PressRelease:
Powder Basin Watershed Council
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
5 June 2013

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

Recognition of Guest: Clinton & Candace Shock, OSU Extension; Andy Rorick, Baker City resident; Tim Kerns, Baker Co. Commissioner; Walt Jury; Logan McCrae and Jana Peterson, ODF; Nathan Black, J-U-B Engineers

Approval of Minutes: May 1, 2013
Suzanne called for additions or corrections to the minutes; no changes were requested. The minutes for the May 2013 meeting were approved as written.

Presentation: “False Ideas about Eastern Oregon Rivers: Real Ways to Improve Water Quality”
Dr. Clinton C. Shock, Director and Professor at Oregon State University Malheur Experiment Station.
Dr. Shock used historic post cards and written accounts from early explorers and settlers to determine historical riparian conditions along the Owyhee River. A PowerPoint presentation featuring the Owyhee River in the Adrian area illustrated Dr. Shock’s findings.

Update on Current Projects:

Kirkway Restoration: Johanna reported on the May 29th “Field Day.” Council staff and Resource Specialists, Inc. were joined by volunteers from Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, BLM, ODFW, OSU Extension Agent and Baker County Parks to assist the 5th & 6th graders from Haines and South Baker Elementary schools with 4 watershed science activities (measuring flow, identifying macroinvertebrates, testing water quality, identifying the engineered components of the restoration) and planting shrubs at the Kirkway project. The day was a great success, though the weather was somewhat uncooperative. Teachers accompanying the students suggested that this become an annual end of school year event.

Basin-wide Water Quality Monitoring: Aaron’s report included an update on the volunteer training session held on May 31.st Steve Hanson of ODEQ led the training, with 18 people attending. There was concern among some of the volunteers regarding the actual testing, but Aaron thought once they were in the field and doing the hands-on testing, they would feel better about the ease of it.

Holbrook Spur Bank Stabilization & McMullen Slough Avulsion Protection: Contract details were finalized with River Design Group (RDG) for Holbrook and McMullen Slough. The next phase of the project will be the final design and permit applications.

Lower Clear Creek Project Development A meeting is scheduled for June 20th with River Design Group, Rick Lusk of Baker County Water Resources, representatives from ODFW, staff of SWCDs, and Steve Brink of IPC. Participants will walk through the proposed project site to develop restoration objectives and cost estimates. The site visit will conclude with a presentation of findings to the landowners. There are eight property owners on this reach of Clear Creek; six have signed agreements to participate with the project.

Idaho Power Company Small Grant Program: Two partial awards have been paid.

Council-SWCD Collaboration Working Group. Steve Edwards reported that the working group has met for a second time. Participants agreed that there is no need to rehash bad feelings and old ideas; rather, a new focus was needed. The Clear Creek project was seen as a great opportunity for collaboration. The group plans to meet again after the summer field season has ended.

PBWC Board of Directors Report The council members were reminded that next month, July, the meeting will be held on the second Wednesday (July 10th) instead of the first due to the 4th holiday. Nancy Rorick will be the facilitator and in August Denine Schmitz will facilitate unless her schedule interferes. Marion Crow will fill in if needed.
Jim Young reported to the Council that the Board had regretfully accepted the resignation of Tim Bliss as Chairman to the Council and Board. Tim cited the need for more personal time for his family. He is not leaving the Council at this time. Jim and Steve both spoke about Tim’s 18 years with the Council, 16 years serving on the board, 7 as Chairman. He has filled a difficult position, met many challenges, and accomplished a great deal to bring the Council to where it is today.
With Tim’s resignation, there is an opening on the board. Nominations for appointment were opened.
Steve nominated Nancy Rorick, Suzanne seconded. Paul Wares nominated Karen Spencer. A discussion and election will occur at the July council meeting. Steve invited both nominees to attend the July Board meeting.
Eric’s treasurer’s report stated that the staff will be working with Guyer and Associates to schedule a financial review for July. Mike Rudi will be working with Kathi to upgrade the Quickbooks program and improve financial tracking. The firm has provided an estimate to complete the review, training, and 2012 IRS 990.

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

Council Attendance: 10 voting members [Quorum = 6]
Suzanne Fouty: USFS meeting Facilitator
Karen Spencer, Baker Co. Parks Andrew Umpleby: PVW C
Steve Edwards
Marion Crow
Paul Wares
Nancy Rorick
Denine Schmitz: BLM Eric Schoenfeld, Treasurer
Jim Young, Vice Chair
Shannon Archuleta, USFS

Non-member Attendance Guest
Johanna Sedell, PBWC Executive Director
Aaron Bliesner, PBWC Monitoring Coord.
Kathi Vinson, PBWC Operations Manager
Karen Leiendecker, OWEB
John Dadoley, ODEQ
Logan McCrae, ODF
Tim Kerns, Baker Co. Commissioner

Dr. Clinton & Candace Shock,
Nathan Black, J-U-B Engineers
Andy Rorick
Jerry Franke, Burnt River Irrigation Dist.
Walt Jury
Jana Peterson, ODF





Next Monthly Meeting
July 10, 2013
Presentation
5J District Supervisor’s Office; North Conference Room
4th and Broadway 5:30 p.m.

Meetings of the PBWC are open to the public. All are welcome.

Board of Directors Meeting
7/10/2013 @ 12:00 noon
Sumpter Valley Railroad Depot
2960 Broadway, Baker City, OR
541-523-7288