Watersheds

Partnership restores watersheds

Ranchers, agencies join forces

By DD BIXBY
H&N Staff Writer

May 1, 2008

Landowner Hilda Frances is working with the Klamath Watershed Partnership to restore the watershed along the banks of the Sprague River .

   CHILOQUIN — Four hundred acres on both sides of the Sprague River east of Chiloquin have been in Hilda Francis’ family since 1918. 

   She’s lived on the sage and pine-dotted countryside since 1977, but has worked the land with her husband since 1965. 

   The view from her back porch has changed a bit, and though she accepts coming change, it’s still change. 

   “I hate the fences,” she said of the restoration project in progress in her pastures. “It’s just different.” 

   Better done now 

   After listening to a friend, Francis decided restoration projects were better done now than later, when such measures may be mandatory and grant funding is no longer available. 

   And so she met with Danette Watson, restoration manager with Klamath Watershed Partnership. 

   Watson helps Klamath Basin landowners develop rest oration projects and matches the projects with grant dollars from various agencies. 

   The Sprague River has been identified by state and national agencies as a high priority area for restoration. 

   The restoration package on Francis’ property includes three miles of stream bank fencing on both sides of the Sprague River and off-stream watering troughs for cattle. Two 150-foot wells were drilled to fill three float-valve troughs on both sides of the river and electrical circuitry for pumping to the well sites was installed. 

   As the next and last step at Francis’ ranchland, vegetation will be planted among the sage between the riverbank and the newly built fence. The total area of the restoration project is between 50 and 60 acres of the 400-acre ranch. 

   Willows and native trees would help to stabilize the bank, cool both the water on one side of the fence and cows on the other side. This type of vegetation holds more water in the soil, which brings up the water table. 

   Watson said the upcoming vegetation planting would make the riverbank pretty and hopefully cover the fences Francis dislikes so much.

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