Grow youth take place on BLM lands, but populations of coho and steelhead using federal lands upstream of the provolt recreation site will benefit

The U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management has awarded a $129,150 Cooperative Agreement to Applegate Partnership, Inc. under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (CFDA 15.234). The award will fund projects to improve habitat and water quality in the Applegate watershed in Oregon, benefiting migratory fish populations such as coho salmon and steelhead. The restoration work will be carried out by local youth, providing employment opportunities while enhancing ecological conditions on federal lands. Key activities include constructing roughened channels for fish passage, removing invasive species, and implementing other watershed restoration initiatives. The project will run from April 2025 through April 2030, aligning with the Secure Rural Schools program's goals of infrastructure maintenance, ecosystem health improvement, and community engagement on Bureau of Land Management lands.

Both adult and juvenile fish require quality habitat throughout the applegate watershed, as these species exhibit migratory behaviors throughout their lifespan. Therefore, maintaining population longevity requires quality habitat throughout the watershed, not just on federal land or private land. The restoration work completed by the students will directly benefit o c lands by improving the habitat aquatic species are required to migrate through to access the o c lands above. Furthermore, improvement of water quality and quantity also impacts downstream habitat that includes o c lands.