OWEB : Success Stories

Every day across Oregon, OWEB grants help Oregonians care for rivers and habitat. To date, these grants have supported over 5,200 projects – some big, some small. Each plays a part in providing clean water and a healthy environment. The following are just a few examples of how projects funded in partnership with OWEB make Oregon a better place.

Whychus Creek • Wallowa River • Table Rocks • Johnson Creek

Before European settlement began near Sisters, Oregon, Whychus Creek flowed naturally through land flourishing with birds, deer, salmon and steelhead. Whychus Creek was a vital spawning area in the upper Deschutes Basin, responsible for up to 40% of the steelhead spawning, with the potential for up to 9,000 spawning fish.

During the 1960s, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers deepened and straightened 1.5 miles of Whychus Creek in Camp Polk Meadow to prevent flooding. The result was a net loss of half a mile of stream, an increase in erosion and a significant loss of fish habitat, wetlands and floodplain area. Eventually, the prime spawning habitat at Camp Polk Meadow was lost.

When the land went up for sale in 1997, the Deschutes Land Trust had a vision to return the creek and meadow to more natural conditions, restoring this vital fish and wildlife habitat. They worked with the landowner to acquire the property, and teamed with Upper Deschutes Watershed Council, U.S. Forest Service, Deschutes River Conservancy and more than a dozen other partners to develop a long-term restoration plan. OWEB funding was used to put the plan into action.

Upon completion of restoration work in 2012, nearly two miles of Whychus Creek will be returned to its historic location. Thirty-five acres of wetlands will be restored. Invasive weeds will be removed and replaced with more than 100,000 native plants. By working together on this important project, these Oregonians are creating a place where wildlife flourishes, clean water flows and native fish can once again thrive in a healthy environment.

Watch Wallowa River Restoration Video

Craig and Liza Jane Nichols’ 6 Ranch at the foot of the Wallowa Mountains has been a working family ranch for over 120 years. When Liza Jane's great-grandfather settled here in the 1800s, the Wallowa River slowly meandered through the valley floor, providing pristine habitat for native plants and animals, and clean water for agriculture and fish.

As more people settled in the valley, the river was pushed aside and straightened to make way for the railroad and later a highway. At the time, folks didn’t understand that rivers were meant to be complex. Healthy rivers don’t just rush through straight channels. River bends are good for fish. Wetlands and pools create essential habitat, prevent erosion and keep the water clean.

In 2009, the Nichols teamed up with the Grande Ronde Model Watershed on a project to restore the Wallowa River along their property. This meant making some adjustments to the way they managed their land, but Craig and Liza Jane decided it was a small sacrifice in exchange for a healthy river that supports fish and wildlife as it once did.

The Nichols worked hand-in-hand with the Grande Ronde Model Watershed, Anderson Perry & Associates, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla, Nez Perce Tribe, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists, volunteers and students. They added five bends, pools with boulders and natural rootwad and log features in 4,000 feet of ‘new’ channel. Grants from OWEB helped make it possible.

The result: For the first time in 100 years, the bends are back and the river meanders smoothly through healthy habitat with pools and wetlands. This project, along with others like it along the Wallowa River are restoring the river, increasing property values and creating a legacy that Oregonians can be proud of. They’re a great example of Oregon’s unique approach to watershed enhancement.

Rising from the bank of the Rogue River in Southwestern Oregon, the Table Rocks are one of the most prominent and historical features in the scenic Rogue Valley. These iconic Oregon landmarks were a gathering site for Native Americans and later for settlers along the Oregon-California Trail. Today, thousands of visitors hike up each year to take in the stunning views and experience the exceptional diversity of plants and wildlife that flourish in this unique environment. And thousands of kids from local schools participate each year in outdoor nature classes.

At least 20 species considered vulnerable to extinction live here. Dozens of bird species and other wildlife are found on and around the Table Rocks including Lewis’s woodpecker and the western meadowlark. Among the many plants is the dwarf wooly meadowfoam, a rare wildflower that grows nowhere else on Earth.

When the last remaining private land atop the Table Rocks came up for sale in 2009, The Nature Conservancy – the conservation organization who set up the nature preserve on Table Rocks 30 years earlier – took action. They worked with local citizens, the landowners and the Bureau of Land Management to purchase the 1,710-acre property. Funding from OWEB helped make the purchase possible.

Thanks to the collaboration between The Nature Conservancy, Bureau of Land Managment, OWEB, landowners, local citizens and others, the entire summits and most of the flanks of the Table Rocks are now permanently protected for the rare plants and wildlife found there – and for the enjoyment of all Oregonians.

The Johnson Creek Watershed is a predominantly urban watershed located southeast of downtown Portland. The watershed includes parts of Portland, Gresham, Milwaukie, Damascus and Happy Valley. The land has homes, roads, native forest and recreational areas treasured by local citizens.

Over the years, people have brought many changes to the watershed, including the introduction of non-native plants like Japanese knotweed. This aggressive, invasive species shades out native plants and contributes to erosion – reducing water quality and harming wildlife habitat. In 2006, with the support of hundreds of homeowners, volunteers, and students, the Johnson Creek Watershed Council launched an effort to eradicate Japanese knotweed. OWEB funding supported their efforts.

With a year’s worth of hard work, 95% of the knotweed has been eliminated from the watershed. In its place, volunteers planted thousands of native trees and shrubs. They removed tons of trash. Homeowners learned how to fight these weeds in their own backyards.

By working with the community in the fight against invasive plants in the Johnson Creek Watershed, the Council is contributing to cleaner water and healthier habitat for people and wildlife. OWEB helps make this work possible.