Lower Rogue Watershed Council
The Lower Rogue Watershed Council was designated within a Curry County Coordinating Watershed Authority by the Curry County Board of Commissioners in July 1994. Our members have been and continue to be committed to the health and future of the Lower Rogue River watershed.
We promote the health and function of the Lower Rogue Watershed by bringing differing ideas and parties together to discuss the issues in light of available best science to achieve the best solution for the Watershed.
Our Purpose
To protect, enhance, and restore long-term natural resources and economic stability of the Lower Rogue Watershed and the near shore environment.
Our Mission
To represent the broad and diverse geographic areas and community interests in the watershed and work collaboratively with these interests and landowners to develop and carry out voluntary watershed protection, restoration, enhancement, and community engagement activities.
Our Guiding Principles
- We believe that a healthy environment and a healthy community are inextricably linked.
- We believe that watershed stewardship should be based on a combination of sound science, education, and community involvement.
- We believe that a strong stewardship ethic enables us to leave healthy natural resources for future generations.
- We believe in working from ridge to ridge to achieve dynamic, naturally functioning ecosystems.
- We value our relationships with the landowners who have voluntarily joined in whole watershed habitat enhancement.
Welcome to Our Table
Any resident of the Lower Rogue watershed interested in applying to be a Council member has th eopportunity to join! Meetings are the third Tuesday of every other month, at 5:30 PM, at our office at 29286 Ellensburg Ave. Our meetings are open to the public and visitors are encouraged. Please check the calendar for time, place, and topic.
The Council is part of the Curry Watersheds Partnership; Supporting our communities to care for our lands and waters, now and into the future.
Current Board Representation includes: Commercial Fishing, Recreation, Citizens, Forest Collaborative, and Local Business. We would love to expand to include Education, Agriculture, other Industries. Please reach out if you are interested to learn more.
Kelly Timchak (541-373-0057) kelly@currywatersheds.org
Recent Projects in the Lower Rogue River
- Estuary Restoration – Restore vital floodplain connection and process, and increase access to important estuary habitats that are rare in the lower Rogue. *These vital rearing areas are listed as a top limiting factor for fish production in the Rogue by state and federal agencies.
- Upland Restoration – Oak woodland and meadow enhancement to restore unique habitats. *These areas are crucial because they are biodiversity hotspots, supporting thousands of insect, bird, and mammal species with food and shelter, while also providing vital ecosystem services, making them keystone resources for healthy landscapes and cultural heritage.
- Instream Restoration – Fish passage improvements (culverts, crossings, etc), large wood placements and channel reconfiguration for added complexity. *This important practice allows fish and aquatic species to move freely to find food, reach spawning grounds, and complete their life cycles.
- Riparian Restoration – Removal of invasive weeds and establishment of native species to vital streamside habitats. *These lands are essential for filtering pollutants, stabilizing banks to prevent erosion, controlling floods, and providing vital habitats for diverse wildlife.
- Monitoring – Water quality monitoring (temperature and E. coli) and juvenile salmonid migration. *Monitoring our watesheds is critical because it safeguards diverse aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity, supports economic activities like agriculture and industry, and helps manage water resources sustainably by detecting pollution and guiding restoration efforts for future generations.