The City of Grants Pass is implementing a comprehensive program to meet the Rogue Basin Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) program of the the Clean Water Act to reduce temperature and bacteria inputs within the City limits and Urban Growth Boundary to the Rogue River and its tributaries (e.g., Skunk, Gilbert, Fruitdale, Jones, and Sand creeks). Strategies include riparian restoration to improve stream shade, managing urban runoff to reduce pollution, conducting community education and outreach programs, and erosion prevention and sediment control. Planned strategies are outlined in a DEQ-approved plan that is implemented over a 5-year period. After 5 years, plans are reviewed, and revised and updated as need for the next 5-year period until water quality standards are met. Implementation of the program will be completed by the City, contractors, partner organizations, the public, schools, colleges, and other groups.  Plans were updated in 2020 for the next 5-year cycle.

Plan years run from July 1st through June 30th annually.

Current Year (2023-2024)

Highlights

Riparian Map updated – Now searchable by location!

2022-2023 Drafts and Supplemental Materials

Annual Report Drafts (Matrix)

Bacteria-

Temperature-

Education and Outreach-

TMDL Meetings

Quarterly TMDL meetings occur on the third Wednesday of January, April, July, and October.  As of the January meeting, they are a hybrid format of in person at RVCOG and Zoom.  Contact Greg Stabach (gstabachATrvcog.org) for information and links.  Agendas and selected information from the meetings can be found below.

• July  20th, 2022
  • Agenda
  • Quarterly Report
• October 19th, 2022
  • Meeting cancelled to allow for work on annual reports.
• January 18th, 2023
  • Agenda
  • Quarterly Report
• March 2023
  • Agenda
  • Quarterly Report (Draft)
  • RDWP Presentation
  • Natural Resources Plan
• July 2023
  • Quarterly Report Draft

Other Reports

NPDES Phase II

Salmon Watch 2022 – 2023 (Fall 2022 Program)

2021-2022 Reporting Year

2021-2022 Short Form

2021-2022 Long Form

Salmon Watch Report (Fall 2021 and Spring 2022)

Activity Examples and Supplemental Information

Salmon Watch Newsletter Article (General)

• Word Version
• PDF Version

Stream Smart Quarterly Meetings

• September 15, 2021-Agenda
• December 15th, 2021
  • Agenda
• March 16th, 2022 –Agenda
• June  15th, 2022 – Agenda

2020-2021 Materials

2020-2021 Short Form (Matrix Text only)

2020-2021 Long form (Matrix and all supporting documents)

Reports and Information Prior to 2020-2021

• Year 5 – July 1st, 2019 through June 30th, 2020 (Previous Year).
• Year 4 (9) – July 1st 2018, through June 30th, 2019.
  • Reports Due November 1st, 2019
    • Matrix Summary One-Page Text only
    • Full Report with All Attachments
    • Restoration Map (pdf)
    • Salmon Watch Report (pdf)
• Year 8/3 – July 1st, 2017 through June 30th 2018
  • Implementation Matrix Single Page submitted on 11/01/18
  • Implementation Matrix and Supporting Documentation (Spreadsheet with all tabs)
  • Planting Map
• Year 7/2 – July 1st, 2016 through June 30th, 2017. Reports due on September 30th, 2017.

Activity Highlights

Stream Smart

The City promotes and supports Stream Smart programs throughout the basin, including the website, Facebook page, weed pulls, trainings, workshops, Salmon Watch, and other programs.

Salmon Watch

Schools in Grants Pass, including Grants Pass High School, North Valley High School, Parkside Elementary, and Hidden Valley High School have been participating in the program since it was re-established. Partners of the program include RVCOG, Rogue River Watershed Council (RRWC), Siskiyou Field Institute, Josephine County, the Bear Creek TMDL and Stormwater Communities, and the Medford Water Commission.

Click on the link here to see an updated map showing some potential locations for restoration projects.  Please note that these project are concepts only.  Additional steps are needed including designing riparian planting plans for the sites, securing permission to use the sites for projects, and securing funding for implementation.

The figure below shows a section of the map located around Reinhart Volunteer Park.

Resources:

Grants Pass Draft TMDL Implementation Plan 2020-2025

Grant Pass TMDL Implementation Plan Reports 2016-2017

• Annual report (one page summary)
• Annual report (full with all tabs)
• Planting map (relief based)
• Planting map (Photo based)

City of Grants Pass Stormwater Design Manual – Link

Rogue Valley Stormwater Quality Design Manual – Link

Fact Sheets – EPA’s Low Impact Development “Barrier Buster” Factsheets Series

Rain Gardens – Oregon Rain Garden Guide (O.S.U. Extension)

Riparian Restoration – Link to the Riparian Restoration Page

Life on the Edge: Improving Riparian Function. OSU Extension. Click Here to Watch. Links to YouTube.

Invasive Species Management

The local County Weed Management Agency needs your help in targeting 4 invaders of concern:

1.  Garlic Mustard
2.  Japanese Knotweed – Link to a Guide on how to control knotweed.
3.  Puncturevine
4.  Tree of Heaven

Additional Resources on Noxious Weeds

Oregon Department of Agriculture 

Presentations:

TMDL 101 – Provides an overview of the TMDL program and talking points.

Quick Links:

Irrigation, Manure, and Nutrient Management Information

Managing Small Acreage Horse Farms (OSU Extension Publication)

Web Links:

Stormwater 101 – General information on Stormwater and Water Quality for the Bear Creek MS4 program hosted on RVCOG’s website.

Stream Smart

Recurring Events and Meetings:

Regional TMDL Meetings – 3rd Wednesdays in January, April, July, and October

Stream Smart Advisory Team – 3rd Wednesdays in March, June, September, and December

Rogue River Clean-up – May