2018 Mid Klamath Watershed Council Annual Report

Annual Report 2018 Mid Klamath Watershed Council

The Mid Klamath Watershed Council’s (MKWC) mission is to collaboratively plan and implement watershed restoration, coordinate education on land management issues, and promote community vitality.

Board of Directors President Chris Hatton Vice President Dean Davis Secretary Jon Grunbaum Treasurer

Molli White Board Members Blythe Reis Carol Sharp Jeanerette Jacups-Johnny Mark DuPont Michael Stearns Sinéad Talley Prescribed burn during the 2018 Klamath TREX. Photo by Stormy Staats

Heather Foust

MKWC had a total of 700 volunteers in 2018! The value of volunteer services, supplies, and contractor discounted services was $363,790.

MKWC’s Volunteers of Year are Jon Grunbaum and Carol Sharp for their many hours volunteering for the Happy Camp Fire Safe Council.

THANK YOU! Cover Photos Top: 2018 Klamath River Prescribed Fire Training Exchange (TREX), Photo by Stormy Staats. Middle left: Youth interns in the Siskiyou Wilderness, searching for priority invasive plants, Photo by Tanya Chapple. Middle right: Youth participant at a restoration raft trip enjoys a cool dip in Rock Creek in late-July, Photo by Carol Earnest. Bottom: Juvenile coho salmon in Upper Lawrence Pond on Horse Creek, Photo by Will Harling.

A Letter from our Directors Dear Friends, After nearly two decades working on restoration, collaboration, and stewardship, it feels like the Mid Klamath Watershed Council is hitting our stride. Years of planning, learning from mistakes, and hard work are bearing fruit for the communities and watersheds we serve.

The Watershed Education program continues to bring excellence in science education to the river schools— giving the youth in our communities the opportunity to be curious about the world around them and teaching them how to use science and technology to answer their questions.

The Plants program continues to combine native plant propagation, non-toxic invasive weed management, collaboration and sheer tenacity to retain the biodiversity of the region while engaging communities and operating on a shoestring budget.

No organization can thrive on its own. We are grateful and indebted to all of our partners. Our work with non-profits, schools, residents, contractors, and our government and tribal partners is invaluable to our ability to serve the watersheds and communities by helping us find the best path forward.

With partners, we launched the Western Klamath Restoration Partnership’s Somes Bar Integrated Fire Management Project— creating new jobs, a more diverse forest, and allowing for increased fire use in the future. With partners we created critical habitat for threatened salmon, implemented complex prescribed burns, and helped put the Klamath region on the map as leading the way for projects that address the triple bottom line — ecology, economics and community — now and into the future.

No annual report would be complete without a tremendous “thank you “ to the MKWC employees and board of directors that go above and beyond to do their jobs every day.

The MKWC staff brings excellence and integrity to their work and we are grateful to be part of such a wonderful team.

As we move forward into another year, please join us! You can connect with us on Facebook and Instagram, read our newsletter, and join us for volunteer and community events. We are looking forward to working with you.

Luna Latimer

Will Harling

Fisheries Program 2018 was a fantastic year for fisheries restoration. MKWC began the year with an ego-boosting shot in the arm when the Salmonid Restoration Federation awarded the fisheries program their Nat Bingham Restorationist of the Year award for 2018. We were all quite honored and motivated, and we give many thanks to our crews, partners, funders and supportive community. MKWC will pass on this prestigious award to the next winners at the 2019 SRF conference.

MKWC Fisheries completed two implementation projects this fall, one of them nearly ten years in the making. Between mid-September and early November, we worked with Mark Thomas Logging to construct the Fish Gulch project on upper Horse Creek. A complex of several off-channel coho rearing ponds, wetlands, and instream wood structures, this is our second project developed and funded in partnership with the US Forest Service, the Karuk Tribe, and Caltrans as a wetlands mitigation project on public lands.

The second project was much smaller in scope, but no less impressive. Cougar Creek, a small but dependable cohobearing tributary in the hinterlands of coho anadromy, was enhanced with approximately 600 linear feet of small woody debris structures designed to add critical cover for spawning coho salmon. All work was done by hand crews using non-mechanized tools and established an effective, low impact restoration model that can be applied inexpensively.

