UPPER NEHALEM WATERSHED COUNCIL
2012-2014 STRATEGIC PLAN
APRIL 26th, 2012
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WHO WE ARE
The Upper Nehalem Watershed Council is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection,
preservation, enhancement and restoration of the Upper Nehalem Watershed and the
Nehalem Watershed as a whole. We address watershed management issues in the Upper
Nehalem Watershed and provide a framework for coordination and cooperation among key
interests, including:
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Land Owners (Rural, Urban – public, private)
Soil and Water Conservation Districts (Columbia, Clatsop, Tillamook, Washington)
Forestry (public, private, small woodlot)
Environmental Groups (Izaak Walton League, Pacific Rainforest, Freshwater Trust, Oregon Wild)
Land Trust (Lower Nehalem Community, North Coast, Western Rivers, The Nature Conservancy)
Agriculture (Green Grange)
Local Government (City, County, State, Federal)
Citizens-at-Large
Small Business Owners
Local School Districts (Vernonia, Jewell)
Youth Groups (Scouts, OYCC, Kiwanis, Science, 4-H)
Neighboring Watershed Councils (Lower Nehalem, Tualatin, Lower Columbia, Scappoose Bay, NC
Watershed Association, Necanicum)
THE WATERSHED
The Upper Nehalem Watershed Council boundary includes the Upper Nehalem, Middle
Nehalem and most of the Lower Nehalem class V watersheds. The Council boundary covers
an area of 541 square miles in four counties (Columbia, Clatsop, Tillamook and Washington).
OUR MISSION
To foster better stewardship and understanding of the Upper Nehalem Watershed and its
resources, to address issues in advance of resource degradation, and to ensure sustainable
watershed health, function and use.
OUR VISION
A balanced ecosystem that supports a healthy watershed, contributes to a strong economic
base, and encourages viable communities.
Upper Nehalem Watershed Council
Strategic Plan 2012-2014
Page 2
OUR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR 2012-2014
GOAL 1. IMPROVE THE WATER QUALITY AND AQUATIC HABITAT OF THE UPPER
NEHALEM WATERSHED.
Sub-goal 1.1: Protect, restore, and reconnect the riparian/wetland/floodplain ecosystem
along essential salmon habitat reaches throughout the Upper Nehalem watershed.
Project objectives:

Riparian restoration DEQ (current and future)--Enlist 5 new landowners, plant
5000 trees on 15 acres, and re-vegetate 1000 feet of eroding stream banks
in each year of the plan. (To be completed by May 2012, May 2013, and
May 2014)

Landowner outreach (current)--Enlist 20 landowners to partner with UNWC
on riparian planting. (By December 2012)

Walker (future)--Follow up previous in-stream large wood placement with
riparian planting along 5 miles of Walker Creek.

Limiting Factors Analysis (future)--Develop and carry out a riparian
restoration plan for Rock Creek based on the results of the LFA.

Tweedle/Nehalem (future)--Develop engineered design and implementation
plan for restoration of wetland edge.

Fishhawk Sub-basin/Lake (future)--Restore riparian and salmon habitat areas
above and below and around the lake.
Sub-goal 1.2: Improve aquatic habitat complexity through large wood placement,
riparian plantings, culvert replacement, and road re-alignment and decommissioning
along high priority reaches.
Project objectives:
 Lower Beneke (current)--Continue a multi-year project to restore salmon
habitat within the Fishhawk and Beneke Creek sub-basins (2.5 miles of the
Beneke and Gilmore Creeks) by planting 1000 trees and 500 tree protection
structures and by placing logs in-stream at identified locations. (by December
2012)
Upper Nehalem Watershed Council
Strategic Plan 2012-2014
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
Pebble Creek (current)--Continue multi-year restoration work along Pebble
and Coal Creeks that includes replacing culverts, installing erosion control at
new culverts, placing logs along Pebble and West Pebble Creeks, and
planting 5 miles of stream with native plant species. ( by December 2012,
planting through 2014)

Tweedle (current)--Plant, clear, and fence along ¾ mile of the Nehalem River
and 1200 feet of Tweedle. (by December 2012)

Lousignont (future)--Install riparian plantings and LWD placement in two
stretches of the Lousignont sub-basin identified as priorities in the Data
Synthesis and Mapping project. (by December 2012)

Oak Ranch (future)--Replace two culverts on Apiary Road in order to restore
access to 7 of the creek’s 9 miles of salmon spawning, rearing and refuge
habitat and improve 3 miles of salmon habitat including adjacent riparian
habitat.

