The Siuslaw National Forest is distributing $1.61 million to help 43 environmental projects on private and public lands in the six counties in its territory.
Groups submitted 60 proposals requesting a total of $3.24 million. An advisory committee made the selections.
The largest allocation of $336,500 went to a restoration project in the Sam’s Creek watershed in Lane County, which involves replacing a fish-blocking culvert with one that will open up five miles of stream habitat to migrating fish. The watershed is east of Carl E. Washburne State Park and northwest of Mapleton.
Other major projects included $100,000 for the MidCoast Watershed Council’s Cougar Creek restoration project and $89,973 to the Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District for noxious weed control.
Other Lincoln County projects funded were: $24,490 to Trail Keepers of Oregon for trail maintenance; $24,155 to Northwest Youth Corps for trail maintenance; $57,400 to the Salmon/Drift Creek Watershed Council for help restorating the Salmon River fish hatchery; $53,500 to Corvallis-to-the-Sea Partnership for brush clearing and week control; $40,000 to the Siuslaw National Forest for dumpsite cleanup and road maintenance; $65,000 to Concerned Citizens for Clean Air/ODOT for U.S. Highway 101 native plant restoration; $83,885 to Lincoln County Public Works for noxious weed control; and, $113,000 to Siuslaw National Forest for coastal meadow habitat restoration.
The Lincoln County grants totaled $697,000 – including a 7 percent Forest Service administration fee – with $128,550 remaining to be allocated.
Projects in Benton County totaled $69,495; $32,062 in Coos County; $165,807 in Douglas County, $496,887 in Lane County, $235,432 in Tillamook County and $35,310 in Yamhill County.