Further, this project was completed with a streamlined permitting process, helping to restore and enhance stream conditions in a timely manner.

The Fisheries Program continues to improve fish passage and habitat, to monitor water quality, and to conduct Chinook and coho surveys on mid-Klamath tributaries.

Photos by Jimmy Peterson

Mining Pond Before

Mining Pond After

A relic of mechanized placer mining along upper Horse Creek, this pond likely sat dormant for decades. When we found the pond, sediment sampling showed no traces of heavy metals (good), but water quality sampling showed it to be a deep, anoxic, lifeless hole in the ground (not so good), with its only occupant a single large pond turtle. In order to change this into quality off-channel rearing habitat for juvenile coho salmon, it needed some work. With a design to double its size, vary its depth, introduce oxygenated groundwater, and connect it to Horse Creek, Mark Thomas Logging set to digging. The result is gorgeous, and we expect it to make many small fish into larger fish for years to come.

Fire and Fuels Program Ishi Pishi Burn during 2018 TREX. Photo by Stormy Staats

Following one of the worst fire seasons in recent memory, more than 80 prescribed fire practitioners gathered in Orleans, California in early October to teach and learn how fire in the right place at the right time can be the solution instead of the problem. The 2018 Klamath TREX marks the 5th year that MKWC and its partners have held this event. Bill Tripp, the Karuk Tribe’s Deputy Director of Ecocultural Revitalization says of the Klamath TREX; “Karuk people have had a role in functional fire processes for thousands of years. Fire has been regulated out of our hands in this past century. The Klamath TREX is a great example of how indigenous people around the world can help lead communitybased solutions that address the social, economic, and ecological issues of our age.”

"Since 2015, we at the Downs Ranch have been the beneficiaries of controlled burning projects planned and completed by both MKWC and TREX personnel. We see that large forested portions of the ranch have been made less vulnerable to wildfire. Also, our immediate neighbors appear safer because of the work done on our ranch.”

- Phil Sanders, Orleans landowner

2018 Klamath TREX group photo. Photo by Michael Hentz

We hold the Klamath TREX every year to work towards the goal of building a local team capable of using beneficial fire not just on small and scattered pieces of private property but on a landscape scale that will have a meaningful effect on the severe wildfires that are becoming so common in the state. Soon, the Klamath TREX will be focused on implementing projects designed by the Western Klamath Restoration Partnership (WKRP), a collaborative land and fire management effort between Tribal, Federal, and Non-Governmental stakeholders in the Western Klamath Mountains. MKWC has played an active role in this collaborative effort for the last 20 years. In 2018, the collaborative was awarded a $5 million grant for the Somes Bar Integrated Fire Management Project, the first pilot project of the WKRP. This project will maintain strategic fuel breaks to allow for safe implementation of prescribed fire on 5,500 acres in order to demonstrate how fire can be returned at the landscape scale.

Plants Program Collecting seeds in the upper Klamath.

Foxglove is an invasive plant and taller than a toddler! A new site was found at Haypress Trailhead in 2018. This is a new weed to MKWC and may be new to Siskiyou County.

The Plants Program continued to remove priority invasive plants from our watershed, revegetate fisheries restoration projects and had the exciting opportunity to collect seeds for the restoration of the Klamath reservoirs following dam removal.

We removed 65,342 non-native invasive plants at 192 prioritized locations infesting 68.36 acres across the Mid Klamath Watershed. We involved 112 youth and volunteers. For 2018, we worked extensively in the Haypress and Eclipse Fire footprints, removing weeds before they could take advantage of the fire disturbance, and surveying 26.5 miles of dozer lines for the presence or absence of weeds.

Photos by Tanya Chapple The Plants Program planted more than 500 individual plants at the newest off-channel pond along Horse Creek on the Klamath National Forest. All of the plants came from the project location. Two years ago we collected seeds and cuttings that were grown out at Rolling River Farm in Orleans. We also salvaged plants from the site just prior to heavy equipment work, which were stored on site and re-planted as the project was completed.

