Living on a Few Acres Improving Land Mangement Practice

This grant funded work to conduct five small acreage management workshops, taught by OSU Extension and SWCD technicians in Deschutes, Jefferson and Crook counties. Each workshop included a tour and on-farm demonstrations. OWEB funds were used for transportation costs, public outreach, materials, equipment, facility rentals and coordinators time for project management.

It is expected that salmon will benefit from this program. This part of Oregon, at the time of this grant, was the most rapidly expanding population base in the state. The impacts of the growing numbers of people were great. Topics at the workshops hit on a variety of subjects aimed to increase understanding and awareness of landowners about the decisions they make daily and how these impact the land. Local conservationists and land managers presented successful agriculture and conservation management techniques. Overall, participants felt that the most valuable part of the class were the discussion on correct water use and irrigation, as well as soil health. The information was practical, and they gained information which they felt they would apply in their practices. Helping landowners to better manage their use of water in the high desert would directly benefit salmon.