Umatilla County

Umatilla Basin Water
Shed Council

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Council Partners

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. Forest Service

U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Natural Resources Conservation Service

Columbia / Blue Mt. RC&D

USDA–Agricultural Research Service

OSU—Columbia Basin Ag. Res. Ctr.

OSU Extension Service

Oregon Dept. of Agriculture

Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality

Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife

Oregon Dept. of Forestry

Oregon Dept. of State Lands

Oregon Water Resources Dept.

Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board

City of Pendleton

Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation

Irrigation Districts

Morrow Soil & Water Conservation Dist.

SOLV

Stewards of the Umatilla Rv Environment

Umatilla County

Umatilla County Critical Groundwater Solutions Taskforce

Umatilla Co. SWCD

Umatilla-Morrow ESD

Mission Statement

The mission of the Umatilla Basin Watershed Council is: TPicture of Umatilla River looking East on the 8th Bridge Pendleton, ORo foster cooperation among watershed users and provide education to people interested in watershed health, and To develop, support, implement, and monitor activities that improve and maintain water quality and water quantity for all uses within the Umatilla Basin.

The Umatilla Basin

Map of the Umatilla Basin Watershed

The Umatilla Basin Watershed is the area drained by the Umatilla River and its tributaries from ridge-top to ridge-top. Over 50,000 people live within the 2500 square miles of the basin.
Land uses include:

  • rangeland (40%)
  • dryland crops like wheat, barley, canola, and peas (30%)
  • irrigated crops such as alfalfa, potatoes, corn (11%)
  • forested land (13%) Umatilla River
  • Part of technical team of watershed partners in long-term, basin-wide program to monitor water quality (sediment, temperature, and nitrate)
  • Participates in local educational and awareness-raising basin events (Outdoor School, Salmon Walk, Watershed Field Days, Umatilla-Morrow Natural Resource Systems Consortium) and in cleanups for the Umatilla River and its riparian zones.
  • Provides engineering plans and technical assistance to landowners for riparian enhancement and streambank stabilization projects.
  • Member of Core Partnership, the lead entity tasked with development of the Umatilla/Willow Subbasin Plan. This plan guides BPA funding of local projects that protect, mitigate and enhance fish and wildlife adversely impacted by the Columbia River hydropower system.
  • One of leaders in development and publication of the clean water plan for the Umatilla Basin describing the Total Maximum Daily Load for the Umatilla River and its tributaries.

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