The Conservation Voice Promoting conservation & the wise use of natural resources in Polk County Summer 2014
Inside this issue: Perrydale ODS, Thank You to Polk SWCD
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Need Help with Well, Septic, or Major Home Repairs?
2
Water Quality Monitoring
2
Continued Education for Polk SWCD Staff
3
Youth Education Update
3
Claudia Chinook — Rent her today!
3
Soil Health Workshop
4
Streaked Horned Lark — Threatened Species
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Streaked Horned Lark — Where do they Nest
4
Oak Habitat at Baskett Slough NWR
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Landowner Assistance
5
Streak Horned Lark — Effects on Land Owners
5
Upcoming Events
6
Board of Director Elections
6
Become an Associate Director
6
Contact Information
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A Message from our Manager Spring has sprung and as promised, we are well underway in developing our programming. My budget has been approved by the Budget Review Committee, and will soon be subject to the Budget Hearing process on June 11, 2014, an hour before our regular monthly board meeting at Polk County Fairgrounds, Arts and Crafts Building. The public is always invited to attend. Look for details on our website at www.polkswcd.org. So far this year we have been awarded an Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) Restoration grant that will work to restore approximately 41 acres of oak savanna and oak woodland habitat, and an OWEB small grant that will work along with the landowner to restore historic upland habitat, plant native
upland prairie species, and restore grassland habitat for Wes tern M ea d ow lar ks, Western Bluebirds, and Vesper Sparrows. We have participated in Agfest alongside Marion SWCD, are collaborating with Ag First to promote the cultural and economic impacts of agriculture, and developed a “backyard chickens” plan for the City of Monmouth’s city planners to use in determining their next steps in allowing urban chickens in the city limits. We continue our work with the Oregon Dept. of Agriculture’s (ODA) Ash Creek Focus Area and are planning local land management objectives there. We work alongside and partner with the RWC in the Rickreall watershed, placing large woody debris in the uplands above the Mercer
dam and looking at long range planning efforts there. We have partnered with the Luck ia mut e Wa ter shed Council on developing water quality and quantity guidelines, and to provide youth education for the Luckiamute Valley Charter School. We participated in the City of Dallas’ Open House night and the McMinneville UFO Fest with the Greater Yamhill WC, along with our educational display fish Claudia. In July we will be at Dallas’ Summerfest. …..We will also be around this summer at local farmers’ markets, talking about local weeds and how to identify and control them. We’ve talked with Agriplas out of Brooks, OR, and are working on providing a local drop-off site for recyclable agricultural waste products, plus much more!
Don’t get left behind! We’re going paperless To promote conservation & the wise use of natural resources in Polk County, Polk Soil and Water Conservation District will be going paperless with their newsletters, announcements, and other mailings. This newsletter will be the last paper mailing we will send out to our large mailing list.
If you would like us to keep mailing you our newsletters, and other announcements,
Please contact District Clerk, information 503-623-9680
Tom Wilson, to have your updated at x 108, or
clerk@polkswcd.com. Alternatively, you can also go to our website at polkswcd.org and fill out the Join our Mailing List form on the right hand side of the home page. If you do not update your information and you are receiving a paper copy of this you will not receive any future newsletters.
The Conservation Voice
Perrydale ODS, Thank You to Polk SWCD We would like to thank Polk Soil and Water Conservation District for their help in putting o n th e Per ry da le an d Luckiamute Valley Charter School (LVCS) Outdoor School this year. Because Polk SWCD were unable to sponsor and plan the camp for sixth graders this year, the schools chose to put on the program. With the help of Christina Sekafetz, a Perrydale senior and experienced camp counselor, Glori Jephson, a Luckiamute Valley Charter School 6th grade teacher, and April Logsdon, a 6th grade Perrydale teacher, we
A leaking septic tank can cause many water quality issues and should be replaced.
were able to reach out to 50 sixth graders and offer a handson experience in outdoor education at the Oregon 4H Center in Salem. We spent two days exploring various topics such as archery, reptiles, forest fires, fishing, wilderness survival, and making the most of our natural resources. Sawyer Finegan from Polk Soil and Water came out and worked with our kids on aquatic insects and was invaluable as we were planning, offering advice and answering questions. Sawyer also loaned
us song books for our kids and counselors to enhance our camp experience. Our program was so successful that we are looking to possibly expand it next year to other schools and maybe even adding a day. We know that none of it would have been possible though without the help of our volunteers and local agencies, like Polk Soil and Water, who donated time, money and resources.
