NORTH COAST BASIN WORK GROUP MEETING

June 11, 2007 Astoria, Oregon

[MINUTES]{.underline}

The meeting was called to order at 10:05 a.m. by Bill DeJager. Those in
attendance were:

Randy Bergman, Columbia SWCD Bill DeJager, Columbia SWCD

Bob Pedersen, NRCS Rhoda Portis, NW Oregon RC&D

Chad Cherefko, NRCS Don Mehlhoff, NRCS

Mitch Cummings, NRCS Scott Gall, Columbia SWCD

Dee Robinson, NRCS Dave Ambrose, Clatsop SWCD

Rudy Fenk, Tillamook SWCD Mike Seppa, Clatsop SWCD

Glenn Ahrens, OSU Extension Tom Makowski, NRCS

John McKesson, Clatsop SWCD Kathryn Higgs, ODA

Jim Worledge, FSA Kevin Berry, ODF

Charlene Troost, ODA Michelle Long, ODFW

Jeff Goebel, NRCS Sheila Ault, ODA

Maggie Peyton, Nehalem Watershed Cncl.

[Minutes of the February 27, 2006 Meeting]{.underline} - Mike moved to
approve the minutes, Rudy seconded, motion carried.

[FY 2007 Basin Allocations:]{.underline}

Bob gave the group an overview of the accomplishments for the 2007 Farm
Bill Programs. North Coast Basin received \$1,170,458.00 for EQIP in
2007. There was \$85,182.00 allocated for the WHIP fund in the Basin.

[Clatsop 2007 EQIP Contracts]{.underline} - Clatsop had 4 EQIP contracts
awarded, with a total of \$221,138. There have been 9 EQIP signups for
2007. There was 1 WHIP contract awarded for \$85,182.

[Columbia 2007 EQIP Contracts]{.underline} -- Columbia County had a 2007
EQIP allocation of \$244,855. There were 7 applications received, 2 of
which were cancelled. Five contracts were written for a total obligation
of \$222,247.

[Tillamook 2007 EQIP Contracts]{.underline} -- there were 16 contracts
developed with a total of \$27,000 for CNMP's; 3 Air Quality for
\$124,426; and 8 Surface and Ground Water Quality for \$660,829.
Tillamook had a total of 51 applications for 2007.

[North Coast Basin 2007 EQIP funds Obligated]{.underline} --

Clatsop County \$135,956.00

Columbia County \$222,247.00

Tillamook County [\$812,255.00]{.underline}

Total for Basin \$1,170,458.00

Bob discussed the pool for the Basin allocation, and how we can commit
those dollars to the greatest need within the basin.

[Basin Watershed Profiles]{.underline} --

Tom Makowski, NRCS, discussed 3 approaches to getting conservation on
the ground: market based; cooperative conservation, and watershed
approach. The 2007 NRCS Rapid Watershed Assessment and Watershed Health
Planning pilot project is in the Lower Crooked River Watershed,
Deschutes Basin. NRCS is performing watershed profile assessments to
determine what conservation practices are being done, what's working,
and what's not, and why. NRCS is concentrating on implementing
cooperative conservation with precision conservation, so we get the
right tools to the right people at the right time to get the most done
for conservation. Watershed profiles are a general description of what
is out there. The second step is the watershed assessment, which is a
tool that provides a starting point to help natural resource
professionals plan conservation projects, identify initial actions, and
determine where additional studies may be needed. The next step is to
develop a strategy to implement practices to get conservation and
sustainability on the ground. The goal is to determine how we can
maximize the NRCS programs.

Bob suggested that the basin prioritize the top three watersheds we want
to have the team perform assessments in our basin. We can set our own
boundaries as a basin. Michelle suggested keeping the areas based on the
HUC's. Maggie stated that the Upper Nehalem watershed has been working
on the assessments for 11 years, and have a good idea of where the needs
are and where NRCS programs could really help. Rhoda stated that the
Lower Clatskanie watershed has already began a Coordinated Resource
Management Plan process and therefore has a pretty good start on the
assessment process. Randy mentioned they are, however, struggling with
bureaucracy and permitting issues to implement solutions. Timeliness is
of the essence for most projects, and some projects can't necessarily
wait for the whole process to be completed before the work is actually
done on the ground. Permitting issues are a huge hurdle in getting
conservation practices on the ground. Dave stated that there are several
watersheds in North Coast that would benefit from the watershed
assessments. The basin allocation dollars could be used in the selected
watershed, and will not pull from the individual county allocations.

The suggested areas of interest for rapid watershed assessments are:

Lower Clatskanie

Nehalem

Skipannon

[2007 Basin Resource Concerns for Land Uses]{.underline}

Wetlands - true value, best use and management

Plant Condition -- Health & Vigor -- large diameter tree retention for
diverse forest stands;

forest health

Soil Erosion -- streambank, landslides, slumps, off-road vehicle use
damage

Water Quality -- nutrients, organics, pathogens in surface and ground
water;

temperature/sedimentation in surface water

Controlling invasive plant species

Fish & Wildlife -- declining habitat and T&E species

Water Quantity -- drainage, maintenance, and conservation

[2008 Farm Bill Practice Payment Schedule:]{.underline}

NRCS will utilize the practice payment schedule rather than the
cost-share rates for 2008. This will be an actual dollar amount set in
each contract, similar to the flat-rate process. Also in 2008, we will
use a state-wide practice cost list rather than the county or basin-wide
lists we've used in the past. It is very important that the dollar
amounts set reflect pretty close to the actual cost to increase the
incentive for practice installation. The numbers are only as good as the
local group provides. Don explained the examples given from the NRCS
State Economist that was included in the participant packets.

[Recommendation on how to Allocate Basin Funds for FY 2008:]{.underline}

On average, the Basin EQIP allocation is around \$200,000. The basin
allocation will go towards the basin's priority watersheds.

[Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program:]{.underline}

Bob distributed a brochure on the program. The Farm and Ranch Lands
Protection Program (FRPP) is a voluntary program that helps farmers and
ranchers keep their land in agriculture. The program provides matching
funds to State, Tribal, or local governments and non-governmental
organizations with existing farm and ranch land protection programs to
purchase conservation easements. The FRPP is reauthorized in the Farm
Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Farm Bill). The USDA Natural
Resources Conservation Service manages the program. Through 2003, more
than 300,000 acres have been protected in 42 states.

Maggie stated a major concern is that there isn't enough NRCS staff to
handle the natural resource issues and projects in the basin. We can
produce all kinds of projects, but there isn't enough staff to implement
them.

[Work Group Executive Committee for 2008]{.underline} - Group consensus
to keep current committee members. Committee will consist of Randy
Bergman, Rudy Fenk, Bill DeJager, Jim Worledge, Gail Stinnett, Mike
Seppa, and K.C. VanNatta.

All business had been completed, meeting adjourned at 12:53 p.m.

Dee Robinson

NRCS