The Conservation Voice
Promoting conservation & the wise use of natural resources Fall 2014 & 2013-14 Annual Report
Inside this issue: Polk SWCD Native Plant Sale Returns
2
Claudia needs your help
2
Polk SWCD is looking for assistance
2
Pesticide Collection event
3
Restoration Efforts Tour
3
Volunteer Opportunity: Salmon Spawning Survey
3
Annual Work Plan
4
Financial Summary 2013-2014
4
Budget Committee Members
4
Conservation Activities 2013-2014 Review
5
Upcoming Events
6
Board of Director Elections
6
Become an Associate Director
6
Contact Information
7
About Polk SWCD Polk Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) was formed in April 1966 and is overseen by seven elected Directors. Polk SWCD general p o w er s , au th o ri ti e s, an d governance come from ORS 568.550. In 2002 Polk SWCD was granted a tax base. The tax base allows Polk SWCD to provide services to plan, design, construct, and monitor projects order to maintain and restore soil and water quality. 2013-2014 was a year of great changes for the Polk SWCD
because of a change in management. It was filled with many hours of restructuring our district to help us prepare to be a leader in Soil and Water Conservation. The board and staff polished up our internal policies and procedures, our job functions, and got a hold of our budget for the next fiscal year. In the middle of it all we had to
temporarily move from our office space for a remodel and then move everything back in just 6 weeks later. Two of the staff are
completing their NRCS conservation Planner Coursework, our Outreach Coordinator is developing new and improved programming for the district, our stewardship forester is moving ahead with his LWD project in the Upper Rickreall watershed, and our clerk is developing his position. Fiscal year 2014-2015 should see new partnerships forming and lots of on the ground soil and water conservation work.
Message from the Chair In the past year the Polk Soil and Water Conservation District has seen a number of positive changes. Karla Sanders our Interim Manager updated all the employee job descriptions as well as the personnel policy. This was the first full year of implementing our long range business plan.
We had the good fortune to hire Karin Nembach as District Manager who immediately took charge of developing the new budget for 2014/15 and has worked with staff to engage a number of new partners and projects. The Staff held a number of workshops including soil health , Oa k Sav annah
Award Innovative Conservationists of the Year Tom & Matt Crawford For being early adaptors to soil conservation practices such as no-till drilling.
restoration, and invasive weeds to help landowners in the District to be better stewards of the land.
The District board would like to thank all who donated time and energy to further the District’s work. We welcome your comments or suggestions on the District’s future. Tom & Matt Crawford
Polk SWCD Native Plant Sale Returns Award Most Contagious Employee Attitude of the Year Tom Wilson For his everlasting positivity and infectiously friendly and helpful attitude
For those of you who remember all of our past plant sales we would like to thank you for participating in them and making them the successes they were. However last year we did not hold a plant sale due to all of the internal changes we were going through at the time. This year we are bringing it back due to We even had time to have a Baby!
Liz & Oren Graham
Christina Sekafetz For her amazing job of organizing and running Perrydale School District and Luckiamute Valley Charter School’s 6th grade outdoor school programs Christina Sekafetz
Many of you are aware of our salmon Claudia, and hopefully most of you have had the chance to see her in person. However if any of you have seen her over the last year she is not looking as good as she used to. We want to fix this and restore her to her old glory. However this is will not be possible without assistance from you.
What can you do to help? She is in need of some structural repair as well as a fresh look. We’d like to give her a new coating of fiberglass and then a completely new paint job inside, outside, and on her trailer. The ways you can help with this vary. We have a private donor who is willing to match a contribution of up $3,000. The total cost of
repairing and repainting Claudia is estimated to be 6 to 8 thousand and so far donated funds and rental fees aren’t covering the whole cost. We are also looking for a talented artist to creatively portray her natural beauty, and someone who can the paint the trailer. However the absolute best way to help is to share the word about Claudia.
