Recording – Tony Creek Fish Passage Project

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Alix Danielsen, Watershed Group Restoration Project Manager, and Steve Rodriguez, engineer with Wolf Water Resources, present on the Tony Creek Fish Passage Project that was implemented in 2023. This project included 300 feet of stream channel reconstruction to allow for fish passage over a low head diversion dam. The project opened up access to five miles of critical clearwater habitat for several threatened fish species. This project was one of two remaining high priority fish passage barrier in the watershed on Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife’s statewide list and is a major accomplishment for the watershed!

Watch the recording here.

Recording – Status and Conservation Issues of Black-Tailed Deer in the Hood River Watershed

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ODFW District Wildlife Biologist, Andrew Meyers, presents on the Status and Conservation Issues of Black-Tailed Deer in the Hood River Watershed. He will share an overview of the species, the relative health of the population, and efforts to quantify the population. He also discusses management considerations for the species, including recreation impacts and water conservation projects.

Watch the recording here.

Recording – East Fork Irrigation District Updates Presentation

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Steve Pappas, District Manager for the East Fork Irrigation District, provides an update on EFID’s current projects, including pipeline modernization, telemetry, and plans for sediment removal.

Watch the video here.

No Watershed Group Presentations in November and December

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There are no Watershed Group presentations in November and December for our annual break. Our next presentation will be in January. Join our newsletter mailing list for more information.

Recording – Mt. Hood Fire History Study

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View a recording of the Mt. Hood Fire History Study presentation here.

Dr. Andrew Merschel, Dendroecologist with the USFS PNW Research Station and Oregon State University, presents on his recent research conducted on the Hood River and Barlow Ranger Districts. The results of the study provide new information about the historical role of fire in shaping the structure, composition, and ecological functions of local forest ecosystems.

Recording – Environmental Justice & River Restoration Presentation

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Watch a recording of Dr. Leslie King’s presentation on Environmental Justice & River Restoration.

Dr. Leslie King is a medical doctor with environmental training — a combination she uses in service as a Commissioner for the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife. She is also an adjunct professor at Portland State University teaching environmental justice. For the Watershed Group presentation, Dr. Leslie King shares a shortened version of a lecture on environmental justice and river restoration, touching on the inequalities of many environmental improvement projects. By examining past projects through an environmental justice lens, we can gain a deeper understanding and knowledge, leading to more informed and equitable future choices.

 

Recording – Pesticide Stewardship Presentation

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Watch a recording of our Pesticide Stewardship Presentation.

Three speakers present on pesticide stewardship in the Hood River Watershed, including long-term watershed monitoring results, improving pesticide application practices, and integrated pest management efforts. David Gruen, the Columbia River Coordinator for the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), provides an overview of DEQ’s Pesticide Stewardship Program and monitoring results in the Hood River Watershed. Kris Schaedel, Conservation Specialist with the Hood River Soil and Water Conservation District, shares information on their training programs for orchardists and farm workers. Chris Adams, assistant professor and tree fruit entomologist with the Mid-Columbia Agricultural Research and Extension Center, talks about integrated pest management work with local orchardists.

Recording – Freshwater Mussels Presentation

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Emilie Blevins, Senior Endangered Species Conservation Biologist and Freshwater Mussel Lead with the Xerces Society, presents on the biology, ecology, and presence of Oregon’s native freshwater mussel species in the Hood River and surrounding watersheds. She also shares information about regional conservation efforts to protect and restore freshwater mussel populations in the western U.S.

Watch the presentation recording here.

Recording – Bull Trout Presentation

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Lindsay Powell, Assistant District Fish Biologist for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Mid-Columbia District, presents on an on-going bull trout population monitoring project in Laurance Lake tributaries, Clear Branch and Pinnacle Creek. Lindsay reviews bull trout life history, distribution, and abundance within the Hood River Watershed and will provide an update on current work to evaluate population abundance utilizing underwater video weir technology.

Watch a recording of the presentation here.

Recording: Update on Lower Columbia River & Hood River Salmon and Steelhead Population Levels from ODFW’s 12-year Recovery Plan Assessment

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Jim Brick, Implementation Coordinator of the Lower Columbia River Salmon & Steelhead Recovery Plan at Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, provides a brief background on the Lower Columbia River Conservation and Recovery Plan for Salmon and Steelhead Populations, including how recovery is evaluated through population abundance measurements, and progress in conservation and restoration actions. The talk includes an overview of how spring Chinook, winter and summer steelhead, and coho populations are doing across the lower Columbia, and specifically in the Hood River Watershed.

Watch it here!