The Crooked River Watershed Council, their partners, employees, and volunteer board members promote stream health, education outreach, and upland awareness.  Recent projects have focused on riparian restoration, juniper removal, and improving fish passage with the expressed goal to improve watershed health. Landowners enjoy partnering with the Crooked River Watershed Council to receive grant funding, resource knowledge, and technical support.

The Crooked River Watershed Council consists of sixteen board members, all volunteering their time, knowledge, and energy.  Mike Kasberger is the current Chair. Meetings are held the second Thursday of every month at 5p.m. in the Central Oregon Community College Prineville Open Campus at 498 SE Lynn Blvd. in Prineville, Oregon.

The office of the Crooked River Watershed Council is located at 498 SE Lynn Blvd, co-located with the Oregon State University Extension Office, the Crook County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Crooked River Weed Management Area in Prineville, Oregon. Chris Gannon is the Coordinator/Director and strongly encourages the public to stop by anytime with questions or concerns. Council staff is Bodie Brown, Project Manager.
Mission Statement
To promote stewardship of the Crooked River watershed and its resources from ridge top to river bottom, to capture, store, and safely release water to ensure sustainable watershed health, functions, and uses for optimal conservation and economic benefits.

Seven primary goals help to guide the Council’s activities in the pursuit of this objective:

  • Development of an integrated, comprehensive watershed management program including program and project evaluation that prioritizes areas for restoration.
  • Improve communication among affected private individuals, interested citizens and representatives of local, state, and federal agencies.
  • ​Establish a process for the coordination, cooperation, education, and involvement of the citizens residing in the watershed.
  • Promote and support ongoing monitoring of the health of the Crooked River Watershed.
  • ​Provide a forum for resolving problems and conflicts related to the council’s mission when all parties agree to refer the matter to the council.
  • Conserve and improve fish and wildlife habitat.​​Support the socio-economic needs of watershed residents.

THE TEAM

Chris Gannon, Council Coordinator
Chris started with the council on January 3, 2011. He had previously worked at Oregon Department of Environmental Quality on a project-specific assignment that concluded in 2010. Prior to working in Portland for the Department, Chris spent three-plus years as the director of the Jefferson County Community Development Department starting in 2004.  
He started his professional career in natural resources with the U.S. Forest Service with the position of Monument Soil Scientist at Mount St. Helen's National Volcanic Monument in southwest Washington in 1988. He located to Central Oregon from Washington for similar employment with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs (13 years total). Formal education includes a B.S. in Range Science, and a M.S. in Soil Science, both from New Mexico State University.
Bodie Brown, Project Manager
​Bodie started with the Council in the summer of 2021 after working for Wheeler County Soil & Water Conservation District for 3.5 year as a Field Tech II. Bodie has also previously worked in the forests marking timber for logging companies and worked on his family ranch in Eastern Oregon; where he developed a deep love for the outdoors.. Bodie enjoys being at his family’s ranch in his free-time, along with hunting, fishing, snowmobiling and spending time with friends and family. Bodie’s academic achievements include a B.S. in Animal Sciences from Oregon State University and Minor in Rangeland Sciences from Oregon State University.  
Mark Peterson, Finwick LLC Contractor
Mark started with the Council in the summer of 2018 after working with the USFS as a Range Technician on the Rogue Siskiyou National Forest. Mark has worked with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation as a Fisheries Technician for invasive species and fisheries education; and with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife as a Fisheries Technician. Mark received his Bachelors degree in Fisheries and Aquaculture from the State University of New York at Cobleskill. Mark is an avid fly fisherman, outdoors-man,  and a former United States Marine.