FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2016
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 7
Outdoor Rec / Local
SWCD / NRCS: Post-fire
reseeding project completed
Submitted by SWCD,
Baker City
2015 was a tough year
for Baker County. Land-
owners and producers ex-
perienced another consecu-
tive drought year, which
brought with it a horrifi c
wildfi re season. Baker
County faced four separate
wildfi res over the summer,
which burned hundreds
of thousands of acres and
disrupted countless liveli-
hoods.
Now that the fi res are
long out, and we are draw-
ing closer to a new spring,
landowners are facing the
next big concern: erosion.
Lands affected by wildfi re
are at a much higher risk
for fl ash fl ooding and land-
slides, because the burned,
bare soil cannot absorb as
much water. Erosion also
removes or redistributes
top soil, the layer of soil
with the greatest amount of
organic matter and nutri-
ents. Not only does losing
top soil reduce the chance
for a plant community to
recover after an event such
as a wildlife, but it can
cause a shift to less desir-
able plants; for example,
from native grasses to
shrub species.
To help mitigate this
multifaceted issue, the
Burnt River Soil and Water
Conservation District
partnered with the Natural
Resources Conservation
Service to hire a contractor
to aerially apply a grass
seed mix on approximately
5,700 acres of rangeland
that were severely burnt in
the Windy Ridge/Cornett
Fires.
Getting a jump start on
re-vegetation will decrease
the chance for major ero-
sion once the snow begins
to melt and the rain begins
to fall. Participating land-
owners, who submitted
an application to NRCS’
EQIP program, were cho-
sen based on burn severity
and vegetation mortality
throughout their affected
property.
Because of these collab-
orative efforts, the Burnt
River SWCD and the
NRCS were able to help 16
individual private land-
owners treat their burned
rangeland. This amazing
partnership and coopera-
tion have allowed agencies
to come together and help
our local landowners when
they need it the most.
Submitted Photos.
A helicopter drops a grass seed mix.
—ODFW Weekly Recreation Report—
Weekend fi shing opportunities: Steel-
head angling is good in the Umatilla
River. The Wallowa River is fi shing well
for steelhead and the bulk of a very
healthy run is on the way. If your favor-
ite fi shing spot is no longer listed
It’s probably because that river, lake
or reservoir is closed for the season, in-
accessible due to snow and bad roads,
or offers limited fi shing opportunities
during the winter months. These water
bodies will re-appear in the Recreation
Report when they re-open next spring,
or when access and/or opportunity
improves.
GRANDE RONDE RIVER: trout,
whitefi sh, bass
The Grande Ronde is currently (Feb
22) reletivley high which will make fi sh-
ing diffi cult. The river likely won’t return
to fl ows typical of the last few months
but steelhead will still be available when
the water isn’t muddy. This year’s run
of steelhead is one of the best in recent
years and catch rates have been good
throughout the season.
Remember, the new closure date for
the Grande Ronde River steelhead fi sh-
ery is now April 30. Year-round fi shing
for hatchery trout will also be allowed
beginning Jan. 1, 2016.
HOLLIDAY PARK POND: rainbow trout
Pond was stocked in September with
trophy-sized trout. An ADA fi shing dock
for anglers with disabilities is available.
The pond may be ice covered and
unsafe for ice fi shing.
HUNTER POND: hatchery rainbow
trout
This pond was stocked with 150
trophy-sized rainbow trout the lst week
of September. The pond will now be ice
covered. From I-84 take Hwy 244 to-
wards Ukiah. At the Blue Mtns summit,
turn left onto USFS Rd 5160. Proceed
for approximately 3 miles to the Jct. of
roads 5160 and 5155. Stay on 5160.
Just past this Jct. on the right will be
spur 710. Take this spur. The pond is
just off 5160.
IMNAHA RIVER: Steelhead
With the recent uptick in fl ows steel-
head have started to enter the river at
a higher rate and angers are fi nding
success. Look for the run to continue
to improve as the late winter/spring
progresses. Local biologists expect very
good catch rates this spring with the
stronger than usual run.Remember, the
new closure date for the Imnaha River
steelhead fi shery is now April 30. Year-
round fi shing for hatchery trout is also
allowed under the 2016 Oregon Sport
Fishing Regulations.
JOHN DAY RIVER: steelhead
Steelhead fi shing has been slow on
the John Day River since fl ows are
high and water clarity poor. Flows are
predicted to be lower by the weekend
but will likely be too high for successful
fi shing. Steelhead have dispersed
throughout the system and numbers are
increasing above Service Creek in the
upper John Day.