Need Help with Well, Septic, or Major Home Repairs? Do you live in Polk County? Do you own your home of residence? You may qualify for a housing rehabilitation loan to help you with much needed upgrades. Take a minute to check out the Polk Community Development Corporation’s (Polk CDC) Housing Rehabilitation Program and see if you can get help with that deferred maintenance. We
Stop by Polk SWCD today for assistance and resources.
want help keep your home safe and healthy well into the future. For more information call Kimberly Lyell at Polk CDC 503-831-3173 or visit polkcdc.org and select “Home Improvement Loan Program” or you can visit us at 657 SW Main Street in Dallas.
has been providing the housing rehabilitation program to lowmoderate income resident homeowners in Polk County since 1989.
Polk CDC is a non-profit housing and community development corporation that
Water Quality Monitoring Last year the Polk SWCD concluded a water quality monitoring program designed to give local agencies a better idea of what reaches of the Middle Willamette Basin were suffering from water quality issues, to help steer future restoration project priorities. The project monitored levels of bacteria, dissolved oxygen, nitrates, pH, phosphorous, turbidity,
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conductivity, and temperature. These parameters were designed to provide a story of what streams were suffering from, including to what degree agricultural inputs have on stream systems and assessed the fish habitat conditions. The district would like to build upon this study to continue building a clearer picture of current conditions. The data collected only skimmed the surface of what could be
learned from additional years of regular monitoring. The district is looking aggressively at funding opportunities to continue this type of program as well as expanding into water quantity issues. Many residents of the county are not aware that water quantity issues are within our near future. Well and reservoir health are paramount to long-term health
of the land in Polk County, regardless if the land is in agriculture or timber production, wildlife habitat or urban use. Landowners of Polk County who wish to express their interests in these issues are encouraged to contact the district and ODA water resource specialists.
Continued Education for Polk SWCD Staff In order to provide the best technical assistance, outreach, and economical service to the residents of Polk County, the Polk SWCD staff attends professional trainings. Polk SWCD sent 6 staff members to a 2 ½ day training conference called Connect, hosted by Oregon Conservation Education and Assistance Network. Connect is an opportunity for conservation districts and watershed council employees throughout Oregon to learn from one another and from other conservation agencies such as the Oregon
Department of Fish and Wildlife, Department of Environmental Quality, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), and Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board. District employees attended sessions on Soil Microbiology, Stockwater Design, Livestock Behavior & Forage Selectivity, Database Management, Public Contracting, Geographic Information Systems, Riparian Revegetation strategies, and many more. In addition to Connect, both of the Polk
S W C D R e s o u r c e Conservationists are in the process of becoming Certified Planners through the NRCS Planning Course. The rigorous training program includes many reading and writing assignments, two weeks of training with field sessions, and the completion of a full farm plan. The certification will equip them to provide farm plans for landowners, and allow the district to work more collaboratively with NRCS. Continuing education helps to make the Polk SWCD staff able to provide the best assistance possible to the residents of Polk .
Stop by our office for any technical assistance you may need or concerns you may have! We’re always happy to help you!
Youth Education Update This last March Polk SWCD taught a macroinvertebrates class for the Perrydale/ Luckiamute Valley Charter School (LVCS) Outdoor School. We taught these 6th grade students how to identify macroinvertebrates , what they do for the environment, and how water quality effects them.
We are also still looking for teachers who want to participate in our Fish in the Classroom program, or would like to incorporate environmental education into their classrooms. Interested teachers should contact Sawyer Finegan 503-623-9680 x113 or sawyer.finegan@ polkswcd.com, for more information.
Another education project in the works is a partnership with Luckiamute Watershed Council, LVCS, OSU, and other entities, to develop a program to get the students at LVCS involved with environmental restoration work. The goal will be to have the students start a project, and help them see it through to the completion. Let us know If you would like to participate.
Claudia Chinook — Rent her today! Claudia Chinook is available to rent for educational, recreational or business purposes. If you are interested in renting Claudia, and would like more information, please contact Polk SWCD. Claudia Chinook was built over the course of four months. She started as a wire frame, was covered in spray foam, fiberglass, and then painted. She developed into a big, beautiful Chinook, standing a
whopping 14 feet high and 29 feet long. The inside is big enough to hold 7-8 adults. Inside Claudia’s cavernous mouth and body is a painted mural that includes a complete life-cycle of the Chinook, along with paintings of other fish, animals, and plants that can be found in a healthy watershed.
Rental Information: Trailer has a round 6-pin trailer plug for taillights Trailer takes a 2-inch hitch ball Rental cost is $350day
Claudia Chinook stands 14 feet tall and sits Specialty rental prices for on a 29 foot trailer weighing in at a government and non- whopping 2,800 pounds. Rent her today profit may be available for a great educational display.