Polk SWCD is looking for
Coordinator at the Polk SWCD
There are no volunteer events
assistance on future projects
office
currently scheduled however
such as the plant sale. We are
sawyer.finegan@polkswcd.com
503-623-9680x113
or
there
will
be
various
looking for both volunteers
opportunities coming in the
who would like to participate in
next few months especially
various volunteer opportunities
February. If you have a venue we are
have venues for hosting events
currently looking for a venue to
such as workshops & meetings.
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feel free to contact Liz Graham. You can call her at 503-623-9680 x 107, or email her liz.graham@polkswcd.com. There will be additional information available in our December Newsletter, and kept up to date online at polkswcd.org.
Polk SWCD is looking for Assistance
as well as landowners who
Photo Credit: Perrydale School District
Plant Sale 2013
Claudia Chinook needs your help
Tom Wilson
Award Community Educator of the Year
popular demand. However it will be changed in many different ways. We are still finalizing some details, but here is what we know as of right now. We will be having limited stock availability, so think about getting orders in early! Orders will open in December and will be due by Friday, January 16th, 2015. Plant Pick Up Day for those orders will be on Friday, February 6th 2015. We will have The Overstock Sale on Saturday, February 7th 2015. For questions or comments please
host our plant sale at this year,
If you are wanting to put your
as well as venues for various
name on our volunteer or venue Sawyer
list,
please
Finegan,
contact Outreach
workshops Sawyer Finegan
and
throughout the year.
meetings
Pesticide Collection Event Are you a grower or pesticide applicator in Yamhill or Polk County who needs to dispose of old or unwanted agricultural herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides? Do you have empty pesticide containers that you need to recycle? If so, take advantage of a no-cost opportunity to safely and anonymously dispose of these chemicals and containers. This free collection event is scheduled for Saturday, December 6th from 8am-2pm at the Wilco Agronomy Center 14000 SW HWY 99W McMinnville, OR 97128.
For chemical disposal, you must pre-register with the disposal service on or before Friday, November 21st so they are prepared to receive your chemicals. Contact Graham Gadzia of Clean Harbors Environmental Services at (503)-953-6397 or gadzia.graham@cleanharbors.c om No registration is required for recycling of empty, clean, triple -rinsed plastic containers. This free, local pesticide collection event is brought to you by Wilco Coop, Agri-plas, the Polk and Yamhill Soil and
Water Conservation Districts, Greater Yamhill Watershed Council, OSU Extension Service, Oregon Department of Agriculture, and Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. To learn more about pesticide collection events in other regions, contact Kevin Masterson of Oregon DEQ at (541) 633-2005 masterson.kevin@deq.state.or.us To learn more about pesticide water quality monitoring and communitybased pesticide conservation efforts in Yamhill County, please contact Luke Westphal (503) 474 -1047 or director@yamhillwatershedcouncil.org
Restoration Efforts Tour The Luckiamute Watershed Council is hosting a tour of Luckiamute State Natural Area North Tract on October 1 to showcase their restoration efforts. The tour will depart from the Luckiamute State
Karin Nembach
Natural Area North Tract parking area at 5:30 p.m. Prepare for walking on flat terrain, about 2.5 miles. Bring water and be prepared for rain. Off Buena Vista Road, turn just south of the bridge crossing the Luckiamute River, cross the wooden bridge, and follow the road to the small parking lot at the end. Contact Luckiamute Watershed Council for more information.
226 South Main St. Suite L Independence, OR 97351 Phone: 503-837-0237 Email: info@luckiamutelwc.org
also live Coho salmon that stay in the creek near their redds. This October we will hold a citizen science training session (details to-be-announced) for interested community members to learn how to conduct these spawning surveys. Then from midOctober to mid-December, our network of trained volunteers walk the creeks to survey for evidence of spawning Coho salmon.
Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge For their instrumental partnership roll in numerous district projects and for providing a nexus point for furthering Fender’s Blue Butterfly habitat in Polk County
Photo Credit: Baskett Slough NWR
Award Individual Cooperator of the Year Chris Seal
Volunteer Opportunity: Coho Salmon Spawning Surveys Greater Yamhill Watershed Council is pleased to announce there 2nd annual fall Coho salmon spawning surveys. This is a great opportunity for youth, adults, and families to connect with our streams and rivers while collecting valuable fish observations that helps local organizations prioritize conservation efforts. Our volunteers collect counts for redds (salmon eggs laid in the streambed gravel), Coho salmon carcasses/remains, and
Award Large Cooperator of the Year
If you would like to be notified about the details of the upcoming October training session, please contact Luke Westphal, Executive Director of the Greater Yamhill Watershed Council, at (503) 474-1047 or director@yamhillwatershedcounci l.org. If you are a streamside landowner in the Yamhill River Watershed who may be interested to explore providing creek access for our trained volunteers to survey, please also contact Luke to discuss.
For his outstanding work with landowners on sensitive projects including restoration work on threatened and endangered species and for the technical and financial assistance he has provided Polk SWCD on similar projects. Chris Seal
Photo Credit: Chris Seal
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Annual Work Plan Every year Polk SWCD’s Board of Directors develop and adopt an annual work plan stating the general and specific goals that Polk SWCD should be accomplishing each year. Polk SWCD’s annual work plan was approved by our board March 20, 2013 for the 2013-2014 year.
The following are the general goals that Polk SWCD identified last year.
SWCD Technical Goal 1: Offer technical assistance and conservation planning to resource owners and communities directed toward the conservation & wise use of Polk County natural resources including ag water quality.
Lucas Hunt
Objectives: Technical Private, Technical Public, Ag Water Quality
SWCD Education Goal 2: Provide education and outreach related to natural resource issues within Polk County. Objectives: Youth Education, Partner Education, Adult Education
Marc Bell
SWCD Operations Goal 3: District operations will be effective, economical, and efficient to meet legal and grantor requirements. Objectives: Fiscal Management Operations, Statutory Operations Requirements, General Operations
Financial Summary 2013-14
Budget Committee Members
All SWCD Funds (Includes the General Fund. The Outdoor School and Building Reserve Fund were wrapped into the General Fund)
Polk SWCD Members
Public Members
Linda Marquardt-Sutton
Phil Walker (absent)
Total Revenue
$646,019.93
David Simmons
Bernie Faber
Total Expense
$422,087.26
Nathan Slaven
Rudolph White
Ending Balance: 06/30/2014
$223,932.67
Doug Wyant
Jim Castle
Jim Buckovic
Forest Peck
Chad Woods
Clifford Baker
Frank Pender
Tom Thompson
Polk SWCD’s budget is reviewed by a Budget Committee consisting of seven Directors and seven Members of the Public. The budget is presented in May and a Hearing is held in June. Contact Polk SWCD for more information on the committee or for information about becoming a budget committee member.
Willamette River Relay Team
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The auditors have not yet completed a final audit of all district funds. The final report will be available by Fall 2014
Conservation Activities 2013-2014 Review Oak Savanna and Woodland Habitat Restoration In October 2013 the District was awarded an approximately $134,000 OWEB restoration grant. It will be used to extend contiguous habitat for Fender’s Blue Butterfly and to restore 41 acres of Oak Savanna/Woodland Habitat.
Outreach and Education We participated in Ag Fest, the Perrdydale 2 day Outdoor School, taught multiple Macroinvertebrates classes with the Polk Master Gardeners and OSU Extension, had booths at Summerfest, Willamette River Relay and the Polk County Fair, advised the City of Monmouth about urban chickens, worked to arrange farm chemical container recycling through Agriplas, spoke at the Dallas Rotary club, and held multiple workshops addressing small acreage property and soil health conditions.
West Perrydale Prairie Restoration
Upper Rickreall LWD Project
In November of 2013 the District was awarded an OWEB small restoration grant. It is being used to restore native upland prairie grass and forb species that provide habitat for Western Meadowlark, Western Bluebird, and Vesper Sparrow populations.
