Projects

The Hood River Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is involved in many types of projects and activities ranging from technical assistance to public education.  One of the primary roles of the SWCD is to facilitate and manage the OWEB Small Grants in Hood River County. 

From...                                                                       To...

            Irrigation Improvement Projects                                Manure Storage Facilities

And much, much more....

What is OWEB?

The Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board is a state agency led by a policy oversight board. Together, they promote and fund voluntary actions that strive to enhance Oregon's watersheds. The Board fosters the collaboration of citizens, agencies, and local interests. OWEB's programs support Oregon's efforts to restore salmon runs, improve water quality, and strengthen ecosystems that are critical to healthy watersheds and sustainable communities. OWEB administers a grant program funded from the Oregon Lottery as a result of a citizen initiative in 1998. The grant program supports voluntary efforts by Oregonians seeking to create and maintain healthy watersheds.

        Fencing project to keep cattle out of local waterway

What is the OWEB Small Grant Program?

The OWEB Strategic Plan includes strategies to support locally developed restoration priorities and promote local partnerships.  OWEB has developed the small grant program to accomplish these two strategies, and to encourage landowner participation in watershed restoration by making funds available more quickly than the regular OWEB grant program.  The small grant program introduces local partners to decision making and gives authority for funding projects with proven watershed benefits to the local groups working on watershed planning and management.  The small grant program was also developed to support implementation of the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds by supporting projects designed to improve water quality, water quantity, and fish and wildlife habitat.  Want more details?  Check out our OWEB Small Grant Fact Sheet.

What types of projects are eligible for OWEB small grant funds?

The project must be an on-the-ground restoration project in Oregon. Monitoring, education, and outreach projects are not eligible. The project must demonstrate benefits to aquatic species, wildlife, or watershed health. The project must be designed to treat the source of watershed health problems through “tried-and-true,” technically sound techniques, using approved Small Grant Technical Guides and Resources.   

To be eligible for funding, projects also must be consistent with the Small Grant Team’s list of eligible project types.  In 28 areas around Oregon, local teams of watershed councils, soil and water conservation districts, and tribes have formed to review and approve small grant applications.  These Small Grant Teams will decide the types of projects they will fund in their areas. 

For a complete listing of eligible and ineligible OWEB small grant projects, follow this link.

What kinds of projects is the Hood River SWCD currently working on?

Post Canyon Trail Improvement Project

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A portion of Hood River County forest land contains the headwaters, and much of the respective watersheds, of Phelps Creek and Post Canyon Creek.   In recent years there has been a large increase in recreational trail use within Hood River County, particularly in the Phelps Creek and Post Canyon Creek areas, close to the urban area of Hood River.  Some trails were built in environmentally-sensitive areas, and many trails were not built to the standards required for sustained, heavy use by the various user groups.  This has resulted in erosion and resource damage in many places.  

This project was designed to solve problems associated with a trail segment named “Seven Streams Trail.”  This particular segment of trail is a high priority for improvement for several reasons.  The trail travels in a sensitive area, parallel to Post Canyon Creek, for approximately 0.6 miles (from RM 1.6-2.2).  Post Canyon Creek is a fish bearing stream which supports resident rainbow and cutthroat trout.  The existing location of the Seven Streams Trail is problematic because it unnecessarily crosses the creek in multiple locations and because the crossings lack bridges that can handle all types of trail users.  None of the bridges are sturdy enough for equestrian use, and many of the bridges are too narrow to allow use by inexperienced trail goers.  Consequently, many trail users avoid the bridges and instead travel through the creek.  This is evidenced by trampled stream banks, erosion, and sedimentation in the creek.  The Seven Streams Trail serves as a primary route to a network of trails above it, and is likely the most heavily used trail in the system.  The number of individuals that utilize the trail is conservatively estimated to be 300 people per week throughout the year.  This primarily includes hikers, dog walkers, runners, bicyclists, and equestrians.  The most extensive resource damage happens in winter months, when flow levels are highest in Post Canyon Creek, and while the soil in the area is saturated from frequent rain events. 

The overall objective of this project is to eliminate the erosion and sedimentation problems associated with the close proximity of Seven Streams Trail to Post Canyon Creek.  This project will re-route, stabilize, and/or decommission the problematic areas of the trail.

Neal Creek Bridge Project

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This landowner owns an 18-acre property that is bisected by Neal Creek.  Prior to the implementation of this project, the only access to the eastern portion of the property was through a ford on Neal Creek.  The crossing had been used for many years by the previous property owner to move cattle, vehicles, and equipment across the creek.  The current landowner purchased the property with the intent to continue farming the land and raising livestock. 

Using the ford as a creek crossing was problematic because vehicles, equipment, and animals damage the streambanks and the streambed as they passed through.  This was degrading the water quality of the creek and negatively impacting fish by increasing erosion, sedimentation, and turbidity.   This is especially problematic in Neal Creek because it is considered a primary spawning, holding, and rearing area for winter steelhead (ESA threatened) and sea-run cutthroat trout (proposed for listing as threatened).  Neal Creek was also identified in the Hood River Watershed Action Plan for having habitat concerns due to bacterial runoff from livestock use.

To resolve this issue, the OWEB small grant funds were used to build a 20’ x 55’, channel-spanning bridge over Neal Creek replacing the existing creek crossing.  The bridge will be used to transport vehicles, equipment, and animals to the east side of the property, therefore eliminating all of the problems that were associated with the ford through the creek.

Lenz Creek Improvement Project

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This irrigation improvement project was designed to address the excessive water use of an inefficient orchard irrigation system. The previous system consisted of handlines and impact sprinklers, and was operated on 12-hour sets using water drawn from the East Fork Hood River.  This was problematic because the in-stream water right is not reliably met in the East Fork.  Low flows contribute to degraded conditions in the river for its native steelhead, chinook, and other fish species.  The over-application of water on this orchard tract also elevated the potential for surface runoff, erosion, and nutrient leaching to adjacent Lenz Creek.

The work implemented through this OWEB small grant involved upgrading the irrigation system on 7.5 acres of orchard.  The existing sprinkler system was replaced with a solid-set system that utilizes low-flow, micro-sprinklers.  Pressure reducing valves were installed at the connection of all polytube laterals.  Additionally, a flow meter was put in so that the operator can monitor the amount of water that is applied during each irrigation cycle, and throughout each season.  Soil moisture sensors were installed at three locations and will permit the operator to determine the amount of water present in the soil.  Future timing of irrigations will be based on tree water need rather than on set calendar dates.    Water guards were installed on the sprinkler heads that line their dirt road, reducing potential for additional soil erosion on this well-used access road. 

How can I apply for an OWEB small grant?

1. Contact  us! 

2. Check out the OWEB Small Grant website.

3. Help us submit an application for your project by the next small grant application deadline:

3007 Experiment Station Road • Hood River • Oregon • 97031 • hrswcd@gorge.net • 541-386-4588