We headed far upriver to work with Pacific Coast Seeds, a company out of the East Bay area specializing in the collection of wild native plant seeds, to collect seeds for the Klamath River Renewal Corporation. The seeds we collected in 2018 will be grown out in fields to generate more seeds. Hundreds of thousands of pounds of seed are needed to re-vegetate the drained reservoirs. This large scale project has paved the way for more seed collection in our future.

“Years ago when we realized the invasive weed oblong spurge was taking over the river bar, we were completely overwhelmed with the project to pull out these plants. I am so grateful for the help of MKWC and SRRC invasive weed crew and volunteers, for putting in the long hours to eradicate the spurge. Each year there is so much improvement, we know this method of pulling works .� - Eileen Kurtzman, landowner

Watershed Education Program The Watershed Education Program has offered experiential learning opportunities in the community for over 15 years. In 2018, the program involved 150 youth from 7 river communities in hands-on watershed restoration, watershed monitoring, and in-class science curriculum, in collaboration with the Karuk Tribe and the Salmon River Restoration Council. We continued programs, including: 1 KlamathSiskiyou Outdoor School (KSOS), 3 youth restoration raft trips, Klamath Youth Stewardship Internship for 5 high school students, 14 youth salmon surveys, 17 watershed restoration and monitoring field trips, and support for 4 school gardens.

Students improve fish habitat by placing brush bundles in thermal refugia areas.

Over the past year, the Watershed Education Program has increased standards-based Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) curriculum, provided support for the brand new Orleans Elementary School garden, and for the first time, implemented a fourweek youth summer club based out of Happy Camp, CA.

“This is the most fun school day I have ever had.”

– Orleans Elementary School Student on his very first salmon survey “I just wanted to let you know that I am just finishing up my first year here at HSU! I am currently pursuing a bachelors degree in forestry with a minor in GIS. I often think back to the work experience I acquired with you all at MKWC as it was super fun and beneficial to my knowledge of the field in which I am studying.”

– Zaine Huhtala, 2016 Youth Intern Students posing proudly after completing a 3-mile salmon survey.

Photos by Carol Earnest

Panamnik Building Program 2018 was the year it stopped raining inside the Panamnik Building! We finally accomplished our new roof and porch project. For 13 years, we lived with multiple roof leaks. Gallons of black tar did little to fix our old roof.

Construction work on the new Panamnik Building roof.

Completing this project not only stopped the annoying leaks, it gave our aging building a facelift. Keeping the water out will prevent further rotting of the building’s structure and will allow us to move forward with other repairs and improvements.

Many community members have told us how much they like the improvements we have made to the Panamnik Building. We can often hear raucous laughter through the wall we share with the post office next door.

Workers there like to joke about our roof. They claim it was a “Sunday roof”, holey.

The reactions from the community to these improvements have been even better than we anticipated and it has inspired us to continue fixing up our building.

Creation of river rock pillars on the building façade by Nathan.

We could not have completed this project without the help of the excellent contractor we hired for the project, KJ Construction. Keir and his carpenters, Nathan and Michael, were great to work with. They were unsure of us and what it would be like to work here. Keir said, “I thought I would just come and do this job and get out.” Over the course of the project, they were able to see the day-to-day activities and how the building functions for the community. After working together and getting to know us, Keir and his crew are excited about what is happening with the Panamnik Building and would like to come back and help us with the final phase of improvements. Building a personal relationship with a local builder was important and will help us in the future.

The MKWC staff endured the building process well and it was good practice for remodeling work in the future. Now that we are out of the rain we can make more progress to improve the efficiency and comfort of the Panamnik Building.

“The old roof was leaky and it looked horrible”.

–Mike Nolan, Postman Photos by Michael Stearns

MKWC Financials MKWC has steadily grown since becoming a 501(c)3 non-profit in 2004. It’s not just our revenue that grows year after year, it’s also the amount of people we employ. In 2018, MKWC employed 9 full-time employees, 23 part-time employees, 27 seasonal employees, 5 youth stewardship interns, and 5 temporary employees. In 2018, expenses totaled $2,232,960.48.

