6) Sustainability issues – where will food and forest products come from if landscape becomes residential housing?

7) New perspectives for business and residents to be both sustainable and watershed stewards – i.e., new energy sources, better mass transit, better recycling or less use of resources.

8) Water/natural resource conservation.

9) Protection of natural resource areas through property acquisition.