Author: NSWC

North Santiam Watershed Council

Fishing Update for the North Santiam River

Based on video monitoring (through mid-November) at Upper and Lower Bennett dams near Stayton, approximately 5,200 summer steelhead moved into the upper North Santiam this season. That’s about 20 percent of the nearly 25,000 summer steelhead that passed the Willamette Falls this.  year Coho season on the North Santiam from Stayton up to Big Cliff…
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Within Our Reach Conference

Liz Redon, Council Coordinator, and Brice Crayne, Landowner Partnership Coordinator, represented the North Santiam Watershed Council at Within Our Reach, a gathering of funders, river restoration professionals, landowners, public agencies, and scientists all focused on the future of the Willamette River and its tributaries. Although the two day conference focused on academic research and the…
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Oregon’s Sturgeon Bag Limit Reduced to One Fish

Under new rules adopted by the Fish and Wildlife Commission, Oregon’s sturgeon bag limit will be reduced to one fish per year beginning in 2013. The new rule covers all Oregon waters including the North Santiam, all other inland rivers, bays and estuaries.  The ruling supersedes a two fish annual bag limit set last September as…
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2013 Winter Steelhead Guide and Fishing Regulations

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife updated the sport fishing regulations and Winter Steelhead Guide for 2013  today. 2013 Sport Fishing Regulations The  Willamette Zone Sport Fishing Regulations for 2013 on the ODFW website do not appear to have changed.  Printed versions should be available at ODFW offices and from license sales agents by…
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North Santiam Watershed Council completes annual evaluation

The Steering Committee of the North Santiam Watershed Council will meet on Thursday December 13th, 2012 to finish their annual self-evaluation. North Santiam Watershed Council meetings are held at the Stayton Community Center at 400 West Virginia Street, Stayton, OR on the second Thursday of every month except July and August. Meetings begin at 7:00…
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OWEB is holding a Council Support Listening Session in Salem

Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) is holding Council Support Listening Sessions around the state to hear stakeholder ideas for how to achieve the future vision for council capacity. OWEB has posted materials for the Listening Sessions as well as OWEB’s ideas for process and policy changes on their website. The Listening Sessions is scheduled for:…
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Willamette River Restoration Efforts win 2012 Thiess International Riverprize

The Willamette River has won the Thiess International Riverprize, an annual award given by the International River Foundation based in Brisbane, Australia. Riverprize recognizes outstanding, visionary and sustainable programs in river basin management and is the most prestigious environmental prize in the world. Meyer Memorial Trust entered the competition on behalf of the many groups…
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Indian Pipe

Indian Pipe is a Parasitic Plant of Trees and Fungus

On a recent hike along Pamilia Creek, I came across this clump of Indian Pipe growing under a dense stand of large Douglas fir.  It caught my eye, because even though it’s a herbaceous plant, it looks more like a fungus. In fact, I always assumed Indian Pipe, like many fungi, lived off of the…
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Devil's Club

Devil’s Club Decorates Old Growth Forests in Late Summer

Devil’s club or devil’s walking stick is a large shrub native to the cool moist conifer forests.  It is found from  Alaska to western Oregon and eastward to western Alberta and Montana. This native shrub always catches my eye in the late summer.  Those clusters of showy red berries remind me of Christmas.   I’ve…
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Developing a Forest Stewardship Process in the Watershed: First Steps

Liz Redon from the North Santiam Watershed Council and US Forest Service staff from the Willamette National Forest spent the day last Friday, September 7th, with specially selected forest products industry experts to help develop a new small diameter timber and special forest products stewardship program. The purpose of the work group was to explore…
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North Santian River Report

Fishing Conditions on the North Santiam, August 23, 2012

River flows volumes are excellent right now , currently around 1,160 cfs at Mehama on the North Fork with good visibility.  Conditions are expected to stay at these levels for the next week.  Most of the salmon and steelhead have moved into the upper river.  Based on video monitoring at Bennett dam near Stayton, approximately…
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Six Good Reasons to Plant Trees Beside a Stream

  The strip of land beside your stream is a great place to plant trees.  First of all, the 20 feet or so directly beside the stream probably isn’t practical to use for most other purposes.  Second, the banks are too steep.  Third, there will probably be seasonal flooding.  Besides, a forested buffer zone along…
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