Anglers have success primarily drift-
ing with jigs, shrimp or eggs with a bob-
ber. Another popular method is drifting a
worm along the bottom. Fly anglers are
primarily nymphing with lower success.
ODFW encourages all anglers to
keep any ad-clipped steelhead taken
in this fi shery. All wild (adipose intact)
steelhead must be released unharmed.
LONG CREEK POND, CAVENDER
POND: trout
Both ponds may be iced over so
proceed with caution for ice fi shing.
Cavender Pond was stocked last fall
with trophy trout.
LUGER POND: hatchery rainbow trout
Luger Pond was treated with the
chemical fi sh toxicant rotenone in the
fall and all fi sh were removed. The
pond with be restocked with legal-sized
rainbow trout in May 2016.
MAGONE LAKE: rainbow and brook
trout
Lake is iced over so use caution for
ice fi shing. Access road to lake is cov-
ered with snow and will require 4-wheel
drive to reach.
McHALEY POND: rainbow trout
Pond was recently excavated to
improve capacity and to remove aquatic
weeds. Very few fi sh are in the pond
post excavation treatment and fi shing
will be poor.
McKAY RESERVOIR: Closed to fi shing
until March 1, 2016.
MORGAN LAKE: rainbow trout Closed
to fi shing as of Nov. 1.
OLIVE LAKE: rainbow trout, brook trout,
and kokanee
Lake has been stocked with both
legal and trophy-sized rainbow trout.
Lake is iced over and the access road
is covered with snow. It will require a
snowmobile to reach lake.
PEACH POND (Ladd Marsh): rainbow
trout
Peach Pond was treated with the
chemical fi sh toxicant rotenone in the
fall and all fi sh were removed. The
pond with be restocked with legal-sized
rainbow trout in May 2016.
ROULET POND: rainbow trout
The pond is ice free and will be
stocked with rainbow trout in April.
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ROWE CREEK RESERVOIR: rainbow
trout
Remains open all year. Fishing is fair
for carryover and stocked trout.
TAYLOR GREEN POND: hatchery
rainbow trout
Was stocked with 150 trophy-sized
rainbow trout the last week of Septem-
ber. The pond will now be ice covered.
From Hwy 203 at Union, turn left
staying on Hwy 203 towards Medical
Springs. At the summit between Union
and Medical Springs, turn left onto
USFS Road 7700 (opposite snowpark
area). Proceed East on 7700 road for
about 9 miles to USFS Road 7740 on
the right. Proceed on the 7740 road for
about 1/4 mile. The rock pit pond are
on the right.
UMATILLA/WALLA WALLA FOREST
PONDS: trout
Boundary, Keyhole, Yellowjacket,
Granite Meadows, Goldfi sh and Windy
Springs ponds are closed to angling
until Dec. 31 due to pesticide applica-
tions to remove unwanted fi shes. These
ponds are closed to access by the pub-
lic until all signage is removed. Stocking
of these ponds will resume during the
spring of 2016.
UMATILLA RIVER: steelhead
No reports on steelhead fi shing for
last week, the river was high and unfi sh-
able for most of the week. Water levels
have dropped and the color is a nice
green in the Pendleton area, expect a
good week for anglers. Steelhead are
spread throughout the river system,
creel surveys are now concentrated on
the upper river area, but good angling
opportunities are still available in the
lower river. Anglers can access fi sh
counts at updated Threemile Dam fi sh
counts. Flow data is available
WALLOWA COUNTY PONDS: rainbow
trout
Surplus steelhead have been out-
planted in Marr, and Weaver ponds
(Lower Diamond) however Weaver
pond is still mostly froze over. This
would be a great opportunity to get kids
out and into some big fi sh. These fi sh
are most often caught by fi shing a worm
or other bait under a bobber a few feet.
Kinney Lake was treated with a
pesticide on Oct. 5 to remove unwanted
fi shes. ODFW testing has determined
the area is safe to entry and the
reservoir has been fi lled. New regula-
tions for Kinney Lake will be in effect
for 2016. ODFW, Triple Creek Ranch,
and the Wallowa Valley Improvement
District #1 (WVID#1) have collaborated
to open Kinney Lake for year-round
fi shing starting Jan. 1, 2016. However,
catchable trout will not be available
until the lake is stocked in the spring.
Non-motorized watercraft will also be
allowed at Kinney Lake for 2016. Re-
member, to be respectful of the private
land access that the Triple Creek Ranch
and WVID#1 have provided and pack
out any trash you bring or fi nd.
