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| Wahl Ranches receive award for stream, wetland and watershed work | ||
| 10/30/2006 | ||
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19-06
News media contact: Monte Turner, 503-986-0195Spirit of the Oregon Plan Awards presented Oct. 27 in Seaside: Wahl Ranches, Langlois Wahl Ranches was among 11 recipients from throughout Oregon honored for their work to protect and improve streams, lakes and watersheds at a luncheon Friday in Seaside. The Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board presented the Spirit of the Oregon Plan Awards during the state agency’s biennial conference. “We are pleased to recognize the exemplary work and leadership of these dedicated people,” said Tom Byler, OWEB executive director. Terry Wahl, Langlois, accepted the award on behalf of the family. During the past 10 years, the Wahl family has initiated a number of restoration projects on more than 2,000 acres of forest and agricultural land in Curry County. In each project they have donated their labor, time, ingenuity and equipment, according to Mark Grenbemer, OWEB program representative who nominated the family for the award. Some of these projects include work in wetlands, placement of large wood, planting stream bank trees and fencing along streams. The Wahl family also built over 500 bird nest boxes and helped install two "fishways" to allow coho access to large reservoirs. They regularly speak to other ranchers about incorporating conservation into their everyday ranching and farming practices. In addition, they helped start the Cape Blanco Challenge, a diverse group seeking to preserve water quality, salmon habitat, and working farms and ranches on 200,000 acres on the Oregon Coast, Grenbemer said. OWEB projects support the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds that emphasizes private, voluntary actions to restore wild salmon populations. OWEB is a state agency led by a policy oversight board. The agency provides grants and services to citizen groups, organizations and agencies working to restore healthy watersheds in Oregon. Funding comes from the Oregon Lottery as a result of a citizen initiative in 1998, sales of salmon license plates, federal salmon funds and other sources.  ## OWEB ##
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