Awards

LONG TOM WATERSHED COUNCIL NAMED FOR Outstanding Civilian Service

The Long Tom Watershed Council is proud to announce that is has been chosen to receive the Outstanding Civilian Service award,in part for the watershed council’s dedication to improving water quality and reviving fish and wildlife habitat, while being mindful of channel maintenance and flooding concerns.

Dana Dedrick, Executive Director, and one of the founding members of the watershed council, Tony Stroda, traveled to Portland Thursday, June 13 to receive the award from the Portland District Commander. Tony Stroda is also receiving an individual service award.

In it’s description of the award, the Army Corps says the Long Tom Watershed Council has been a good partner to the effort by the Willamette Valley Project to communicate with land managers, farmers, and environmental groups.  The council has been instrumental in the cultivation of relationships and communications between the Army Corps. and stakeholders in the area.   In addition the aid in communication, the Council sought and obtained two grants to improve resource conditions and benefit public interest in fish and wildlife habitat in or around areas related to Corps property. One project improves habitats for plants beneficial to pollinators such as the endangered Willamette Daisy on Corps property near Fern Ridge Reservoir. The second grant allowed the Council and Corps to work together to improve passage for native fish around a Corps structure on the Long Tom River.

“The watershed council is in a unique position to build partnerships with private landowners and agencies and improve habitat on and near working farms”, says Dana Dedrick, Long Tom Watershed Council Executive Director. “We really appreciate the recognition from the Army Corps and are proud that we are able to augment their work on the Willamette Project.”

LTWC work part of the 2012 Theiss International RiverPrize!

Meyer Memorial Trust receives prestigious award on behalf of the Willamette River Basin, based on their accomplishments with partners including LTWC! Awarded by the International River Foundation, this esteemed award recognizes outstanding achievement and commitment  to restoring the world’s rivers. This is an annual award with worldwide finalists recognized for “outstanding, visionary, and sustainable” work toward improving watersheds. The award winner receives a cash prize, including funding to establish a program to mentor another river group or organization facing similar challenges in improving watershed health. The award was announced on October 9, 2012 at the International River Symposium in Melbourne, Australia.

Meyer Memorial Trust and the Bonneville Environmental Foundation  partially support LTWC and six other watershed councils as part of the Willamette Model Watershed Program, which is a 10-year investment to increase the pace, scope and effectiveness of ecological restoration based in community collaboration in the Willamette Basin. As part of their broader Willamette River Initiative, the Trust also supports and energizes other nonprofit partners and individuals in the basin – toward the goal of achieving meaningful, measurable improvements in the health of the Willamette River.

LTWC’s work within this initiative includes:

• Multiple restoration projects for fish and wildlife habitat in Ferguson Creek, Bear Creek, and Coyote Creek, along with strategic planning and field measurements to determine the effectiveness of this work.
• Amazon Creek Initiative – pesticide monitoring and outreach to commercial urban businesses and farmers to assist in implementing practices to reduce pesticides and stormwater pollution for water quality and wildlife habitat.
• Willamette River outreach to landowners to assist with invasive plant removal and idea development for fish and wildlife projects.

Links:
More about Meyer’s Willamette River Initiative