A healthy watershed in the Upper Klamath Basin could also help to create a healthy economy, thanks to a 400 thousand dollar grant from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board.
Shannon Peterson of the Klamath Basin Rangeland Trust says “The funds that are coming in are going to be focused on the Upper Klamath Watershed, so the area where all the water flows into Upper Klamath Lake.”
That 400 thousand dollars provides for an additional 400 thousand dollars from US Fish and Wildlife for restoration projects. Sue Mattenberger of US Fish and Wildlife commented on the variety of those projects: “We do fencing, we do river restoration, we’ve been working in the woodlands doing thinning.”
Dr. Karl Wenner believes that the latest grant marks the start of a long term commitment by the state, noting that the number of jobs is “Quite significant.” Wenner adds that the financial investment could be significant, too.
“An example would be the Deschutes, where 10 million dollars roughly, have been spent over the past four to six years doing restoration efforts there.”
Dr. Wenner says that most of the projects will take place on private land, and the public will benefit.
“It’s primarily to address the water quality, quantity, and fish and wildlife habitat issues here in the Klamath Basin.”
Shannon Peterson believes that’s good business.
“I hesitate to use the phrase ‘restoration economy’, because i think that phrase is overused – but that really is a growing sector of the basin here.”
Thirteen restoration projects have already been identified for the next year.
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