Pebble Creek Phase II (future)--Continue to improve salmon access, habitat
and riparian condition. (2013).
Sub-goal 1.3: Encourage agencies responsible for survey and treatment of invasive
species to focus their efforts in the Nehalem watershed from the headwaters to
Nehalem Bay.
Project objectives:

Work with Columbia and Clatsop County Soil and Water Conservation Districts
to assess the current status of invasive species with-in the Nehalem watershed
(including Japanese knotweed, English Ivy, Reed Canary Grass, Scotch
Broom, Jewell Weed, Himalayan Blackberry, and Yellow Iris) and to identify
priorities for action; assist the CWSD’s to address the priorities by site survey,
recruiting landowners and other volunteers to help with the project. (On-going)
Sub-goal 1.4: Continue to partner with other Nehalem watershed stakeholders to
maximize the benefit to the watershed.
Project objectives:

Nehalem Conservation Action Plan (current)--As a member of the
Implementation Team for the recently completed assessment and action plan,
develop and implement projects in our watershed that sync with identified
priorities and the activities of other team members. (on-going)
Upper Nehalem Watershed Council
Strategic Plan 2012-2014
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GOAL 2: MONITOR AND EVALUATE WATERSHED CONDITIONS.
Sub-goal 2.1: Monitor stream temperature loading in the Nehalem by collecting
continuous Temperature data from strategically located sites basin-wide and share data
with agencies and others concerned.
Project objectives:

DEQ (current)--Install 20 temperature-monitoring devices in priority areas and
compare data with previous baseline data to establish trends. (by December
2012)

Fishhawk Sub-basin/Lake (current)--measure temperatures in-stream and in
lake (including deep holes) to compare with previous data.
Sub-goal 2.2: Monitor sediment loading in the Nehalem by collecting turbidity samples
from public access points basin-wide.
Project objectives:

DEQ (current)--Collect regular samples of turbidity from 30+ Upper
Nehalem sites. (by June 2012,13)
Sub-goal 2.3: Track aquatic health using stream, salmon presence, and water quantity
and quality surveys.
Project objectives:

Limiting Factors Analysis (current)--Make two community presentations on
the survey data collected in the Rock Creek sub-basin; develop priorities for
implementation projects, develop and implement projects. (by December
2012)

Rapid Bio Assessment II and III (current)--Measure the abundance of juvenile
salmonids along 226 miles of watershed to compare the distribution and
spatial shifts from previous assessment. (by September 2012)
Sub-goal 2.4: Continue to monitor effectiveness of completed projects according to
grantor requirements.
Upper Nehalem Watershed Council
Strategic Plan 2012-2014
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GOAL 3: PROMOTE PUBLIC EDUCATION AND PARTICIPATION IN IMPROVING THE
HEALTH AND PRODUCTIVITY OF THE UPPER NEHALEM WATERSHED, INCLUDING
ECOSYSTEM WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
Project objectives:

Vernonia Public Schools--Continue to support Vernonia Public Schools with
the natural resource curriculum, hands-on learning, the forestry education
program, the Adopt-A-Stream project, and the Vernonia Rural Education
Corps by establishing the Native Plant Nursery onsite, by developing handson projects, by securing resources, and by providing field support.

UNWC Website--Improve the UNWC’s web presence by including
information on current projects, commissioned reports such as the Limiting
Factors Analysis, upcoming special events, meeting agendas and minutes,
and links to other neighboring councils and relevant sites.

Stakeholder communication--Communicate UNWC activities and issues
regularly with stakeholders, particularly the four counties included in the
Nehalem watershed, other natural resource agencies, funders, and
landowners through public presentations, event notification, and media
coverage.

Volunteer projects--Conduct at least two large-scale (20+) volunteer
activities.

Community education—a) Working with other agency partners, conduct at
least three public workshops or presentations on watershed and riparian
issues each year (e.g., Salmon Festival booth), and b) host one project
tour each summer.
GOAL 4: BUILD AND SUSTAIN A STRATEGIC, ACCOUNTABLE, EFFECTIVE
ORGANIZATION.
Sub-goal 4.1: Strategic direction: Maintain a strategic plan for the organization that
identifies the direction the organization will take, and is used to develop annual work
plans.

Strategic Plan--Prepare a strategic plan for 2012-2014 that will be presented at the
Annual Meeting in May 2012.
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Strategic Plan 2012-2014
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
Steering Committee Annual Plan--Develop a Steering Committee annual work plan
that identifies the Steering Committee’s tasks and timelines for Steering Committee
business.

Staff Work Plan--Develop a staff annual work plan that identifies the staff’s tasks and
timelines for achieving the objectives of the Strategic Plan.
Sub-goal 4.2: Accountability: Regularly review and evaluate projects and practices for
consistency with the strategic plan and fiscal policies.

Organizational evaluation—Conduct an annual evaluation process that will compare
planned vs. actual organizational expenditures, evaluate the achievement of
Strategic Plan goals and objectives, and review our compliance with the by-laws,
fiscal policies, and other relevant documents.

Steering Committee project oversight—1) Learn the steps of project development
and implementation and follow them on one project, 2) encourage individual
members to become familiar with a specific UNWC project and occasionally report to
the Steering Committee on project status, and 3) review planned vs. actual
outcomes, timeline, and cost for each grant upon its completion.
Sub-goal 4.3: Leadership Development: Create an on-going program of recruitment and
training of Steering Committee members and volunteers.

Nomination Committee—Prior to each Annual Meeting, appoint a committee that a)
identifies any specific background or experience needed on the Steering Committee;
b) solicits potential new Steering Committee members and/or volunteers, and c)
develops the nomination slate for Steering Committee elections.
Sub-goal 4.4: Fund Development—Assure sufficient funding to carry out the UNWC
mission and goals.

Fund Development Committee—Appoint and train a Fund Development Committee
that a) will analyze long-term funding needs, b) will assist the Director to develop
new sources of funding, and c) will conduct at least one fundraising event in 2012
and one in 2013.
Upper Nehalem Watershed Council
Strategic Plan 2012-2014
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