Bakeoven Watershed Project
Bakeoven Watershed is approximately 90,000 acres
of mostly rangeland used for beef production..
The Bakeoven project was initiated in 1994 with a planning grant from Oregon Department
of Agriculture. The planning effort resulted in a grant to the SWCD by GWEB for
implementation. Wasco County Court appointed volunteers to a watershed council
in 1995. Development of a watershed action plan followed and an additional
grant was secured from GWEB in 1996 to expand the implementation effort. The
project is laid out in two phases, the first
focusing on upland treatment, primarily
fencing, water developments and range improvements. The second phase began in
1999 to begin focusing efforts on the riparian zone.
During 1999 work under the first GWEB grant was completed and a riparian
assessment was done. Bakeoven Creek was listed in 1996 as being water quality
limited due to high summer water temperature, which affects summer steelhead rearing.
In recent years efforts have focused on riparian buffer systems, taking
advantage of the CREP program.
Bakeoven Watershed
is shown in orange.