H.E.L.P.

PILOT PROJECT LINKS LOCAL BUSINESSES WITH PRIVATE LANDOWNERS
TO “HELP” IMPROVE WATER QUALITY AND HABITAT

Contact Name: Rick Gruen, District Manager - Email Address: clackamas.swcd@oacd.org
Jeffrey Kee, Conservation Specialist - Email Address: jeffrey.kee@or.nacdnet.net
Contact Company: Clackamas County Soil and Water Conservation District
Contact Phone: 503.656.3499

Clackamas County Soil and Water Conservation District has teamed with two local businesses to assist and reward landowners who are implementing conservation practices on their property. Under this newly created pilot program called HELP (Habitat Enhancement through Local Partnerships), Wilco Farm Stores and The Home Depot in Oregon City will provide product discounts to local landowners that are implementing soil and water related projects developed with an approved conservation plan.

The Clackamas County Soil and Water Conservation District has been assisting local landowners and managers implement best management practices on their lands since 1958. Soil and Water Conservation Districts are non-regulatory and self-governed Special Districts, much like a fire protection district. The District plays a lead role in the locally led conservation process by working with landowners to meet their conservation objectives through education, outreach, technical assistance and implementation.

Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District currently has a program where willing landowners can engage the district in developing a conservation plan on their land. These plans are geared to identify local resource concerns and provide conservation practice recommendations that improve and enhance water quality. Such concerns include reducing erosion and sedimentation and controlling mud and manure from entering water systems.

Assistance provided by the District can include the design of a covered manure shed, a pasture sacrifice area to confine livestock during the winter and barn gutters to direct rainwater away from heavily used areas. The District has also engaged in improving aquatic resources through riparian fencing and plantings in addition to fish passage improvements and floodplain restoration.

The Soil and Water Conservation District often partners with local landowners to help capture state and federal grant funds or cost sharing for implementation of soil and water improvement practices. However, with the amount of requests increasing for conservation planning assistance along with the reduction in government resources, the HELP program creates industry partnerships with local landowners that will offer opportunities for further implementation of beneficial conservation practices.

This program will continue to support economic growth in the area. A recent study, conducted by the University of Oregon for the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB), showed that for every dollar invested on restoration, $1.65 to $2.50 is generated in additional economic benefits in the form of locally purchased goods and services.

Assisting landowners with both urban and rural natural resource conservation efforts in Clackamas County can be challenging due to the diversity of the county. The County is comprised of a vast system of rivers and watersheds, each unique in character, resource needs and land use. These watersheds support agricultural production, timber, livestock, recreation, fishing, wildlife and tourism as well as our source of drinking water. Adding to this is the fact that Clackamas ranks number 1 in the state in the number of farms with over 3700 and second in the state in gross farm sales at $349 million while also ranking third in the state in population with approximately 340,000 residents.

Participating partners and locations include The Home Depot in Oregon City (2002 Washington Street Oregon City, Oregon 97045), Wilco Farm Stores (896 S. Ivy Canby, Oregon 97013 and 19226 South Molalla Avenue Oregon City, Oregon 97045) and Coastal Farm and Home Supply (1900 McLoughlin Blvd in Oregon City, Oregon 97045)

For more information on the HELP Program or any of the programs available through the Clackamas County Soil and Water Conservation District can be found by calling the District at 503.656.3499 or accessing their web site at www.cc-swcd.org.