It has been a while since I have sent anything to the Watershed Councils of Oregon, so here is an update and a reminder about the ODFW Data Clearinghouse. https://nrimp.dfw.state.or.us/DataClearinghouse/

 
In working with OWEB (Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board) there are some new items that you should be aware of about the ODFW Data Clearinghouse and OWEB.
 

1. Records that are posted on the ODFW Data Clearinghouse will be linked to and visible from the OSU Oregon Explorer http://www.oregonexplorer.info/

2. Posting to the Data Clearinghouse will be mandatory upon receiving new grant funding from OWEB for specific projects.  Watersheds receiving the new funds from OWEB will be required to post data and reports to the Data Clearinghouse.

3. You may want to consider this as an opportunity and benefit for your Watershed Council to use the Data Clearinghouse as an offsite archive for reports and data pertaining to your Natural Resources.

4. When records are created on the Data Clearinghouse they are then made available to and viewable by others.

5. Be sure to check out the Data Templates as some of them have been updated recently, you may find them to be useful tools for your data management.  https://nrimp.dfw.state.or.us/DataClearinghouse/default.aspx?p=460

The Data Clearinghouse website houses statewide reports such as watershed assessments and rapid bioassessment, data, GIS maps, and other natural resource information, especially those which are OWEB funded, from Watershed Councils, and many other agencies. 

Some records presently on the Data Clearinghouse were created for Watershed Councils by ODFW staff.  Recently it has come to our attention that contact information may be outdated for some of these existing records.  Additionally there may be data or reports related to these records that we do no know about.  

With this in mind, we suggest that you create an account if you do not already have one, then arrange (with Kasey) to take ownership of pre-existing records that were created for your Watershed Council.  On the records which you take ownership of; we suggest you go over the record contact information to make sure all of the data is up to date and correct.  At this time you may also find you have reports or more data that has not been uploaded and could be used to update your Data Clearinghouse records.  With an account you also have the ability to create new records and upload new data and reports.

If you have questions about setting up an account or maintenance on records please contact us right away!  Kasey Bliesner can help you with your questions, concerns or assistance with setting up your Data Clearinghouse account.

Contact information for Kasey:

Kasey Bliesner

(541)757-4263 ext. 220

Kasey.Bliesner@oregonstate.edu