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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 4, 2003)
Page 20 The INDEPENDENT, December 4, 2003 Robert and Gladys DuPuis are Oregon Cooperators of the Year Robert and Gladys DuPuis, long-time residents of Birken- feld, were named 2003 Coop- erators of the Year by the Ore- gon Association of Conserva- tion Districts at an award dinner November 20, at the Lloyd Center DoubleTree Hotel, in Portland. Directors of the Columbia Soil and Water Conservation District nominated the DuPuis’ for the North Coast Basin Co- operator of the Year award be- cause of the years of conserva- tion leadership they have pro- vided to their community and the excellent manner in which they have carried out their con- servation plan. They were se- lected for the North Coast re- gion, which advanced them for consideration at the state level. The DuPuis’ have been ac- tive District cooperators since 1960. Since then, they have successfully implemented a conservation plan on their 160 acre farm, which is bordered by more than 10,000 feet of Ne- halem River frontage. Their farm is currently a beef and sheep operation. Most of the land use is pasture and hay- land. The farmstead and barns, where livestock were common- ly wintered, is located within 200 feet of the Nehalem River. Over the years, Robert has been proactive about providing wildlife habitat on the farm. Elk and deer use the pasture for winter grazing and the riparian corridor along the Nehalem River for cover and browse. Beaver, muskrats, otter, and other mammals are common. Many varieties of song, game clude livestock from the ripari- an forest buffer. They are in the Coho salmon and steelhead, that use the Nehalem River by providing shade, large woody debris, water quality improve- ments and stream bank protec- tion. In addition to efforts on their own property, Robert DuPuis has actively supported conser- vation efforts in the Nehalem River Watershed. He has en- couraged his neighbors to con- sider the CREP program on their property and referred oth- ers to the conservation district. Robert has volunteered to speak at CREP landowner workshops presented by the conservation district and water- shed council. Robert and Gladys DuPuis have done a superb job with their conservation plan, from implementation to mainte- nance. Robert has maintained his conservation practices like everything else – like the 1942 Allis Chalmers tractor he uses and keeps in perfect operating order, the practices such as tree plantings, (that he hand watered this year), and the fence that will continue to be maintained. As he cares for his equipment, he takes care of his land. Run with Extra Confidence with Chevron birds, waterfowl and raptors also use these areas for food, nesting and cover. Over the years, Robert has planted trees to improve the cover. One 14- acre piece of forestland has been totally excluded from grazing. Areas of the stream bank that began eroding were stabilized by plantings with as- sistance from the Upper Ne- halem River Watershed Council. In 2001, The DuPuis’ took an even larger step for conserva- tion of fish and wildlife. They entered 77 acres (nearly 1Ú2 of their 160 acre farm) into the Conservation Reserve En- hancement Program. Through CREP, they are installing ripari- an forest buffers along 10,000 feet of the river. They have in- stalled 6600 feet of fence to ex- process of installing two live- stock watering systems to keep livestock from accessing the river for drinking water. In 2003, Robert planted eight acres of trees and plans to plant the re- mainder in the next two years. So far, his tree survival has been very good. With this proj- ect, like all others Robert un- dertakes, a lot of thought and experience goes into his deci- sions. He decided to stretch the riparian plantings over a longer period of time so he could give the trees more care and im- prove tree survival by lessening the chance of a dry season wip- ing out all of the plantings. In addition to the wildlife benefits, this project will ultimately have a positive effect on threatened and endangered fish, including DELO 400 ™ PLUS MOTOR OIL The name you trust for: • Gasoline • Diesel Fuel • Oils • Solvents • Additives • Greases Application time for conservation funds Applications are now being accepted by the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Ser- vice for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The first applicaton deadline for 2004 funding is December 31, 2003. EQIP is a voluntary conser- vation program for promoting agricultural production and en- vironmental quality as compati- ble goals. Through EQIP, agri- cultural producers may receive financial and technical assis- tance for installing conservation practices that address natural resource concerns on the land they own or operate. EQIP can also assist pro- ducers in complying with state and national regulations by ad- dressing natural resource con- cerns including water quality, soil quality and wildlife habitat. EQIP-eligible land may in- clude cropland, pastureland and non-industrial forestland that is part of an agricultural op- eration. If an applicant is eligible and funding is made available, NRCS will write contracts rang- ing from two to ten years, de- pending on time needed to car- ry out installation and manage- ment. Typical conservation is- sues that have been addressed with EQIP in Columbia County include providing manure stor- age to reduce nutrient runoff; nutrient management on crop- land and pasture; pasture man- agement improvements with practices like cross-fencing, water developments and rota- tional grazing; stream bank protection with practices such as tree planting and bank stabi- lizaton measures; wildlife habi- tat practices and others. To apply for EQIP, arrange a site visit by a conservationist, or for additional information, contact your local Soil and Wa- ter Conservation District and USDA-NRCS office. In Colum- bia County, it is located at 2514 Sykes Road, St. Helens; phone 503-397-4555. Winter is here…see us for A NTI F REEZE H EATING O IL CALL (503) 429-6606 WILCOX & FLEGEL 720 Rose Avenue • Vernonia