| Central Oregon |
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| Steve and Arlene Putnam |
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(L to R) Eric Moeggenberg, ODA, with Steve and Arlene Putnam
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(Right) Eric Moeggenberg, Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations inspector, congratulates Steve and Arlene Putnam of Putnam Dairy in Bend for acting as a model for others in the dairy industry.
Steve and Arlene Putnam, Putnam Dairy, Bend
ODA Environmental Stewardship Award 2005
Highlight: Serving as a model for water-quality protection, farm research and community involvement
Founded in 1921, the Putnam Dairy is one of the oldest dairies in Central Oregon, and the Putnam family has a long history of environmental stewardship. In the 1950s, the Putnam Dairy was tracking soil conditions, trends and yields for use in farm management decisions. Today, Steve and Arlene Putnam continue this tradition by using their farm as a demonstration model for water quality protection, farm research opportunities, and community involvement. Offering tours for elementary students, participating in field research, and demonstrating best-management practices for enhanced watershed health makes the Putnam Dairy a model for others to follow for long-term industry sustainability and support of the Oregon Plan.
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| Cherry Family Forestlands |
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(Right) Lee and Jeff Cherry, along with family members Nancy and Steven, improved habitat for fish and wildlife on their 970 acres of forest and pasture land near Prineville.
Jeff, Nancy, Lee and Steven Cherry, Cherry Family Forestlands, Redmond
ODFW/ODF Fish and Wildlife Steward Award for Forest Lands 2004
Highlight: Serving as effective stewards on 970 acres of forest and pastureland
For a decade, Jeff, Nancy, Lee and Steven Cherry worked to improve habitat for fish and wildlife on their 970 acres of forest and pasture land near Prineville. Their lands border the Ochoco National Forest, Prineville District Bureau of Land Management lands, and other private parcels. Using a Forest Stewardship Plan developed in partnership with the Oregon Department of Forestry, the Cherrys have thinned timber from below to improve forest health conditions while retaining cover patches for big game. To improve fish and wildlife habitat, they planted aspen, western larch, ponderosa pine and Douglas fir seedlings, along with a variety of other native shrubs. The family restored 50 acres of wet meadows, springs and riparian areas, removing encroaching conifers and juniper, and planting native upland and riparian trees and shrubs. They also installed wildlife-friendly fences to control livestock, controlled noxious weeds and eliminated feral swine. The family’s stewardship efforts included investing more than $50,000 for materials and supplies, as well as thousands of hours of their time to implement activities.
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| Bob Bottorff |
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(Right) Steve Hobbs, Oregon Board of Forestry chair, presents Bob Bottorff and his wife with the Eastern Operator of the Year Award for protecting a significant wetland in a riparian management area during timber harvesting.
Bob Bottorff, Moonlight Timber LLC, Klamath Falls
ODF Operator of the Year Award 2004
Highlight: Protecting a significant wetland in a riparian management area while completing a harvest operation east of Chiloquin
Forested wetland soil is very sensitive to severe impacts such as rutting and compaction. Because operations in such areas need to be conducted under either very dry conditions or when the ground is frozen and protected by snow, Bottorff had to carefully time harvest to limit disturbance to the soil and understory vegetation, and use the appropriate equipment to ensure a “light touch.” By using a boom-mounted saw, Bottorff and his crew were able to access each tree from a distance, without negatively impacting the wetland and RMA.
Downed wood and snags were retained within the wetland and RMA to provide fish and wildlife habitat. Appropriately locating skid trails and landing locations resulted in minimal scarring on the land or evidence that machine activity had occurred. Trees selected for harvesting and the crew’s skill in operating the harvesting equipment also lessened the impact to the wetland and RMA.
Bottorff also made the decision to retain some of the timber volume that could have been harvested from the unit. The RMA boundary established for the unit exceeded the minimum 100-foot Forest Practices Act requirement.
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| Farmers Irrigation District |
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(Right) A horizontal flat-plate screen installed by Farmers Irrigation District diverts water into twin 48-inch pipes for irrigation but allows fish passage upstream.
Farmers Irrigation District, Hood River
OWRD Stewardship and Conservation Award 2005
Highlight: Implementing more efficient irrigation and making more water available for fish and farms
Farmers Irrigation District provides water to 6,000 acres of land and 1,600 users. The original mode of delivery to orchards and power plants via open canals and ditches was generally unreliable, and operation and maintenance assessments were insufficient to enhance the irrigation water delivery system. The District implemented a project to give irrigators low-flow sprinkler heads, allowing for more efficient irrigation and more water available for fish and farms. Working with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Water Resources Department and federal fish agencies, the District proposed a project that would optimize hydropower production and also address in-stream needs for fish. In 1990, the District was granted hydropower water rights and agreed to install fish screens on all diversions to improve fish passage. As more pipes were installed and pressurized water became available without pumping, the District not only produced electricity but also reduced electric consumption.
Two of the District's growers installed one of the first horizontal fish screens, which worked well, required little cleaning and allowed fish passage upstream. In 2001, the District constructed the first full-scale version of this screen on their Hood River diversion. The inventors of the fish screen patented the technology and signed it over to the Farmers Irrigation District. The District has established the Farmers Conservation Alliance and dedicated screen proceeds to projects of a sustainable nature.
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| Brad Chalfant |
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Brad Chalfant, Deschutes Basin Land Trust, Bend
OWEB Spirit of the Oregon Plan Award 2004
Highlight: Establishing the Deschutes Basin Land Trust and helping to preserve nearly 5,500 acres
Brad is one of those visionaries who doesn’t mistake the vision for the outcome. He has pioneered non-profit conservation in a community-based setting and achieved conservation on the ground. Brad formed the Deschutes Basin Land Trust in 1995 “to conserve forever the scenic and natural values of the Deschutes Basin.” Since that time, the Deschutes Basin Land Trust has helped preserve nearly 5,500 acres through a combination of fee and easement. All of the group’s actions provide important habitat values for central Oregon’s fisheries and wildlife. Brad has led the Trust into a new program called “Back to Home Waters” where, through collaboration with many partners, habitat and fish-barrier issues will be addressed to increase the success of reintroducing anadromous fish into the upper Deschutes Basin. The Trust has grown to 745 members deeply involved in community education. Last year, the Trust accommodated over 200 kids at their Camp Polk site for watershed education and sponsored adult training in natural history. They have obtained more than 5,500 volunteer hours of restoration activity on their managed lands and enjoy partnerships with a wide variety of groups and individuals.
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