Commitment to the restoration of the Willow Creek watershed was formalized by a group of landowners, state and federal agencies, and other interested stakeholders with the initiation of the Willow Creek Watershed Improvement Plan in 1990. The Willow Creek Watershed Council was formally recognized by the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners in May of 1997.
The local landowners, agencies, and stakeholders are planning and implementing conservation measures in the Willow Creek watershed to address such problems as the reoccurring flood problems in the town of Madras, channel and bank erosion in the upper stretches of the creek, and land management practices, which can be a major contributor to some of these problems.
Middle and parts of lower Willow Creek host populations of red-band trout, but reaches of the creek through Madras are deeply incised, disconnected from natural floodplains, and dominated by sediment laden channels, rather than gravel and cobble, which would serve as spawning habitat. A future project on lower Willow Creek will apply bank-shaping to re-connect the creek with its floodplain, thus creating a "sponge," where water is stored during high flows, rather than running unchecked downstream to Madras.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS & MEETINGS Upcoming Meetings Willow Creek Watershed Council Meeting: August 14th, @ 3:00pm, National Grasslands Office, Madras Trout Creek Watershed Council Meeting: October 23rd, Field trip For information concerning small grants please contact Heather Williams Middle Deschutes Watershed Council Coordinator at heather.williams@or.nacdnet.net |
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