What Does the Partnership Do?
• Education – The Partnership provides watershed education to community members, serving as a resource conservation issues in the Upper Basin. Landowners can learn about restoration projects that can improve conditions and keep them financially viable. They can also keep abreast of current federal and state regulations, and learn methods of ensuring compliance at minimal cost.
• Consultation – Landowners may request Partnership experts to visit their property to assist in assessing the current conditions and exploring restoration potential on their land.
• Restoration – Restoration staff work closely with landowners to develop a project that fits with their values and also pencils out economically for them. We develop grant proposals to help fund the project, with landowners contributing time, materials and/or equipment. The Partnership manages the project from start to finish, either with our own crew or private contractors, acts as fiscal agent, obtains all permits, and submits all required reports.
Overview
In July 2007, the Klamath Watershed Council and the Klamath Basin Ecosystem Foundation (KBEF), both community based organizations joined forces to form the Klamath Watershed Partnership. The primary goal of combining the two organizations was to facilitate “one-stop shopping” for people interested in restoration in the Upper Basin, particularly landowners interested in doing work on their property. The merger also allows for cost savings and combines the experiences and expertise of both organizations.
The Partnership is involved from start to finish in a wide range of large and small voluntary restoration projects throughout the Basin. The project begins when a landowner contacts the Partnership with an interest in restoration work, such as riparian fencing to help reduce stream bank erosion, screening diversions, or a new irrigation system that uses water and power more efficiently. Staff from the Partnership then works closely with them to design a project that fits with their values and also pencils out economically for them. Next, the Partnership applies for grants to help underwrite the project, in order to minimize the cost of landowners, who often end up contributing only a small portion of the labor or the use of their equipment. The Partnership will then manage the on-the-ground work, whether that be their own employees or private contractors. Monitoring is completed on all projects to document effectiveness and allow us to continually improve our strategies and methods.
In addition to these on-the-ground projects, the Partnership also coordinates Watershed Assessments, which are in-depth reports that bring community members and scientists together to identify natural resource concerns and set restoration priorities.
The Klamath Watershed Partnership Board holds quarterly board meetings that are open to the public, the third Thursday of January, April, July and October from 5:00 – 8:00 in the evening. The Partnership rotates the meetings throughout the Basin in order to make our meetings more accessible to local landowners, and to allow board members to get to know the local communities. Contact the Partnership office for meeting locations.