OWEB Visits Baker County Projects

Just before the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) held their April 22-24, 2024 Meeting in Baker City, OWEB’s acting Executive Director and several others toured four local projects in Baker County focused on improving water quality on agricultural lands. These projects are being implemented by the Keating Soil and Water Conservation District and are within the Lower Powder Strategic Implementation Area (SIA).

SIAs are watersheds where state and local partners focus community engagement and ag water quality improvement efforts. They partner with farmers and ranchers to install on-the-ground water quality improvement projects. They also monitor water quality to evaluate how the projects affect water quality over time. The Baker County SWCDs worked with Oregon Department of Agriculture to identify the Lower Powder SIA as an area to focus efforts. OWEB provided funding to support some of the landowner engagement for this SIA, and OWEB restoration grant funds combined with Idaho Power Company Snake River Stewardship Program funding, as well as cost-share investments from the private landowners involved, supported these large-scale restoration projects along the lower Powder River.

“The Baker County SWCDs value the important partnership with OWEB to conserve and protect natural resources on the ground. Through continued financial assistance the Baker County SWCDs were able to put $232,183 in OWEB grant funding and $384,884 in partner/match funding toward restoration projects across Baker County in 2023.” -Whitney Rohner, District Manager, Baker County Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

Tour attendees included Stephanie Page, Acting Executive Director for OWEB; Coby Menton, Region 5 Program Representative for OWEB; Shiloh Simrell, Oregon Department of Agriculture Regional Water Quality Specialist; Andrea Kreiner, Executive Director for Oregon Association of Conservation Districts; Whitney Rohner, Baker County SWCDs District Manager and Oregon Association of Conservation Districts Board Member; Tim Kerns, Baker Valley SWCD Board Member and Soil and Water Conservation Commission Board Member; Cory Roe, Ag Technician/Project Manager with the Baker County SWCDs; and Tara Phillips, Administration/Outreach with the Baker County SWCDs.

Group of people standing outdoors with mountains in the background.

Tour Attendees Group Photo

People outdoors near a pond, with a sunbeam and green landscape.

First Stop: Restoring the Powder Project- Phase I and II (OWEB Large Grants)

Rotated landscape with water, fence, and trees. Needs 90° clockwise turn for correct orientation.

Restoring the Powder- Bank Stabilization/Riparian Work

Group of people on a bridge overlooking a scenic river landscape with mountains in the distance.

Second Stop: Joint Partnership with Idaho Power Company- Snake River Stewardship Program Plantings

A group of people outdoors, one pointing at a scenic view with mountains in the background, clear sky.

Third Stop: Bull Pasture Spring Development (OWEB Small Grant) and future site of Skinner Irrigation (OWEB Large Grant)

View the Tour Brochure at the link below

OWEB Tour- April 2024.pdf

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