The Rickreall WC, the BLM, Hancock Forest Management, The City of Dallas, and the SWCD finished phase two and began phase three of a Large Woody Debris Project in the Upper Rickreall Watershed during 2013-2014 FY. The project is designed to reduce water velocity, trap sediment, and improve overall water quality for the people of Dallas and for salmonid species. The Rickreall Watershed is the source of drinking water for the City of Dallas.
ODA Ash Creek Focus Area and ODA Ag Water Quality Support
Lower Salt Creek Upland Restoration
With this agreement we work to provide outreach, technical support, resource management through conservation planning, small grants to landowners, and monitoring and compliance education in relation to soil and water conservation on working Ag lands.
In November 2013 the District was awarded an OWEB small grant to re-establish native grasses and forbs in a recently thinned oak woodland in Lower Salt Creek, a sub basin of the Yamhill Watershed. The goal is to provide food and shelter for native pollinators and other wildlife, manage invasive weeds, and to prevent slope erosion from the recent thin.
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Upcoming Events September 2014
October 2014
November 2014
1 – Tour of Luckiamute State 11 – Veterans Day: Natural Area Restoration Project: PSWCD Office Closed 503-837-0237 for more info 12 - PSWCD Board Meeting: 8 - Polk SWCD Board Meeting: 11 - LWC Board Meeting: 6pm NRCS Meeting Room, Dallas 6pm NRCS Meeting Room, Dallas 7pm Falls City High School Resource Room 13 - LWC Board Meeting: 9 - LWC Board Meeting: 7pm Location TBD call 7pm Volunteer Hall, Monmouth, 503-837-0237 for more info 14-28 OWEB Small Grant call 503-837-0237 for more info Enrollment Window 20 - GGWC Board Meeting: 17 - GGWC/RWC Joint Board 13 Columbus Day: 5pm Salem Electric Conference Meeting: 5pm Wallace Marine PSWCD Office Closed Room Park, West Salem 16 - GGWC Board Meeting: 27 – Thanksgiving Day: 5pm Salem Electric Conference PSWCD Office Closed Room TBD - Rickreall WC Board Meet23 - Rickreall WC Board Meeting: ing: 1pm Delbert Hunter Arbore1pm Delbert Hunter Arboretum, tum, Dallas Dallas 10 - PSWCD Board Meeting: 6pm NRCS Meeting Room, Dallas
Award Director of the Year David Simmons For his leadership role in helping the district change its direction and set our course for new beginnings. He has been a vital part of Karin's training, a highly active member of the board, he participates in local and state meetings to build relationships with our conservation partners, promote our work and recruit new members to the board
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For more information on these events please contact Polk SWCD or the appropriate agency/council. PSWCD — Polk Soil & Water Conservation District GGWC — Glen-Gibson Watershed Council LWC — Luckiamute Watershed Council RWC — Rickreall Watershed Council GYWC — Greater Yamhill Watershed Council OWEB — Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board NOWC — Network of Oregon Watershed Councils SGE — Small Grant Enrollment
Board of Director Elections Polk SWCD’s Board of Directors will have 4 positions up for election in the November 2014 General Election. Open positions include: Zone 2, Zone 3, Zone 5, and one At-Large position.
The deadline to file district director candidacy to have names placed on the ballot for the 2014 General Election was no later than 5:00 PM on August 26, 2014. This process is now closed. Please keep an eye out for your ballet and don’t forget to vote for your local SWCD Board members!
What is a Board Member? District board directors are elected officials in charge of setting the direction and policy of a SWCD. They must meet the requirements of ORS 568.560(3) to be eligible.
David Simmons
Become an Associate Director Polk SWCD is always looking for Associate Directors. We are hoping to get a few new Associate Directors who can provide insight into areas of land management expertise that are not covered by current Directors, and who have different career backgrounds. You can be a student, rural landowner, urban homeowner, business owner, or even just have an interest in the local environment.
What is Director?
an
Associate
Associate directors provide insight and assistance to the board of directors through their own personal experience. They have an outside view that differs from what the board of directors has and as such can offer better insight into specific topics.