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The Conservation Voice
Soil Health Workshop The Polk SWCD is building upon the success of the soil health workshop hosted in January 2014, coming this July! If you missed the first workshop, this second chance will expand on the topics and include more speakers, and present information for a wider audience. The Yamhill and Marion County SWCDs will be helping host the event along with the Polk SWCD at the Chemeketa Eola Viticulture Center on July 9. Speakers will include NRCS's Cory Owens, Nick Andrews from OSU Extension and Doctor James
Cassidy from Oregon State University. Cory will discuss the principles of soil health, integrating current principles into viable practices as well as how soil microbiology affects c r op pr od u c t ion . N ic k Andrews is a Small Farms Extension agent and has been working for some time on a cover crop calculator, a system used to determine what levels of savings various practices could have on your fields. Dr. Cassidy is a Senior Instructor at Oregon State focusing on soil educa t ion , or gan ic production and leads the
Organic OSU.
Growers
Club
at
If you missed the first workshop, please watch for the RSVP requests at the Polk SWCD website, polkswcd.org or call/email Marc Bell, Resource Conservationist at 503-623-9680. Ext. 103 marc .be ll@p olk swc d .c om . Space will be limited, and refreshments provided. We're looking forward to seeing you there!
Streaked Horned Lark — Threatened Species “The Streaked Horned Lark was added to the candidate list in October 2001. On October 3, 2013, the Streaked Horned Lark was listed as a threatened species under the ESA. The streaked horned lark is endemic to the Pacific Northwest, and is a subspecies of the wide-ranging horned lark. Horned larks are small, ground-dwelling birds,
approximately 1 6−2 0 centimeters (6−8 inches) in length. The streaked horned lark has a dark brown back, yellowish underparts, a walnut brown nape and yellow eyebrow stripe and throat. This subspecies is conspicuously more yellow beneath and darker on the back than almost all other subspecies of horned lark. The
combination of small size, dark brown back, and yellow on the underparts distinguishes this subspecies from all adjacent forms.” Source: http://www.fws.gov/ oregonfwo/Species/Data/ StreakedHornedLark/ (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) Please visit polkswcd.org or the source for more information.
Above: Streaked Horned Lark Below: Potential Habitat Photos courtesy of USFWS
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Streaked Horned Lark — Where do they nest? “Streaked horned larks have always selected habitat that is wide open, flat, with no trees, and little or no vegetation. Not surprisingly then, streaked horned larks are found in many valley bottom agricultural fields, especially where the crop is low-growing and herbaceous. Grass seed fields seem to provide the best habitat, although we’ve also seen them in young Christmas tree farms and row crop
fields. Dense, healthy grass seed fields are generally too dense for larks, but underperforming areas (e.g., drown-outs with a bit of bare ground) and the margins of the fields along rural roads can provide good habitat for larks.” “A special rule that removes the prohibition against “take” in certain circumstances was published as part of the listing action to acknowledge that
some land uses (airport maintenance and ag practices) benefit the streaked horned lark by inadvertently creating habitat. Without the actions of agricultural landowners and airport managers, there would be almost no habitat at all for streaked horned larks in the Willamette Valley.“ By Cat Brown, USFSW Visit polkswcd.org to read the rest of the article.
Oak Habitat at Baskett Slough NWR Since 2012, Polk SWCD, Rickreall Watershed Council, and the Portland Water Bureau have been working on a plan with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge to restore native oak habitat. This habitat type is becoming increasingly rare as land in the Willamette Valley is converted to agricultural and urban uses. Last summer, District staff partnered with foresters from S a l e m B LM t o sur v ey approximately 50 acres in the north part of the wildlife refuge
where conifers are outcompeting the oaks. Over 900 conifer trees were marked for removal to allow the oak trees more sun, water and space to grow. In October, USFWS staff began felling the marked trees; they completed this work in mid-March 2014. Project managers with Polk SWCD, USFWS and Portland Water Bureau are now coordinating efforts to remove the logs from Baskett Butte, which will begin the last week in May. The logs will be used for instream restoration work.
Portland Water Bureau plans to transport many of their allocated logs to project sites in the upper Sandy River watershed, where they will be used to improve fish habitat and floodplain complexity. Polk SWCD, Rickreall WC and the BLM are currently working with the City of Dallas and Hancock Forest Management to develop a similar project above Mercer Reservoir. Remaining logs will be used by USFWS for private landowners enrolled in their Partners for Wildlife Program.
For more information on these projects or if you are interested in improving fish habitat on your stream-side property, please email lucas.hunt@polkswcd.com or call 503-623-9680 ext. 104.
