Coos County - Information for Partners and Participants

Coos County has a total area of about 1 million acres and a population of 63,655. The county falls within the Coast Range ecoregion and is drained by the Coos and Coquille rivers. Interior flood plains typically flood in winter and standing water is common. The mean rainfall of 60 inches falls mostly in winter. Timber is produced on about 82% of the area with pasture, hay production and urban use covering the bulk of remaining acres. About 69% of the land is privately owned. Specialty crops such as cranberries are significant economically despite relatively smaller acreages.

NRCS Local Conservation Activities and Strategies

The highest priority resource concerns identified in Coos and Curry Counties include: water quality, water quantity, forest health and wildlife populations. NRCS is currently pursuing two strategies relating to water quality and quantity. The Agricultural Water Quality and Quantity strategy is currently focused on livestock and irrigation management in areas along the Coquille Watershed sub basin. The Cranberry Irrigation Automation Strategy is focused on improving management of water resources in cranberry operations.

Conservation Implementation Strategy

NRCS Programs Available

• Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP):
  • Improve growth and vigor of pasture to promote sustainable permanent cover of desired vegetation through Forage planting, brush and weed control, cross fencing, and grazing management.
  • Install alternative livestock watering facilities and heavy use area improvements to protect stream corridors and improve health of riparian areas.
  • Upgrade equipment and improve pump utilization, reduce runoff and the amount of water withdrawn for irrigation purposes.
  • Water savings through irrigation efficiency.
  • Improve nutrient management and nutrient cycling, crop health and productivity.
  • Improve water quality through management enhancements requiring less pesticides, insecticides and herbicides.
• Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP):
  • • Support for qualified stewardship activities and enhancements.
• Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative
• EQIP Organic Initiative

Additional Conservation Resources Available

Conservation agencies in the region are very cooperative and routinely work together with private landowners to accomplish resource enhancement projects. The following agencies provide assistance in planning, funding or implementing conservation and restoration projects:

• Coos SWCD
• Coos Watershed Association
• Coquille Watershed Association
• Farm Service Agency
• Oregon Department of Agriculture
• Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife
• Oregon Dept of Forestry
• Oregon DEQ
• OSU Extension
• Southcoast Watershed Council
• Ten Mile Lakes Partnership
   

Local Work Group Updates

The Local working group is a collaborative group of agencies and organizations working on conservation in the region. They assemble annually to share information and provide input and suggestions to the development of strategies and programs in the county. Please contact the district conservationist if you would like to participate or be included in information sharing.

For meeting information, please click here.

Success Story

A Conservation Investment for Sustainable, Marketable Timber Products "You have to be aware of conservation," says Dan Mast. "You wouldn’t have anything down the road if you weren’t." Mast manages 800 acres of family-owned forest land in southwestern Oregon. While the family also operates a grade A dairy and raise lambs, Dan believes that maintaining a diverse operation is the key to survival for small operations like his.  More... Key Words:  Forest stand improvement, conservation planning, small acreage, Southwest Oregon Basin

For Additional Assistance Contact

Coquille Service Center
382 North Central
Coquille, Oregon 97423-1296

NRCS District Conservationist:  Amy Wilson, (541) 396-2841
Coos County SWCD: (541) 396-6879