| Eastern Oregon |
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| John and Kate Rohner |
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(L to R) Ron Jones with John and Kate Rohner
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(Right) John and Kate Rohner of Rohner’s Dairy in Baker City receive congratulations from Ron Jones, Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations inspector, for operating in a manner that inspires other dairy operators.
John and Kate Rohner, Rohner’s Dairy, Baker City
ODA Environmental Stewardship Award 2005
Highlight: Operating in a manner that inspires other dairy operators throughout the state
Rohner’s Dairy has always been a family affair. Today, John and Kate Rohner, and John’s mom, Clarene, operate an efficient and vertically integrated facility. The farm supports 350 cows, produces all their own feed, catches all barn wash and roof and feed-storage-area runoff into a large lagoon for nutrient application, and uses a sophisticated “center pivot” irrigation system to effectively distribute manure and prevent runoff. Rohner’s Dairy has been a Dairy of Honor since 1977 and a mentor to dairy operators in eastern Oregon and throughout the state.
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| Alta Cunha & Moss Cr. Ranches |
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(L to R) Shauna Mosgrove, Carla Cunha and Kelly Stinnett
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(Right) Ranch owners Shauna Mosgrove, Carla Cunha and Kelly Stinnett, with dog Cap, pose on the banks of the Grande Ronde river west of LaGrande, where root wads were anchored to reduce erosion, divert river current and improve fish habitat
Carla Cunha, Shauna Mosgrove and Kelly Stinnett, Alta Cunha Ranches and Moss Creek Ranches, LaGrande
ODSL State Land Board Stream Award 2004
Highlight: Restoring in-stream, riparian and wetland habitat along seven miles of three creeks and the main stem of the Grand Ronde River
Ranch owners Carla Cunha, Shauna Mosgrove and Kelly Stinnett, and numerous partners launched the Longley Meadows restoration project in 1999 with planning. Construction work proceeded from 2002 to 2004. The purpose of the project was to restore in-stream, riparian and wetland habitat along seven miles of three creeks and the main stem of the Grande Ronde River west of LaGrande. The project included building seven miles of fence to keep livestock away from the creeks and river, planting 40,000 shrubs and trees, and developing nine off-channel water sources for livestock. The project used state-of-the-art stream restoration techniques to restore creek and river channels to historical configurations. Project partners included several local, state and federal agencies, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and the Bonneville Power Administration.
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| Pat Geer |
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Pat Geer, rancher, Mitchell
OWEB Spirit of the Oregon Plan Award 2004
Highlight: Demonstrating extraordinary dedication to conservation activities in Wheeler County
Pat Geer brings a strong commitment to solving problems and conducting local conservation to all her endeavors. Since her initial involvement in natural resource conservation activities in 1989, Pat has worked diligently to educate and show by example what restoration and enhancement projects can do to benefit both the landowner and the environment. Over the years, the Geers have implemented many conservation practices on their ranch on West Branch Bridge Creek. When locals in the Bridge Creek area have questions regarding problems they are facing on their ranches, Pat is always the first call – if she doesn’t know the answer, she connects them to someone who can help. Through Pat’s involvement and encouragement, Bridge Creek and the watershed’s resources have benefited enormously, and Wheeler County has been put on Oregon’s conservation map. But her efforts go beyond the local level: Pat has traveled thousands of miles to attend regional and statewide meetings and conferences on watershed issues. She not only represents the Bridge Creek Watershed Council and the Wheeler Soil and Water Conservation District but also brings back home information that serves as a valuable resource for stream enhancement work done in Wheeler County.
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| Kathy Pratt |
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Jim Nakano and Kathy Pratt
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(Right) Kathy Pratt (shown with Malheur-Owyhee Watershed Council Chairman Jim Nakano) has tirelessly supported the Malheur Basin’s people and natural resources through education and conservation activities.
Kathy Pratt, Ontario
OWEB Spirit of the Oregon Plan Award 2004
Highlight: Working tirelessly to support the Malheur Basin’s people and resources
Kathy Pratt has given her all while working for the benefit of Malheur Basin’s people and resources. Kathy has been a leader in expanding the OWEB small-grant program in the Malheur Basin and brought a face-to-face approach to educating local residents in conservation efforts that were previously untapped. She has been instrumental in developing local working groups that are proactive and conscientious. Her unprecedented work with local school children through fun, educational activities has supplied a much-needed illumination of the watershed’s scope. She has taken every opportunity to enhance education by making informative displays and providing materials. Kathy has spent countless hours on extracurricular activities, from attending meetings and doing radio spots, to tramping through fields helping farmers’ access projects. She is a tireless crusader of restoration and conservation in the area and truly the heart and soul of the Malheur watershed.
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| John Lillicrop |
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John Lillicrop, rancher, Mitchell
OWEB Spirit of the Oregon Plan Award 2004
Highlight: Representing the eastern region with intelligence, tenacity and a devotion to doing the right thing
John has run a commercial beef operation on his Wheeler County ranch for close to 18 years. There he has made numerous efforts at improving the health of the environment. Beginning in 2000, John was involved in the Bridge Creek Demonstration Project. John served on the Wheeler County Senate Bill 1010 Local Advisory Committee, resulting in the Agriculture Water Quality Management Plan for this area being passed and adopted by the Oregon Department of Agriculture in 2002. He was appointed to fill a position on the Wheeler Soil and Water Conservation District in January 2002 and currently chairs the board of directors. John also serves on the Oregon Rangeland Trust Board of Directors and was instrumental in promoting this innovative concept to maintain ranch holdings in Oregon. In that capacity John has provided advice on the development of program rules for OWEB. His political acumen has also enabled him to work effectively with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Governor’s Office.
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