The Molalla River Watershed is one of ten watersheds in Clackamas County.
On Tuesday, December 20, 2017 , the Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Directors unanimously approved Watershed Council Support Grants totaling $108,250. These grants will be distributed to ten watershed councils within the District boundaries.
Local watershed councils advance District goals and values and make a significant positive impact on the local environment, economy, and community,
Clackamas SWCD’s Watershed Council Support Grant is the only source of reliable unrestricted grant funding for North Clackamas Urban Watershed Council. – Andrew Collins-Anderson, NCUWC
Grant support provided by the District to the watershed councils is designated as unrestricted funds. This allows councils to cover operational and administrative costs essential for day-to-day operations.
What Do Watershed Councils Do?
The Clackamas River Watershed is the source of drinking water for many residents of Clackamas County.
A watershed council is a locally organized, voluntary, non-regulatory group established to improve the condition of a local watershed. Councils can be very helpful in realizing conservation goals in a local watershed. Depending on the capacity of the watershed council, there are a number of actions they make take to improve watershed health. They may:
- Bring together varied interests in a non-regulatory setting to form a common vision for the ecological and economic sustainability and livability of their watershed
- Plan, develop, and implement projects to maintain and restore streamside areas
- Monitor and improve local water quality
- Identify and remove invasive weeds
- Establish and preserve fish and wildlife habitat
- Mobilize their powerful volunteer base to accomplish on-the-ground projects
- Educate and inform local citizens about watershed processes and functions
2017-18 Support Grants have been awarded to the following watershed councils:
- Clackamas River Basin Council
- Greater Oregon City Watershed Council
- Johnson Creek Watershed Council
- Molalla River Watch
- North Clackamas Urban Watersheds Council
- Oswego Lake Watershed Council
- Pudding River Watershed Council
- Sandy River Watershed Council
- Tryon Creek Watershed Council
- Tualatin River Watershed Council
The Pudding River Watershed has been a District focus area for the past two years.
Our Clackamas SWCD support grant provided critical match funds for restoration projects in the Molalla River Watershed. – A. Yamamuro, MRW
Each of our Support Grant recipients has demonstrated their ability to plan and implement conservation activities that help conserve our precious natural resources. The District is pleased to partner with these organizations by participating in joint projects and by providing funding to support the councils and their work.
When our partners are successful, we are also more successful!
