Landscape Stewardship Certificates of Appreciation - 2015

Left to right: Nick Scheidt, BLM Fish Biologist, Siuslaw Field Office; Mike Korn, BLM Siuslaw Field Office Manager; Ed Shepard, President, Public Lands Foundation; Jed Kaul, Fisheries Biologist, Long Tom Watershed; Kathy Stangl, BLM, Eugene District Manager; Dick Prather, PLF State Representative for Oregon; and Leo Poole, Retired BLM Fish Biologist, Siuslaw Field Office.

The Public Lands Foundation presents Jed Kaul with a 2015 Landscape Stewardship Certificate of Appreciation and this Citation.  The Foundation grants this recognition to honor private citizens and organizations that work to advance and sustain community-based stewardship on landscapes that include, in whole or in part, public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

Jed Kaul is a Fisheries Biologist for the Long Tom Watershed Council.  Founded in 1998, the Long Tom Watershed Council is a nonprofit organization made up of a group of diverse stakeholders, conservationists and scientists dedicated to the protection and restoration of the lands and waters within the basin. This Council is recognized as one of the best in the State of Oregon. The Council’s Fisheries Program, led by Jed Kaul, focuses on riparian restoration and associated aquatic species monitoring.

Jed has contributed years of cooperative landscape stewardship that not only includes restoration work on private lands but also within BLM managed sub-watersheds within the Long Tom River Basin.

Hundreds of aquatic species barrier culverts within the Long Tom Basin have been cooperatively identified and prioritized by Jed and BLM Fisheries Staff.  Much of the baseline planning for these culvert replacements was accomplished by Jed. The Long Tom Fisheries Staff has partnered with the BLM and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff (Findley Wildlife Refuge) to restore oak and prairie habitat.  Douglas fir logs removed as a result of the oak restoration were placed in numerous streams within Long Tom River tributaries to enhance native cutthroat trout habitat.

Most recently, Jed led a team of professionals from the BLM, State of Oregon, and Lane County, as well as local landowners in planning and implementing the multifaceted, multiyear Bear Creek Restoration Project. This endeavor began in 2006 in its planning phases and is nearing completion in 2015. The complex project includes removal of four major instream barriers, instream log placements and riparian plantings. Jed spent long hours securing project funding (grant and project proposal writing) for all aspects of this work. His vision and ability to work with professionals and local landowners was a key factor in seeing this project through all phases.

During these times of tight BLM budgets and critical staff losses, Jed and the Long Tom Watershed Council have stepped up to help the Siuslaw Resource Area complete essential aquatic restoration projects and natural resource goals.

The Public Lands Foundation is pleased to present Jed Kaul with a 2015 Landscape Stewardship Certificate of Appreciation and this Citation for invaluable contributions to the stewardship of America’s public landscapes.

 

Edward Shepard
September 22, 2015