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.”

“Yellowhawk creek fish passage a small, unused irrigation dam on yellowhawk creek was found to be a barrier for steelhead, chinook, and bull trout. The dam's owner would not allow its removal, so to correct the passage problem, two rock weirs were constructed below the dam. The weirs back water the dam, effectively stair-stepping the water surface higher against the dam. The result converts a 17 inch drop over the dam into three drops of less than six inches. These smaller drops are within fish passage criteria. Bridge to bridge levee removal following construction of the project in 2013, tri-state steelheaders planted willows and cottonwood cuttings extensively within the project reach to establish riparian vegetation and prevent bank erosion. Weeds were controlled with manual removal, and plants previously installed were tended. The 2013 work removed a half mile of levee on the walla walla river downstream of mcdonald rd. The levee prevented meander formation and isolated the river from the floodplain. Additional habitat enhancements included large wood structures that will provide pools and cover, and allow riparian vegetation to become established. The project was funded by washington's salmon recovery funding board, the confederated tribes of the umatilla indian reservation, and tri-state steelheaders. 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 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, 10 new urban riparian buffers were completed, bringing the program total to 78 projects. Volunteers and participating homeowners contributed 830 hours this year to enhance water quality and riparian habitat on walla walla's urban streams. George creek wildlife area habitat restoration weed control was conducted on 20 acres, following construction activities in 2013. Soils disturbed during construction allow weeds to proliferate. In addition, the logs and large wood structures placed as part of the project reduce the ability of vehicles to access all areas for weed spraying. A contractor working on horseback was able to access the entire area for weed spraying throughout the growing season. The project's purpose is to improve instream and riparian conditions at the george creek wildlife area in asotin county. Past agricultural uses and flash flow events had left little 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 this fish passage project, constructed in 2013, included a ford in the concrete-lined channel for maintenance vehicle access. In 2014, the ford was modified to improve its utility. This passage project is the third of several that will improve fish passage 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 building on previous phases of mill creek passage projects, the design phase of this”

“High school students evaluate watershed health (cont) each year the students dedicate approximately 1,000 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) we also partnered with the umatilla national forest service to hold a kids fishing day at jubilee lake in july. In all, 120 kids registered for the events. 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.”