Monitoring & Assessment

The Hood River Watershed Assessment, 1999, was prepared by the Watershed Group, a forum of landowners, businesses, growers, sport fishers, irrigation/water districts, individuals, state, federal and tribal agencies, and local government working cooperatively for a healthier environment and sustainable natural resources. The Watershed Group is one of many locally-formed “watershed councils” statewide that are a key part of the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds. The Oregon Plan is designed to improve the health of the state’s aquatic resources. In contrast to Endangered Species Act and environmental protection emphasizing regulations, the Oregon Plan relies on voluntary action, government coordination, monitoring and accountability, public education, and the prioritized enforcement of environmental laws.

The purpose of the assessment is to characterize watershed and stream habitat conditions to support planning for watershed health and fish recovery efforts. It was used to develop past Watershed Action Plans that prioritized cooperative habitat protection, restoration, monitoring, and education projects for implementation. Watershed assessments and analyses use a science-based, ecosystem approach to identify areas that need protection or rehabilitation. The Hood River Watershed Assessment generally follows the Oregon Watershed Assessment Manual prepared for the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (Watershed Professionals Network, 1999). Its geographic scope covers the whole Hood River subbasin.