PORTLAND, Ore. - August 27, 2009 — Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) today announced the selection of three community-based groups for participation in the Willamette Model Watershed Program, funded by the Meyer Memorial Trust (MMT) as part of the trust's Willamette River Initiative.

The recipients— Long Tom Watershed Council, Middle Fork Willamette Watershed Council, and a partnership of the North and South Santiam and Calapooia Watershed Councils— will each receive financial and logistical support to implement integrated, multi-year strategies to restore habitat, water quality, and fish and wildlife populations in streams located in Oregon's Willamette River Basin. BEF also provides program oversight, technical assistance, and independent scientific review for each group, supporting a collaborative, scientific approach to assess the effectiveness of restoration actions, demonstrate accountability to local communities, and enable restoration actions to be adapted and improved based on lessons learned.

"BEF and Meyer Memorial Trust are convinced that a long-term and adaptive approach is necessary to restore productive stream habitat and recover healthy populations of fish and wildlife," said Todd Reeve, BEF's Vice President of Watershed Programs. "This pledge of long-term support demonstrates our shared, firm commitment to avoid piecemeal restoration strategies and develop a new, more comprehensive approach to watershed restoration."

The Willamette Model Watershed Program is the latest in a series of BEF Model Watershed programs that commit long-term funding and apply a comprehensive, science-based approach to restore the region's rivers and streams. BEF is currently using this restoration model in Benewah Creek and the Kootenai River in Idaho, the Crooked River and Upper Deschutes River in Oregon, the Entiat River in Washington, and the Coos watershed located on the Oregon coast.

According to Kendra Smith, BEF's Willamette Model Watershed Program Director, BEF has worked this summer with the councils to conduct a retrospective review of their existing projects. The councils will also begin landowner outreach in subwatersheds to identify project opportunities such as revegetation and culvert replacements. A selection process to identify a fourth Willamette Model Watershed project is currently underway with letters of interest due in September.

Local Community Engagement Key Grant Criteria
For the Willamette Model Watershed selection process, BEF prioritizes watershed councils with strong records of engaging local communities and landowners in river restoration activities. Selected tributaries have been identified as ecological priorities within the Willamette basin, and each tributary demonstrates significant potential for improvement to water quality, stream habitat, and fish and wildife populations. The Councils, whose work is guided by diverse volunteer boards and technical teams, have been involving their local communities in watershed planning and restoration activities for over ten years.

The Long Tom River is unique in the Willamette program, as snowpack does not feed its streams. Situated on the west side of the Willamette, the Long Tom River flows down the Coast Range Mountains through small farms, ranches, rural and urban areas to Fern Ridge Reservoir, then north through larger farms to join the Willamette River at the town of Monroe. Eugene and Junction City are also in the watershed. Efforts will focus on Coyote Creek, Bear Creek, and Ferguson Creek, encompassing 157 sq miles. For more information go to the Long Tom Watershed Council website, http://www.longtom.org.

The Middle Fork Willamette Watershed includes the wild and scenic North Fork, Waldo Lake and the towns of Lowell, Oakridge, Dexter, Fall Creek, and south Springfield. Restoration efforts will focus on 117 square miles along Lost Creek and Little Fall Creek which are located below the dams and offer opportunities for native fish production. For more information, go to Middle Fork Willamette Watershed Council website, http://www.mfwwc.org.

The North and South Santiam and Calapooia Watershed Councils have worked together to coordinate and advance watershed restoration for more than two years. Starting in steep forested uplands and moving down to the flat alluvial valley floor, each watershed has a mixture of land uses including industrial forestry, recreation and agriculture. The communities in the Calapooia include Brownsville, Shedd, Halsey and Albany. South Santiam includes the towns of Sweet Home, Lebanon, Waterloo, and Scio. And the North Santiam covers Stayton, Detroit, Lyons, and Mill City.

For more information, go to http://www.sswc.org/, http://www.calapooia.org/ and http://www.nsantiamwatershed.org.

About the Willamette Model Watershed Program
Through its Willamette River Initiative, the Meyer Memorial Trust (MMT) is supporting a comprehensive, long-term watershed restoration program in Oregon's Willamette River Basin, funding river and stream restoration and enhancement efforts on both the main channel of the Wilamette and its tributaries to effect positive change in the whole watershed. Learn more about the Willamette River Initiative at www.mmt.org/initiatives/river/.

Through the partnership, MMT and BEF have committed to working with local watershed groups in up to four longterm, comprehensive river restoration programs in Willamette River tributaries. Over the long-term, BEF's partnership with MMT and participating local groups will lead to healthier communities, cleaner water, and improved fish and wildlife habitat. BEF expects to rigorously track the results of this initiative over time and provide detailed accounts of the progress, lessons learned, and the results of improved river and stream conditions.

About the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF)
Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) is an entrepreneurial nonprofit that is creating a more sustainable future by investing now in clean energy and fresh water. When customers purchase BEF's independently certified carbon offsets and renewable energy certificates, they support the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the development of new renewable energy facilities. Additionally, their purchase supports long-term watershed restoration and renewable energy education for students and communities nationwide because BEF reinvests its net revenue to fund its Model Watershed and Solar 4R Schools programs. Since its inception in Portland, Ore. in 1998, BEF has been a pioneer in helping people and companies become better stewards of the environment. For more information, see www.b-e-f.org.

About the Meyer Memorial Trust (MMT)
Meyer Memorial Trust was created by the late Fred G. Meyer, who built the chain of retail stores bearing his name throughout the Pacific Northwest. When Mr. Meyer died in 1978 at the age of 92, his will established the Trust, which began operating in 1982. Meyer Memorial Trust is a private, independent foundation. The Meyer Trust is not connected in any way with Fred Meyer Inc., the retail enterprise.
The Meyer Memorial Trust makes grants to qualified tax-exempt applicants in Oregon and Clark County, Washington. The Trust operates three programs: Strategic Initiatives, Grants, and Program Related Investments. Additional information about the trust is available at: www.mmt.org.