Illegal dumping is one of the constant problems in remote areas near human populations. Dave and Andrew have explored all the public roads in the McGowan Creek sub-basin in an effort to catalog such dumpsites. Sites were mapped on a Bureau of Land Management base map and documented using a digital camera and recording GPS coordinates. A corresponding Excel spreadsheet has been created that includes GPS coordinates, site number (matches with maps), cleanup priority, nature of the trash/litter present, and the amount of equipment needed to remove the trash. This information will be used to coordinate a cleanup day in the McGowan sub-basin. The cleanup, called “Down by the Riverside", is scheduled for Saturday May 17, 2003 and is being co-sponsored by the Mohawk Watershed Partnership and Stop Oregon Litter and Vandalism (SOLV). Volunteers from the community are strongly encouraged to participate.

View Maps small dumping sties (pdf) large dumping sites (pdf)

The McGowan Creek sub-basin is used by for a variety of recreation activities, including hunting, target shooting, off-road vehicle (ORV) riding, hiking etc. Based on our investigations, target shooting and ORV riding are the two most common recreation uses in the sub-basin and these activities also have the greatest impacts on the landscape. Currently, the BLM has no established ORV riding trails in this sub-basin, yet we found and mapped a number of areas where “rogue” trails have been established. These trails contribute to erosion problems and topsoil loss, particularly in areas where they traverse steep slopes. It is apparent that efforts have been made to close off such trails quickly by blocking the trailheads with large logs, boulders, or dirt mounds. The BLM has designated approximately 6000 acres of riding areas with about 18 miles of trails in an area of the Shotgun Creek sub-basin.

Dave and Andrew located dozens of areas where at least minimal evidence of shooting activities (spent shells and targets) were present. Only areas that exhibited frequent shooting were mapped. Such sites were generally characterized by lots of litter (spent shells, empty ammunition boxes, targets) and illegal dumping. Many of these sites will be included in the May 17 cleanup effort. Additionally, there is a great deal of shooting-related vandalism with many signs, both public and private, that have been riddled with bullet holes. Abandoned quarries are the most popular target shooting sites. The BLM has designated several areas for target shooting and posted a sheet of guidelines at their information kiosk at the base of McGowan Creek Road.

In addition to mapping and assessing various human activities in the sub-basin, Andrew and Dave have contacted many local clubs and businesses whose members/customers use the watershed as a recreation area. The MWP has future plans to build relationships with such groups in an effort to foster better cooperation in protecting the watershed. Interviews with officers of these groups found that most already provide educational materials to their members/customers that promote using only designated areas and following all user guidelines. The real challenge is to educate users who are not affiliated with organized groups.

View Maps Shooting sites (pdf) Off road vehicle trails (pdf)

Survey

During the winter term, Steve, our project coordinator, drafted a survey to be sent out to the approximately 1600 residents of the Mohawk valley. Steve worked closely with the Mohawk Watershed Partnership (MWP) to determine the focus of the survey. The survey was created to help the Partnership better understand the level of knowledge among residents about the Partnership and watershed issues. Also, the survey sought to evaluate the level of involvement among residents in watershed restoration.
The survey was sent out as a 4-page insert in the March 2003 issue of the MWP newsletter. Completed surveys were returned to the Partnership by mail and in collection boxes placed at the Tomahawk Restaurant in Marcola) and the Mohawk General Store. The number of surveys returned fell short of our expectations, but we were able to analyze the responses and arrive at some important general conclusions about how Mohawk Valley residents view watershed resources. Andrew created the database and did all the data entry for the survey, while Dave and Erin worked on the analysis. Erin also investigated some ways to improve the survey implementation in order to produce a greater response in the future. Among the ideas considered were, shortening the survey (currently 49 questions), doing a targeted direct mailing to residents of focus sub-basins and creating a method of follow-up designed to remind residents to complete and return the survey.
Based on responses to questions about relative involvement in Partnership activities, meeting attendance, participation in events, and knowledge about the Partnership, we feel the group of respondents is somewhat representative of the valley population. We found that locals overwhelmingly believe improving water quality and fish habitat in the Mohawk Valley are important issues. We also found that most respondents believe the MWP is having a positive impact on the valley and that 70% believe that impact is “visible” on the landscape. Restoration projects and the newsletter were the activities most often rated as most useful, while meetings and “community building” were most often named as least useful. Seventy-nine percent of the respondents indicated they had a “high” or “very high” level of concern about water quality in the valley, while slightly less (67%) said they had a strong commitment to improving water quality. Level of concern had a fairly strong correlation with how close to a stream the respondent lives. Sixty-eight percent of the respondents have streams passing through or bordering their property. Overall, most respondents correctly identified what the Partnership can or can’t do, but about 20% believe that the Partnership can draft water quality regulations or that they can enforce, local, state and federal laws relating to the protection of endangered species.
We also looked at demographic information provided by the survey and found that there was an even gender split among respondents, 74% were over 50 years of age, while none were under 18. Additionally, 88% of the respondents had lived in the valley for at least four years and 41% claimed residency exceeding 20 years. There were no respondents who had moved to valley within the last year.
A report on these and other findings was made at the May business meeting of the MWP board. Dave produced a full report that includes charts and graphs. This analysis will be a chapter in our final written report to the Partnership. Producing and implementing this survey was an important learning process for our team and the MWP. It helped clarify how the community views the Partnership, what types of activities the community is most likely to participate in and also some opportunities for further education of local residents.