“Our TWINNING”

SIUSLAW BASIN & the RUSSIAN FAR EAST

Who We Are

• Siuslaw Watershed Council• Siuslaw Soil & Water Conservation District• Siuslaw National Forest• Siuslaw Institute

• With additional partners for specific Projects:– Ecotrust– OWEB

Winners & Twinners Exchanges – 2004 RiverPrize

• Finalists to Brisbane (4) - 2003• Winners to Brisbane (4) - 2004• Partnership with Wild Salmon Center - 2005• First trip to Sakhalin, Russia (3) - 2005• First Exchange, Sakhalin to Oregon (5) - 2005• USFS Technical Assistance (3), Sakhalin - 2006• Sakhalin Salmon Initiative (3) - 2006

“Twinning” Exchange visits (cont.)

• Oregon educators (3) to Sakhalin schools - 2007• Sakhalin administrators (8) to Oregon - 2008• Siuslaw Institute (1) to Sakhalin Councils - 2008• Summer Youth Camp near Portland - 2009• Russian Far East Councils to Oregon (8) - 2011• Siuslaw Institute (1) to Kamchatka - 2012

Successes for our “Twinning”

• Many good people-to-people connections• Student Blog “Smolt” (both languages)• Workshops: planning and restoration practices• Introduced Watershed Councils (Conference and Workshops)• Expanded from Sakhalin to more of Russian Far East• 8 Public Salmon Councils have been formed• Plans for Exchange of Indigenous representatives

Funding• Trust for Mutual Understanding• Wild Salmon Center• US Forest Service International Programs• International Riverfoundation• Siuslaw Basin Partnership (RiverPrize)

Challenges for Twinners• Language and Culture• Government Structure and Cooperation• Continuity – of contacts and processes• Unexpected changes in people or permissions• Indigenous peoples• Corruption• Expectations of your twinning partner ($, etc.)• Logistics & Access – visas, etc.• Who’s in charge?• What are we getting in return?

Our Selection Process

• Assets and Expertise:Salmon Habitat RestorationInnovative PartnershipsCommunity/Schools Involvement

• Where can we help and get assistance? Somewhere in the North Pacific

Wild Salmon Center as partner

Your Selection Process

• Similarities of needs and assets• Differences of levels of experience• Language and Culture (assets and drawbacks)• What will we gain from this?• Who will we be able to call on for help?• How long will this take?• What kinds and sources of funding?• The UNKNOWN

Willamette Initiative Twin?

Selection process (sample)

• Example: Nile River Similarities: Differences: Flows North No salmon Urban and Agricultural Language & Culture “Political Stability” Climate No ocean coastline Pollutants History of major flooding Water Temperature • Questions of funding support, acquisition and co-sponsors• Long-term (10 years+) or short-term agreements• Focus – academia, agencies, communities, governance, all or some …

Help is Available

• International Riverfoundation• Other “Twinners”• IRF Ambassadors –

Amos Brandeis – 2003 Winnersamos-br@inter.net.il

http://www.restorationplanning.com

Johnny Sundstrom – 2004 Winnerssiwash@pioneer.nethttp://www.siuslawinstitute.org(541)964-5901