Tri State Steelheaders

“For the form 990 a copy of the tax return was provided to the board members.”

“Annually the board members review and sign the organization's conflict of interest policy statement. The board reviews each situation and takes appropriate action.”

“The board reviewed comparable salaries by other similar organizations in the state of washington. The board approves the salary and other compensation that is offered to its executive director.”

“Form 1023, forms 990 and other governing documents are currently available on the organizations's website and by request.”

“Tri state steelheaders is an educational organization working with children of all ages, and a broad cross section of environmental organizations to protect and enhance salmonid habitat. The organization is actively working with landowners, conservation groups, private businesses, native american tribes, school districts and government agencies. The organization supervises many adult and student volunteers who are engaged in habitat restoration work.”

“Volunteers for restoration projects to enhance water quality and riparian habitat on walla walla's urban streams: volunteers remove sod, invasive species and assist with planting native trees, shrubs, forbs, and grasses. Volunteers for stream monitoring: volunteers provide assistance with stream flow monitoring in the walla walla watershed for the washington state department of ecology during stream discharge measurements. Volunteers to evaluate watershead health: teacher/student teams from eight regional public and private schools monitored over twenty riparian restoration sites measuring water temperature, stream flow, dissolved oxygen, ph level, macro invertebrate presence, stream bank profiles and canopy coverage. Volunteers for kids fishing days: volunteers provide hot dogs and soda for kids, teach young fishermen how to cast, bait hooks and other elements of fishing. Volunteers for crab feed: volunteers ask community businesses for donated items to be raffled off or auctioned at the crab feed, sell dinner tickets, assist in serving meals to over 400 people and setup and cleanup the rented facility after the event.”

“Creating urban riparian buffers (curb) since 2007, tri-state steelheaders has partnered with walla walla county conservation district, kooskooskie commons, wa dept of ecology, and local streamside property owners to improve water quality and riparian habitat on walla walla's urban creeks. Curb funding provides plants and technical assistance for installing native plant buffers on private, business, and city properties. Volunteers remove sod and invasive species and assist with planting native trees, shrubs, forbs, and grasses while property owners assume responsibility for maintenance of their native plant buffers over a 10 year period. This year, 18 new urban riparian buffers were completed, bringing the program total to 68 projects. Volunteers and participating homeowners contributed over 750 hours this year to enhance water quality and riparian habitat on walla walla's urban streams. George creek wildlife area habitat restoration degraded instream and riparian conditions at the george creek wildlife area in asotin county were improved by this project. Past agricultural uses and flash flow events have left nearly no riparian vegetation and poor instream habitat on a 0.75 mile stretch of george creek. Meanders were re-created and large wood structures were added instream and on the floodplain for habitat value, to increase water table elevation, and improve riparian condition. Design and engineering were provided by project partner wdfw. Funding was provided by salmon recovery funding board and wdfw. Mill creek fish passage - reach type 6 work to improve passage for spring chinook, summer steelhead, and bull trout through the mill creek flood control project in walla walla began with a fish passage assessment in october 2009. Subsequently, conceptual designs were developed, a physical model study of engineered designs was conducted. This project is the third of several that will implement the fish passage designs in the flood control channel. Resting pools were added to the channel, and other modifications to the channel will create hydraulic conditions conducive to migrating fish. Funding was provided by the salmon recovery funding board, the confederated tribes of the umatilla indian reservation, and bonneville power administration. Mill creek fish passage - 9th ave extension design building on previous phases of mill creek passage projects, this design project will result in construction ready designs and specifications for a 1,400 foot long section of the flood control channel. Funding was provided by the salmon recovery funding board. This will be the fourth of several passage projects in mill creek, and is scheduled for 2015 construction. Stream monitoring local support was provided for the washington state department of ecology's stream flow monitoring in the walla walla watershed. Our staff visited five stations every other week to collect data, take measurements, and provide maintenance. Assistance was provided to ecology staff during stream discharge measurements. Stream monitoring provides important data that are used for watershed planning and fisheries management.”

“High school students evaluate watershed health (cont.) invertebrate presence, stream bank profiles, and canopy coverage at their assigned project site. Each year the students dedicate approximately 1000 hours towards data collection. Salmon in the classroom tri-state steelheaders continues to support the salmon in the classroom program to allow students the experience of rearing salmon and trout. We sponsored three tanks in area classrooms. Rainbow trout eggs arrived in january. Students watched them hatch into the alevin stage and then absorb their yolk sacs to become fry. In april, students released the fry into bennington lake. Fish eggs and food were provided by the tucannon fish hatchery.”

“Kids fishing days (cont.) umatilla national forest service to hold a kids fishing day at jubilee lake in july. Equipped with tackle, bait, rods and reels, young anglers had great success at both events. Free rods and reels were available to kids who did not have gear of their own. Participants tested their skills at the casting contest and also enjoyed hot dogs and soda. The events were made possible by many local volunteers and businesses as well as state and federal agencies.”

“Proj exp-mill creek rt6 b 64,937 0 0 proj exp-mill creek 9th 39,204 0 0 proj exp-curb 24,736 0 0 proj exp-rfeg habitat 7,500 0 0 rfeg coalition 892 3,940 0 proj exp-jumbo trout 4,565 0 0 communication 3,712 0 0 proj exp-whep monitoring 1,161 0 0 other 153 665 0 education program expense 472 0 0 repairs & maintenance 407 55 0 proj exp-kids fishing day 323 0 0 proj exp-knotweed 203 0 0 proj exp-stream gaging 148 0 0 taxes and licenses 59 10 0 proj exp-rfeg education 17 0 0 crab feed event-education 7 0 0”

“Accrual adjustments per audit 106,362”