Cedar Creek Landowner Recruitment

The Cedar Creek Outreach Project focused on the development of voluntary habitat restoration projects in cooperation with private and public landowners in the lower section of the Cedar Creek sub-basin of the McKenzie River Watershed. The McKenzie Watershed Council (MWC) led the effort to develop watershed enhancement projects primarily addressing riparian habitat degradation and threats to water quality. The outreach effort contacted nearly 50 landowners and developed conceptual restoration plans at 10 sites covering approximately 45 acres in the Cedar Creek sub-basin and surrounding McKenzie River floodplain. The project was supported by a range of local partners organized as a formal partnership. The Cedar Creek Partnership is comprised of representatives from ODFW, Lane County, Eugene Water & Electric Board, Springfield Utility Board, Springfield Public Schools, City of Springfield, Cedar Creek Irrigation Association, Willamalane Parks and private landowners. The OWEB-funded MWC outreach effort built upon previously implemented enhancement projects in the sub-basin and complemented additional outreach efforts in the area funded by the Eugene-Springfield Metro Wastewater Management Commission (MWMC) and The Freshwater Trust (TFT).

The long-term goal of the Cedar Creek Project is to enhance habitat for native McKenzie River fish species in the lower 8 miles of Cedar Creek, including spring Chinook. Lower Cedar Creek functions as a side channel to the McKenzie River and provides off-channel rearing habitat for juvenile spring Chinook. This is an important limiting factor for recovery of the McKenzie spring Chinook population. Current flows, water quality and habitat condition are not favorable for Chinook. Support for landowner recruitment will help secure landowner agreements to allow access to their property for necessary monitoring and restoration activities. Restoration activities include flow augmentation, riparian habitat restoration and aquatic habitat restoration .