Research, Analysis, Planning

Habitat and resource research and planning for community-based organizations.

Request a quote How we work

Quote-only. We reply with scope and timeline.

What we do

Research, analysis, and the plan that follows

Watershed councils, agencies, and community groups bring a question. We study it, rank the options, and write the plan.

Research

Habitat, sediment, and limiting-factor assessments for watershed councils and agencies. Fieldwork, sampling, and analysis follow the agreed scope when needed.

Habitat assessments
Sediment and shade
Limiting factors

Analysis

Ranks restoration reaches using habitat data, surveys, GIS, and existing reports, so the work starts where it matters most.

Restoration priority
Fish passage
Rearing habitat

Supporting method: GIS and mapping. Drinking-water and housing overlays, passage, and habitat maps that explain the resource visually.

Planning

The action plan is the written packet after the research: the plan a council can fund, with restoration priorities for the work plan.

Action plans
Restoration work plans
Scope and timeline

Completed projects

From published assessments

Each project pairs research and analysis with maps that explain the resource. Select a thumbnail to open the full map sheet.

Drinking water

North Coast Communities for Watershed Protection

Drinking-water source mapping across Clatsop and Tillamook creeks.

View the map

Limiting factors

Netarts Bay passage

Undersized and failing culverts limit fish movement even when few absolute barriers exist.

Full study

Detail of the North Coast chum priority reaches map: sub-watersheds ranked, top 10 priorities in yellow.

Restoration priority

North Coast chum priorities

A ranked restoration-habitat map for the work plan, built from habitat data, surveys, and existing reports.

Full study

Detail of the Netarts Bay overwintering potential map: stream reaches rated high, medium, or low.

Riparian monitoring

OWEB riparian restoration effectiveness

A field check of riparian planting and fencing projects funded by the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board. Most of the projects surveyed were gone or close to failing: Himalayan blackberry and reed canary grass overtook many plantings, floods were the usual reason fences failed, and the projects landowners kept maintaining did best.

Full study

Research library

Oregon watershed papers

Cara’s published watershed papers for Nestucca, Siuslaw, Netarts, and other Oregon Coast basins. Download the PDF when we have it; otherwise open Academia.