Adopt-a-Lek - ODFW was granted $7,239 in funding to support the retention of the Adopt-a-Lek Volunteer Coordinator position. Since 2006, the Adopt-a-Lek program has been instrumental in completing greater sage grouse lek attendance surveys in remote areas of southeastern Oregon. Adopt-a-Lek volunteers supplement surveys conducted by federal and state agency biologists, and have been important to fill in “data gaps” particularly in sage grouse strong hold areas located in rugged and isolated areas of our state.

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Pearlshells of Wisdom - Willamette Riverkeeper was granted $5,000 in funding to support a new 2-year study of Western Pearlshell mussels near Norwood Island (at the Willamette River confluence with the Long Tom River). According to the USFWS, these mussels can play an “early-warning” role regarding changes in environmental conditions. Willamette Riverkeeper wants to develop an understanding of this local mussel population to serve as an early-detection system for ecosystem changes in the river and enable preventative and protective measures.

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Long Prairie Creek Plant Establishment - The Foundation is the Fiscal Sponsor for this project with ODFW that targets 2.4 miles of riparian habitat on industrial forest land along Long Prairie Creek, a key salmon tributary to the Siletz River on the mid coast. The goals of this project are to revegetate the reach of Long Prairie that we’re treating with large woody debris in Summer 2017. We’ll treat 7.36 acres of reed canary grass with herbicide to reduce competition and plant a mix of native conifer and hardwood along with an additional 2.4 miles of riparian corridor.

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Beavertail Grassland Restoration Project - The Foundation is a partner with ODFW on a project to enhance and restore natural and desirable grasses and forbs within the River Ranch parcel of the Lower Deschutes Wildlife area. This project is designed to improve overall rangeland health within an area of the Deschutes River canyon that has been negatively impacted by fire. The plan for this project is to reduce competition from annual grasses through application of an imazapic herbicide in late winter, with reseeding to follow in spring 2017.

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Perkins Creek Restoration - ODFW was granted $9,500 to restore in-stream habitat along a ¼ mile reach of Perkins Creek, a Clatskanie River tributary, on private property. ODFW will manage implementation and monitoring of the project. Approximately 5-6 large wood structures will be added to Perkins Creek as part of first phase work on the Richen family property. 

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Kee Property Restoration Project - Cascade Pacific R&D, on behalf of the South Fork John Day Watershed Council, was granted $5,000 in funding support to restore approximately 130 acres on private land in the Upper South Fork John Day Watershed near Izee. Due to fire suppression, western Juniper and conifers have encroached into Quaking Aspen stands, wet meadow habitat, and shrubland areas on the Kee property. The Watershed Council will thin approximately 130 acres of juniper and conifers and fence 20 acres of aspen in order to restore water flow to the wet meadow, productivity to the aspen stands, and resiliency to the shrubland community.

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4th of July Creek LWD Enhancement - Lincoln County Soil & Water Conservation District was granted $5,000 in funding support to enhance 1.2 miles of 4th of July Creek, a Middle Fork Siletz River tributary, by adding large woody debris with ground equipment within the project area.

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Foothill Yellow-legged Frog eDNA Survey - ODFW was granted $4,209 to support eDNA analysis as part of a traditional visual survey for foothill yellow-legged frogs in the Applegate and and Upper Illinois valley watersheds in SW Oregon. The data collected will contribute to a broader effort to monitor, understand, and conserve these frogs.

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River Watchers Summer Day Camp & Geology Rocks Field Trips - The South Wasco Alliance was granted $2,700 to offer a summer day camp and a series of field trips to youth in grades 2 – 9 this summer.

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Trumpeter Swan Restoration - The Trumpeter Swan Society was granted $5,000 to continue their efforts to help increase trumpeter swan numbers in Oregon through strategic release of breeding pairs at the Summer Lake Wildlife Area.

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Deschutes River Alliance 2016 Science Work Plan - The Deschutes River Alliance was granted $5,000 to support the implementation of their 2016 Science Work Plan that guides their monitoring research in the Lake Billy Chinook reservoir and on the Lower Deschutes River this year.

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Long Prairie Creek Habitat Improvement - The Oregon Wildlife Foundation is continuing support of $10,000 to support a project to place large woody debris with ground equipment into complex habitat structures to provide spawning and rearing benefits to summer steelhead, resident and sea-run coastal cutthroat, coho and Chinook salmon, western brook and pacific lamprey, dace, and sculpin. A total of 5 ¼ miles of Long Prairie Creek, a Siletz River tributary, has been carefully selected for augmentation. ODFW Biologist Michele Long will manage the project with Oregon Wildlife Foundation as the fiscal agent for OWEB funding.

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Camp Sherman Angling & Salmon Acclimation Pond Project - ODFW was granted funds from the Hatchery Fund for a project at the former Spring Creek-Metolius Hatchery site. This project will utilize a portion of the 15 acre parcel to develop facilities for public education particularly focused on raising awareness about Oregon’s aquatic resources and the environment. Plans include a ½ acre pond, parking, covered meeting area, picnic facilities, vault access, and public access during the summer months.

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Amphibian and Reptile Survey - Biologists Jim Holley and Ashley Smithers, on behalf of the Native Turtle Working Group, were granted $6,936 in funding to support presence surveys for turtles and red-legged frogs in the Tualatin, Molalla, and Pudding River watersheds over the 2016 and 2017 seasons.

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Natural Learning Landscape Installation - Depave was granted $5,000 in funding for a project that will engage teachers, parents, and children to transform approximately 3,800 square feet of Childswork Learning Center’s property from pavement into a playground featuring a variety of nature-based opportunities and hands-on learning experiences.