Advancing the Partners of the North Santiam

The geographic scope for the Partners of the North Santiam (PNS) is the entire North Santiam Watershed, from the western slopes of the Cascade Mountains to the mid-Willamette Valley floor. Based on science-based references and plans created by agencies addressing natural resource concerns in the North Santiam Watershed, the PNS prioritized four main goals for the watershed: clean and ample supply of water, robust aquatic habitats, healthy riparian systems, and healthy terrestrial habitats. The PNS will address the limiting factors affecting those goals by conserving and enhancing the ecological processes upon which they rely. Key limiting factors to achieving these goals include inefficient water management practices, urban and agricultural sediment and nutrient runoff, elevated water temperatures, loss of instream habitat complexity, loss of habitat access, simplification of the streams channel systems, removal of riparian and floodplain vegetation, and introduction of nonnative species. The PNS will work with BEF to develop a theory of change framework based on the existing action plan strategies. With a tailored theory of change conceptual model and results chain, PNS will work with GSI Water Solutions, Inc. to identify and develop up to three focused basin initiatives. For each initiative, PNS will prioritize projects, create a monitoring framework and database tracking system, initiate stakeholder engagement, formalize the governance structure and update the action plan. Project partners include the Santiam WCD, BEF Marion SWCD, City of Salem, Marion & Linn County, ODA, ODEQ, ODF, NRCS USFS, USFWS, South Santiam WC, Greenbelt LT, and private landowners. Because the projects scheduled end date is after the PCSRF FFY 2019 award closes, no funds allocated for this project are reported as match to PCSRF funds.

The PNS resiliency action planning efforts are focused on developing a prioritization process and project implementation strategy. The PNS strategy will directly address the physical and biological processes identified as critical to the recovery of the federally listed ESA Upper Willamette Spring Chinook, winter steelhead. Reduced flows and elevated water temperatures are considered key threats to the survival of both species (NMFS Willamette Biological Opinion 2008). In terms of flows and water quality, the Conservation and Recovery notes the following management strategies specific to the North Santiam (ODFW 2011): Both species are considered by NOAA Fisheries to be a top priority for recovery (NMFS Willamette Biological Opinion 2008), and each is addressed in a shared Conservation and Recovery Plan (ODFW 2011).The PNSs strategy will focus on mitigating human impacts on water quantity, quality, and available habitat taking into consideration future climate predictions. Future climate change scenarios show a significant impact on the ecosystems salmon and steelhead rely on in the North Santiam Basin. Further prioritization and focused governance of key initiatives will further direct attention to the evidence already provided for the importance of these projects.