To be appointed a director, the associate director must live in Polk County and be a registered voter here (per ODA). How do I Apply? If you would like to apply to become an Associate Director please contact Karin Nembach at 503-623-9680 x 110 or manager@polkswcd.com for the required paperwork.
Polk SWCD Board of Directors, Associate Directors & Emeriti Polk SWCD is an Oregon Special District administered by seven locally elected directors, who serve without pay for four year terms. Five directors represent landowners from each of the geographic zones in the county and two at large directors represent the entire district. Directors meet monthly to administer the business of Polk SWCD. The Directors donate hundreds of hours on behalf of the residents of Polk County and its natural resources.
Nathan Slaven — Zone 3
Associate Directors
nathan.slaven@polkswcd.com
Rachel Walker
Linda Marquardt-Sutton — Zone 1 / Treasurer linda.marquardt-sutton @polkswcd.com
Judy Beebe Bogdan Caceu Directors Emeriti Claude White
Vacant — Zone 4
Jim Buckovic — Zone 5 jim.buckovic@polkswcd.com
Directors
Tom Thomson Jim Clawson Don Duhrkopf Brian Sparks
David Simmons — Zone 2 / Chair david.simmons@polkswcd.com
Frank Pender —
Terry Lamers
At-Large / Secretary
Alice Propes
Polk SWCD Board of Directors (Left to right): David Simmons, Nathan Slaven, Jim Buckovic, Linda Marquardt-Sutton, Frank Pender, Chad Woods.
frank.pender@polkswcd.com Chad Woods — At-Large / Vice Chair chad.woods@polkswcd.com
Contact Us Polk SWCD Phone: 503-623-9680 580 Main St. Suite A, Dallas, OR 97338 Karin Nembach— District Manager manager@polkswcd.com
Ext. 110
Marc Bell—Resource Conservationist marc.bell@polkswcd.com Ext. 103 Liz Graham—Resource Conservationist liz.graham@polkswcd.com Ext. 107 Lucas Hunt — Stewardship Forester lucas.hunt@polkswcd.com
Ext. 104
Sawyer Finegan—Outreach Coordinator sawyer.finegan@polkswcd.com Ext. 113 Tom Wilson — District Clerk clerk@polkswcd.com
Ext. 108
NRCS
Marion-Polk County FSA
Phone: 503-623-5534 Fax: 1-855-651-8930 580 Main St. Suite A, Dallas, OR 97338
Phone: 503-399-5741 Fax: 1-877-885-8382 650 Hawthorne Ave. SE, St 130, Salem, OR, 97301
Tom Finegan — District Conservationist tom.finegan@or.usda.gov Ext. 109 Sue Reams — Soil Conservationist sue.reams@or.usda.gov
Ext. 114
Billy Burr — Accounting Specialist billy.burr@wa.usda.gov
Ext. 112
Janelle Huserik— County Executive Director janelle.huserik@or.usda.gov Ext. 114 Debbie Pothetes — Program Technician debbie.pothetes@or.usda.gov Ext. 111
Beverly Schmidt — Program Technician beverly.schmidt@or.usda.gov Ext. 100 Scott Nieman — Farm Loan Manager Scott.nieman@or.usda.gov
Ext. 113
Stuart Butsch — Farm Loan Officer Stuart.butsch@or.usda.gov
Ext. 115
Lora Surmeyer — Farm Loan Program Tech. Lora.surmeyer@or.usda.gov Ext. 116
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Polk SWCD Phone: 503-623-9680 580 Main St. Suite A, Dallas, OR 97338
WE
ARE ON THE WEB!
WWW.POLKSWCD.ORG
Claudia Chinook assisting with youth education She asks that you stop by her article on page 2 and lend her a helping hand.
Polk SWCD Goals
Offer technical assistance and conservation planning to resource owners and communities directed towards the conservation & wise use of Polk County natural resources including Ag Water Quality.
Provide education and outreach related to natural resource issues within Polk County. District operations will be effective, economical, and efficient to meet legal and grantor requirements.
Polk SWCD is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Dallas, OR 97338 580 Main St. Suite A Polk Soil & Water Conservation District