Illinois Valley WC Council Capacity

The project enabled the Council to make advances in board development and stakeholder and community engagement while continuing to provide important support to preliminary stages of restoration project development and design. Stakeholder and community engagement accomplishments - particulary documented in the projects required mid-term progress report - attest to significant increased stakeholder and community awareness of the Council and its mission and involvement with the Council. Notable and marked increases in social media involvement, tabling/clipboarding events, local radio and newspaper media, partnerships, organized outreach and volunteer events, and board workshops and working groups focused on community involvement occurred as direct and results of the project. Planning and development of the multi-phase Page Creek stream restoration project and two other privately funded stream restoration projects (East Fork Illinois River, Kelly Creek) were supported by the project. Problems addressed by the project include the shortfall of organizational identity and purpose with the community and organizations serving it that directly and tangentially are related to watershed health and board and staff skill levels relative to stakeholder and community engagement.

The grant will enable IVWC staff - especially its watershed coordinator - to put in the necessary work to identify and develop projects that directly address limiting factors for salmon and steelhead in high priority subwatersheds prior to receiving technical assistance and/or implementation funding. OWEBs Council Capacity funding plays a critical role for IVWC in filling that critical funding gap in the project management process.

This capacity funding ensures project momentum can be achieved and maintained during its vital preliminary developmental phase, enabling restoration projects to successfully launch and be implemented on the landscape.

Particularly, the multi-phase Page Creek Aquatic Restoration Activities project is slated for this period, as is additional project development under the USFSs Watershed Restoration Aquatics Action Plan for the East Fork Illinois River and a small dam removal on Squaw Creek. The East Fork Illinois River watershed (including Page Creek) provides the Rogue Basins highest Intrinsic Potential for SONCC coho salmon.