Jackson Soil & Water Conservation District (JSWCD) is pleased to announce the award of $343,731 from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Private Forest Accord (PFA) Grant Program to support ongoing restoration efforts along Antelope Creek, Spring Creek, and Yankee Creek near Eagle Point. The funding will help complete key elements of the Antelope Creek RM 4.3 Riparian Restoration Project, a long-term effort to improve water quality, restore riparian habitat, and support native fish populations within the Little Butte Creek watershed. 

This award focuses on three critical project components: livestock exclusion fencing, hardened stream crossings, and invasive species control. Together, these practices address some of the most significant factors affecting water quality and habitat conditions on Antelope Creek. 

The grant will fund approximately 4,810 feet of wildlife-friendly livestock exclusion fencing on four participating properties. Livestock access to streams can contribute to bank erosion, elevated bacteria levels, and damage to recovering riparian vegetation. By fencing livestock out of sensitive streamside areas, the project will help protect newly established native vegetation while reducing direct impacts on water quality. The fencing is designed to accommodate wildlife movement while supporting ongoing agricultural operations. 

In addition, PFA funding will support the construction of three hardened low-water stream crossings. These crossings will improve locations where livestock and vehicles must cross streams by stabilizing banks and reducing sediment delivery during wet conditions. Properly designed crossings allow ranch operations to continue while protecting fish habitat and improving stream health. 

A substantial portion of the funding will support years four and five of invasive species treatments across the project area. Dense stands of Himalayan blackberry and other invasive plants have dominated portions of the riparian corridor for decades, suppressing native vegetation, increasing wildfire risk, and limiting habitat value. Continued treatment is essential to ensure that native trees, shrubs, and understory vegetation can establish and thrive. Experience from restoration projects throughout southwest Oregon has shown that long-term treatment, often spanning five years or more, is necessary to achieve lasting control of blackberry and other aggressive invasive species. 

Antelope Creek provides important habitat for Coho salmon and summer steelhead, while also contributing flows to Little Butte Creek and, ultimately, the Rogue River. Restoration actions funded through this grant will help improve riparian conditions along approximately two miles of stream corridor, reducing erosion, supporting native vegetation recovery, and improving long-term watershed resilience. 

JSWCD is grateful to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, participating property owners, and project partners whose collaboration continues to make large-scale restoration possible. This investment represents another significant step toward improving water quality, restoring riparian function, and demonstrating that productive agriculture and natural resource stewardship can work hand in hand.