Watersheds+Jobs, FTW!

Carla Axtman

The University of Oregon's Ecosystem Workforce Program rolled out three recent studies they did for the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board. The studies demonstrate that every million dollars of public investment in restoration projects support about 17 jobs in Oregon. The studies also show that 90 percent of watershed and reforestation project dollars stay in-state, including 60 percent that stays in the counties where work is done.

Bill Rautenstrauch, La Grande Observer:

One recent example of a project is restoration of End Creek in north Union County, which GRMW did in partnership with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

“That was an 800 acre involving three landowners, and we had about $200,000 in it,” Oveson said, noting that Partney Construction, a La Grande company, was the lead contractor.

Also recently, Mike Becker General Contractor of Union County was the lead in the construction of a fish ladder along Catherine Creek.

Anderson-Perry & Associates, a local engineering firm, designed the project. The ladder will improve passage conditions for salmon.

Oveson said that two other fish passage projects planned for next year will cost about $1.5 million.

In their report to the watershed enhancement board, Moseley and Nielsen-Pincus held up a $550,000 Wallowa River restoration project in Wallowa County as a shining example of a local work creating local income.

On the 6 Ranch owned by Craig and Liza Nichols, a straight, fast-flowing stretch of river was restored to include bends, pools, boulders and other natural habitat.

Local contractor L.D. Perry hired a three-person crew that worked nearly full time for three months. Anderson-Perry did the design work, and supplies, including fuel, materials and rock, were purchased locally. Grande Ronde Model Watershed was the lead agency.

“The project will improve water quality, and it also helps the economy,” Moseley said.

This is a win-win-win. Jobs for Oregon residents. Money injected into Oregon's economy. Clean air and water for the region.

It also happens to be one of the programs that emerged from the first Kitzhaber administration. Given all the hand-wringing over Kitzhaber of late, that little nugget seems highly relevant.

By Carla Axtman June 18, 2010