District Activities Overview

Happy Fall, Y'all! 

The Umatilla SWCD is happy to bring you some updates, along with some hopefully cooler weather on the horizon. 

Ukiah Fire Project -

In a response to the fire damage from 2024, the Monument Soil and Water Conservation District is leading the surrounding agencies at the federal,  state, and local levels to begin  the ridge-to-ridge restoration of the John Day Basin  area. 

The Umatilla SWCD is looking for private landowners who want assistance with the restoration from the fires. 

If you would like to learn more, or would like to have help accessing resources for a restoration project, please visit our webpage and fill out the form here: 

https://www.umatillaswcd.org/ukiah-fire-project

After Action of OWEB Review Team Tours;

The Umatilla SWCD hosted a a day of tours for the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) on Thursday, September 4. The day facilitated great discussions regarding all grants, but in particular the Water Control District Collaborative received the greatest attention. The reviewers were very interested in the cost-benefit analysis tool created for the grant, and were additionally interested in how the Water Control Districts have been challenged to meet their charter obligations in the last season.  

For the tour, we visited McKay (for the Water CD Grant), Lower Birch, Snipe and Owens Creeks outside Ukiah. The group also visited Tom Straughan's property in the Lower Birch and the Alstott property in Ukiah for Snipe Creek. It was a robust day of walking, especially since the headcut was taller than the reviewers when we went down into the bottom of Snipe Creek!

it was a great opportunity to showcase the myriad of projects that Umatilla SWCD is hoping to implement in Umatilla County.

Countywide Flood Recovery Collaborative

As the Umatilla SWCD continues to pursue ways to further its mission in providing natural resource education to the county, I am coordinating the Countywide Flood Recovery Collaborative, where we seek to solve the shared challenges every watershed in Umatilla County faces regarding flood recovery. A gathering of over 20 organizations, we meet biannually to discuss the entirety of the county's water systems and to coordinate our efforts for maximum conservation and results. If you would ever like to join us for our meetings, please reach out to my email directly!

Wright Spring Development and Grazing Management

One of the projects the SWCD has been working on was at the Wright Spring, residing within the Wildhorse Creek drainage south east of Athena, Oregon. The project is located on the edge of Umatilla SIA III/IV Couse Creek/East Birch Creek. The landowner currently runs up to 40 head of horses on the property, with their only water supply a broken down pond that in high water events drains into Wildhorse Creek. By creating a cross fence, fencing off the pond source, and piping the source into two troughs, the project is now producing better water quality and more efficient grazing distribution. The development of the two new troughs and spring fencing was completed this month, the landowner implemented the project quickly.

District Recognized through State Land Board Award

Every year since 2004, the State Land Board Awards recognize projects and partners for their exceptional contributions to thriving Oregon waterways, wetlands, and lands. I have been chosen to be honored  by the State of Oregon  in Salem on October 14 with the Catalyst Award. This designation recognizes an individual partner whose work supports and inspires stewardship of state lands and waters. I am honored to have been chosen and look forward to accepting this on behalf of not just myself, but the board of directors and other community leaders that have made the work we do possible.

As always, feel free to reach out with questions or comments - many thanks!

- Kyle Waggoner, District Manager

Project Updates

 Grant Applications

Current Projects (Implementing)