Landowner Assistance Polk SWCD has a variety of ways to assist landowners on projects to improve their land and conserve natural resources. Projects that have been completed in the past include invasive species removal, stream bank restoration, riparian buffer planting, Oak woodland restoration, culvert removal and bridge placement to
improve fish passage, prairie restoration, and many others. If you are interested in any of the above or other conservation practices such as rain gardens, water storage or managing heavy use areas, please feel free to contact one of our technicians so we can begin your conservation planning today. There are many benefits to conservation programs such
as, with just a 25% landowner match, you can get up to $10,000 in one time assistance through an OWEB small grant. We also offer our First Step workshops to help you develop your long term land management goals and how to make them successful. Come talk to one of our highly trained technicians today to start your project.
Streaked Horned Lark — Effects on Landowners “The take-home message here is that normal agricultural activities in the Willamette Valley create habitat for the streaked horned lark, and these activities are not regulated or prohibited under the new listing. This is not to say that ag practices are always good; activities that create habitat can also destroy nests and young larks. The USFWS is trying a novel approach with the streaked horned lark –
rather than regulate industries which inadvertently create habitat, by using a special rule we want to provide opportunities to build p a r tn e rs h i ps w ith lan d managers to include conservation actions to keep larks in the picture on working lands.”
attract and protect larks on their lands by taking some fairly simple steps” that can be found on polkswcd.org. They are as simple as summer fallowing, leaving bald spots, harvesting early, and rural road margins.
“Willamette Valley ag lands hold the key to saving the lark. Ag landowners can
Fish and Wildlife Service.
Take pride in ownership - you're helping manage your land sustainably and only footing part of the bill. Come talk to a technician today!
For more information feel free to contact Polk SWCD, NRCS, Oregon farm Bureau, or US
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Upcoming Events June 2014
July 2014
August 2014
PSWCD Budget Hearing - 11th
PSWCD Board Meeting - 9th
Polk County Fair - 7th - 10th
PSWCD Board Meeting - 11th LWC Board Meeting - 12th GYWC Board Meeting - 12th OWEB SGE Open - 15th GGWC Board Meeting - 19th RWC Board Meeting - 26th PSWCD 1st Step Planning Workshop - 28th
For more information on these events please contact Polk SWCD or the appropriate agency/council.
PSWCD Board Meeting - 13th PSWCD — Polk Soil & Water Conservation District GYWC Board Meeting - 10th LWC Board Meeting - 14th GGWC — Glen-Gibson Watershed Council GGWC Board Meeting - 17th-19th GYWC Board Meeting - 14th LWC — Luckiamute Watershed Council RWC Board Meeting - 24th GGWC Board Meeting - 21st RWC — Rickreall Watershed Council GYWC — Greater Yamhill Watershed Dallas Summerfest - 24th - 27th RWC Board Meeting - 28th Council OWEB — Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board NOWC — Network of Oregon Watershed Councils SGE — Small Grant Enrollment LWC Board Meeting - 10th
OWEB SGE Closed - 29th
Board of Director Elections - Sign up now 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.
Polk SWCD is always looking for volunteers; ask how you can get involved today!
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To be eligible to apply as per ORS 568.560(3) Zone directors must own or manage 10 or more acres of land in the district and be a registered voter. An individual may also serve as a zone director when
the individual, in lieu of the other requirements specified in this subsection, resides within the zone that is represented and indicates an interest in natural resource conservation as demonstrated by serving at least one year as a director or associate director of a district and having a conservation plan that is approved by the district. All candidates must be registered voters. Candidates nominated for director from a specific zone shall be voted on
by electors within the district. If you are interested in applying or have any questions please contact Karin Nembach at 503623-9680 x 110 or manager@polkswcd.com.
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 an Associate Director? 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. People of voting age are encouraged to apply.
Volume 1, Issue 1
Polk SWCD Board of Directors 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.
Chad Woods
Doug Wyant
— At-Large / Vice Chair
— Zone 4
chad.woods@polkswcd.com
doug.wyant@polkswcd.com
Nathan Slaven
Jim Buckovic
— Zone 3 / Secretary
— Zone 5
nathan.slaven@polkswcd.com
jim.buckovic@polkswcd.com
David Simmons — Zone 2 / Chair
Linda Marquardt-Sutton
Frank Pender
— Zone 1 / Treasurer
— At-Large
linda.marquardt-sutton @polkswcd.com
frank.pender@polkswcd.com
Polk SWCD Board of Directors (Left to right): Doug Wyant, David Simmons, Nathan Slaven, Jim Buckovic, Linda Marquardt-Sutton, Frank Pender, Chad Woods.
david.simmons@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
Polk SWCD Staff (Left to Right): Debbie Miller, Sawyer Finegan, Karin Nembach, Marc Bell, Liz Graham, Lucas Hunt, and Tom Wilson
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