Cloudy this morning with showers during the afternoon. High 42F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%..
Tonight
Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Low 33F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
Restoration project on the upper West Fork Hood River after dozens of logs were added and side channels reconnected to improve salmon and steelhead habitat.
Restoration project on the upper West Fork Hood River after dozens of logs were added and side channels reconnected to improve salmon and steelhead habitat.
HOOD RIVER — At the April 22-24 board meeting, the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) awarded $2,933,414 over the next biennium — with an anticipated investment of $10,140,242 over the next six years — to the Hood River Basin Partnership for the Hood River Basin Aquatic Habitat Restoration Initiative.
The Initiative includes the highest priority irrigation delivery and on-farm water conservation projects, instream and floodplain habitat restoration, stakeholder engagement, restoration design, and project effectiveness monitoring. The Hood River Basin Partnership — which includes the Hood River Watershed Group, the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs, Hood River Soil and Water Conservation District, the U.S. Forest Service Hood River Ranger District, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, East Fork Irrigation District, Farmers Irrigation District, and Middle Fork Irrigation District — developed the Initiative with guidance from the Hood River Basin Strategic Action Plan (“Watershed 2024”), a robust, science-based plan that identifies and prioritizes restoration practices throughout the watershed.
The Hood River Basin Aquatic Habitat Restoration Initiative was one of four Focused Investment Partnership (FIP) initiatives awarded in April, totaling an estimated OWEB investment of $40,307,326 over the next three biennia. FIP funding is provided to local organizations statewide to support one of seven ecological priorities identified by the OWEB board. FIPs achieve clear and measurable outcomes through a strategic action plan that is implemented by a high-performing partnership.
Funding for these grants, awarded by the OWEB Board comes from the Oregon Lottery and Federal Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery funds provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
For additional information about this project contact Cindy Thieman (cindy@hoodriverwatershed.org) For additional information about OWEB and its grant programs, contact Eric Hartstein at eric.hartstein@oweb.oregon.gov. A listing of all grants awarded in April, 2024 is available at oregon.gov/oweb/Documents/2024-Apr-Board-Awards.pdf.
Commented