PressRelease:
Powder Basin Watershed Council
Regular Meeting Minutes
for 12/4/2013
Baker School District 5J Building, 2090 4th Street
Voting Members = Eight Per Charter: Quorum for decision-making is five
Facilitator: Steve Edwards

Call to order: Steve called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.

Recognition of Guests: Angela Burright, OWRD; Jeff Oveson, Grande Ronde Model Watershed; Kelly Weideman, Malheur Watershed Council

Presentation: Kelly Weideman of the Malheur Watershed Council and Jeff Oveson of the Grande Ronde Model Watershed each gave a presentation on their watershed councils. Malheur Watershed Council covers 3 million acres, focusing largely on the irrigated agricultural lands within their basin. The Grande Ronde Model Watershed covers 3.2 million acres and focuses on re-granting funds for projects that improve fish habitat.

Update on Current Projects
Basin-wide Water Quality Monitoring: Aaron reported that the volunteers have now collected 7 months of data. He will be visiting the monitoring sites to remove the Hobo temperature loggers for the winter. The monitoring data have been entered into the database; Aaron anticipates some revisions to the database to improve efficiency.

Holbrook Spur Bank Stabilization & McMullen Slough Avulsion Protection: River Design Group has delivered the fill and removal amounts needed to complete the joint permit application. Final designs should be completed in mid-December; a work group will be needed to review construction bids.

Clear Creek Project Development River Design Group’s technical report has been sent to each participating landowner; Aaron will try to meet with each landowner to discuss project development.

OWEB Small Grant Team: Nancy reported that five applications had been received during the first solicitation.

Reports from Council Members
Little Dean Creek Project Development Suzanne reported on Wallowa-Whitman National Forest’s plan to manage vegetation on the south side of Phillips Reservoir. The Forest Service will be thinning in riparian areas to meet ecological goals; Suzanne is interested in pursuing data collection that will support publication and provide field-verified management strategies that private landowners can apply.

Approval of Minutes: The minutes from November 6th were approved with the addition of one guest’s name.

Comments from the Commissioners: There were no comments from the Commissioners.

PBWC Board of Directors Report:
Council Facilitator: Nancy will facilitate the January meeting.

February Guest Speaker: The Council agreed to devote January’s meeting to Council business; Anne Mchaffy, Ginger Savage, and Carolyn Khulog will join the Council in February to discuss outreach and membership strategies.

There was no further business.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 pm

Council Attendance: 8 voting members [Quorum = 5]
Shannon Archuleta
Marion Crow
Steve Edwards, Director at Large
Suzanne Fouty
Jerry Gray Nancy Rorick, Co-Chair
Andrew Umpleby
Paul Wares, Director at Large
Jim Young, Vice Chair

Staff Attendance Guests
Johanna Sedell, Executive Director
Aaron Bliesner, Monitoring Coordinator
Teresa Uriarte, Water Quality Intern Angela Burright, OWRD
Jeff Oveson, Grande Ronde Model Watershed
Kelly Weideman, Malheur Watershed Council


Next Meeting – January 8, 2013