2018 Expenses

“I like working at MKWC because I get to work in my hometown and I get to see a lot of familiar faces.”

- Alyssa Allgier, MKWC Office Assistant

Major Sources of Support Bella Vista Foundation

New Belgium Brewing Company

CA Department of Forestry & Fire

Pacific Coast Seed

California Coastal Conservancy

Pacific Power Foundation

California Department of Fish and Wildlife

Pacificorp

California Department of Food and Agriculture

Salmon River Restoration Council

California Fire Safe Council

The Nature Conservancy Fire Learning Network

County of Humboldt

Tides Foundation

First 5 Humboldt

Trees Foundation

Humboldt Area Foundation

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Karuk Tribe

UC Cooperative Extension

National Fire Protection Association

University of California Davis

National Fish & Wildlife Foundation

USDA Forest Service - Klamath National Forest

National Forest Foundation

USDA Forest Service - Six Rivers National Forest

MKWC envisions the diverse communities of the Klamath Basin working together to restore our watershed resources to their historic abundance and function so that our children and their children will have the opportunity to live here with sustainable livelihoods.

Photo by Jimmy Peterson

Donors Noah Allen Susan and Scott Allen Scott Arrants William Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn Patrice Ballinger (in honor of C Romeo) Barsanti Dental Group Lawrence Lestelle and Biostream Environmental Tom & Cindy Browning Bill and Sharon Burnett Crescent Calimpong Suzanne Cardiff Tom and Jennifer Carlson/Sowerwine Elizabeth Carlyle Linda Carson Marshall and Leanna Carson/Hansen Patt and Mike Celayeta and Happy Camp Clinic Pharmacy Greg and Carol Conners Jonnel Covault Clayton Creager Michael Cusack Mrs. Richard Dakin (in memory of Andrew Noble) Aaron David and Michelle Krall Dean and Karen Davis Bill and Gail Eastwood Elissa Englert Fidelity Charitable (in honor of Andrew Noble) Eileen Fisher Inc. Ebba Fournier Nancy Gilbault (in memory of Andrew Noble) Don and Melinda Groom Jon Grunbaum Les and Barbara Harling Avery Hellman (Ismay) Hellman Family Foundation Linda Henderson and Lora Davis Jewish Community Federation Aryay Kalaki and Marcia Brenta

Samuel and Dawn Kilby Kikue Kiyasu Paul and Alysia Krapfel Latimer-Lake Family Bernard Lowry Ngoc-Phuong Luu Glenn Lyons and Nancy Gerdt Ross Mackinney Susan Maiyo Jonathan and Teri McClelland Gail McDowell Melissa Millerhenson Eva Bess Mindlin Don and Carol Monkerud Dixie Morgan Naturegraph Publishers Dean and Kathy Naujoks Rachel Neumann James Nicholson Laura and James Nicholson Noble Family Felice Pace (in honor of Red Tom) Chris Paulsrud John Pavan Karen Pearson Penney Family Fund Andrew and Vicki Philips Pamela Posey and Allen Harthorn Mary & Dave Raigosa Jonah Raskin Perryn Reis Lillian and Werner Rentz Pamela Rentz Leslie Riewerts Susan Roegiers Paul and Kay Schulz Nathaniel and Lisa Sebree

Mary Hellen Seeger Galena and Lincoln Seeger-Else Carol Sharp Carl and Yvonne Skinner Jerrell Stewart Clifford Sticht Tom and Christine Stoa Robert and Hillary Stoltz Geri Stout and Greg Cicatelli Sam Stroich and Kari Norgaard Dennis Sullivan Malcolm and Sue Terence Chris Magarian and Hans Vogt Kale Williams Carl Wilmsen and Patricia Fujiwara

THANK YOU!

And thank you to all those who donated via Facebook fundraising campaigns.

We cannot do it without you!

Photo by Carol Earnest

Orleans Office | 38150 Highway 96 | PO Box 409 | Orleans, CA 95556 | (530) 627-3202 Happy Camp Office | 35 Davis Road | PO Box 50 | Happy Camp, CA 96039 | (530) 572-1677 mail@mkwc.org | www.mkwc.org

FOLLOW US