WALLOWA LAKE: rainbow trout,
kokanee, lake trout
Some holdover trout will still be avail-
able for the hardy trout fi sherman willing
to brave the cold weather. As spring
progresses the anglers that fi nd those
holdovers will likely have some large
fi sh on the end of their line. Kokanee
can also be caught by jigging deep
during the winter months. Wallowa Lake
does not reliably freeze every year.
However, when the lake does freeze,
ice fi shing can produce good catch
rates for trout and kokanee.
WALLOWA RIVER: steelhead, moun-
tain whitefi sh
The Wallowa River is fi shing well and
the bulk of a very healthy run is still to
come. Biologists expect catch rates to
be very good as the season progresses
into the spring. This year’s run of
steelhead is one of the best in recent
years and catch rates have been good
throughout the season.
Winter fi shing between Minam and
the mouth at Rondowa can be very
good for anglers willing to walk. Re-
member, the new closure date for the
Wallowa River steelhead fi shery is now
April 30. Year-round fi shing for hatchery
trout is now allowed under the 2016
Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations.
USDA
announces
$40 million
project
USDA Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Envi-
ronment Robert Bonnie announced a federal investment
of over $40 million for restoration of forests near growing
communities to reduce wildfi re threats, protect water sup-
plies, improve wildlife habitat and support rural econo-
mies. This is the third year of the Joint Chiefs’ Landscape
Restoration Partnership between the U.S. Forest Service
and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
to improve the health and resiliency of forest ecosystems
where public and private lands meet.
“The health of our forests and our rural communities
very often go hand in hand,” Bonnie said. “USDA works
with other public and thousands of private landowners
through a range of programs and partnerships to decrease
the threat of wildfi re, restore forest habitat and increase
economic and other opportunities for the families and
businesses that make their homes near woodlands.”
Washington and Oregon were awarded funding for two
new projects, plus additional funding for ongoing proj-
ects.
In Oregon and the U.S. Forest Service Pacifi c North-
west Region, the Greater La Pine Basin Cohesive Strat-
egy Project was selected:
This project leverages strong partnerships across
diverse organizations and community groups to integrate
multiple objectives across the landscape. This includes
increasing forest resiliency to insects, disease, and fi re;
enhancing and protecting water yield and quality; im-
proving wildlife habitat; and engaging communities to
increase awareness about the project. Spanning 344,701
acres the project area includes state, public, and private
lands. The project will implement activities focused on
hazardous fuels reduction, restoration, and maintenance
on federal lands, fuels reduction and restoration work on
private lands, and outreach and education to assist local
communities in becoming more fi re-adapted.
Fiscal year 2016 funding: USFS - $952,125; NRCS -
$250,000
Forest: Deschutes
Partners: Deschutes County; Project Wildfi re; Oregon
Department of Forestry; U.S. Bureau of Land Manage-
ment; Oregon State University Extension; Walker Range;
Oregon Department of Corrections; Upper Deschutes
River Coalition; Upper Deschutes Watershed Council;
Firewise Communities; Klamath County; Central Oregon
Fire Chief’s Association; Central Oregon Cohesive Strat-
egy Initiative; Deschutes Fire Learning Network; Oregon
Department of Transportation; Oregon Department of
Agriculture; Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
In addition to the two new projects, two existing Joint
Chiefs’ projects in Oregon (awarded in 2014 and 2015)
will receive additional funds this year. The East Face of
the Elkhorn Mountains Partnership in Baker and Union
counties will receive $1.2 million this year; and the
Ashland Forest All Lands Restoration Project in Jackson
County will receive $3 million. In addition, one existing
Joint Chiefs project in Washington (awarded in 2015) will
receive additional funds this year. The Northeast Wash-
ington Initiative in Eastern Washington will receive $1.2
million this year.
In total, Bonnie unveiled 11 new Joint Chiefs’ projects
totaling $7 million for 2016 and committed additional
investments totaling nearly $33 million in 27 projects
launched in 2014 and 2015. Local partners plan to invest
up to an additional $11 million in fi nancial, technical and
in-kind assistance for the 38 projects.
The announcement was made at the annual meeting of
the Arkansas Association of Conservation Districts, where
Bonnie highlighted several projects that demonstrate the
power of this kind of partnership. Bonnie said, “By taking
an all lands, all hands approach, Forest Service, NRCS,
and countless partners are demonstrating that smart, pro-
active investments to restore forests yield extraordinary
benefi ts for landowners, communities and taxpayers.”
Since its start, $104 million has been invested through
USDA’s Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partner-
ship to reduce wildfi re threats to communities and
landowners, protect water resources, and improve habitat
for at risk species. Summaries of all projects selected
can be found on the NRCS website http://www.nrcs.
usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/newsroom/
features/?cid=stelprdb1244394
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