WallowaCounty Technical Meetings

2012Year-end Summary

The Wallowa County Technical Committee reviews project proposals to make sure they fall within the guidelines of the Wallowa County Salmon Habitat Recovery Plan. The Committee makes recommendations on what activities should be done to sustain and/or enhance the natural resources. The following is a summary of the subjects/issues the Technical Committee reviewed the second half of 2012.

Subject/Issue / Description / Action
Planning Department /
  • The Planning Department brought forth a Dwelling Permit that would be constructed 50 feet from an irrigation ditch in the Upper Valley. There will be a buffer strip between dwelling & ditch.
/

The Committee said there were no fish concerns on this ditch. They did remind the landowner to follow labels when applying herbicides and fertilizer on the buffer area since it is close to the water.

Project proposals for Cost-share (such as BPA, OWEB) /
  • There were no new proposals submitted for review this half of the year.

Presentations /
  • Grad students from University of Florida gave a report on research they have been doing on forests and communities.
/ The committee members found the research interesting and were able to ask questions.
U.S. Forest Service /
  • The Committee was updated on the process of getting a design done for the Divide Fence. The Committee had reviewed this project when it was submitted for OWEB and for Title II funding in the previous year.
  • An update was given on the Cache Creek Fire on the control of it, the areas burnt and what would be done to help the area recovery.
  • The Forest Service brought the Puderbaugh vegetation management project to the committee explaining the location, purpose and alternatives.
/ The Committee members ask questions to learn more when the updates are given. Many of the agencies work on or adjacent to federal lands and it is good to know what projects are being worked on. The committee can also makes suggestions on USFS actions at the Technical Committee meetings.
Agency Updates /
  • Updates were given on the Lower Joseph Creek Assessment and the integration of the committees’ information.
  • There was a lawsuit against the USFS pertaining to weed spraying. The Committee was kept informed of this since weeds affect all natural resources.
/ The Committee is appreciative of the updates. It is good to know what other agencies are working on. This also allows for questions to be asked if others want to learn more.
Title II Project Proposals / There was a joint meeting with the Standing Committee to review project proposals for the 2013 title II funds. They were for the following:
  • Sled Springs OHV – fund seasonal coordinator
  • Blue Mountain Elk Nutrition - funding to do write up on research
  • B-Vine Fuels Reduction – fuels treatment on 34 acres
  • Wallowa Avalanche Center – Seasonal worker to oversee and update users of the back country on avalanches and warnings.
  • Lower Joseph Creek Assessment & Implementation
  • Hells Canyon Overlook Rehabilitation – Hells Canyon Overlook Maintenance
  • Mt. Howard Trail Maintenance & Education – Trail maintenance and education signs on trails by the tram.
  • HCNRA Trails – Trails in the northern portion e.g. cottonwood Creek area.
  • WMO Weed Treatments – Treatment in Minam &Wallowa
  • Muddy Sled Fuels Reduction – Unit 41 - Thin 24 acres
  • Muddy Sled Fuels Reduction – Unit 44 - Thin 30 acres
  • NRAC – Funding for printing of Code of the West booklets
  • UNF Coordinated Weed Control in the Wallowa Canyonlands
  • WWNF Coordinated Weed Control in the Imnaha and Joseph Creek Canyon lands
  • Private Lands Road Numbering – Number roads on private lands for emergency services.
/ The Committee looked at the technical merits of the projects and gave their opinion at the joint committee meeting. The projects were ranked based on resource priority and amount of funding available. Ranking and recommendation went to the County Commissioners for final approval and to be forwarded to the Forest Service.

For more information on any of the above, contact Cynthia Warnock.

Members of the Technical Committee are:

Forestry

/ Mike Shaw, ODF
Steve Meyer, ODF
Logging / Bruce Dunn
Fisheries / Jeff Yanke, ODFW

Soils

/ Tom Smith, NRCS
Resource Conservation / Cynthia Warnock, SWCD
Range / John Williams, Extension
Lance Burton, NRCS
Jamie McCormack
Wildlife / Trish Johnson, USFS

Planning Department

/ Harold Black
Public Works Department /
Russ McMartin
Weed Representative / Mark Porter
Wildlife / Pat Mathews, ODFW
Water Monitoring/ Geology / Coby Menton, GRMWP
Forestry / Nils Christoffersen
Hydrology / Dana Nave , USFS
Landscape Architect
Planner/Engineer

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