Metolius River Trail Restoration Project and National Public Lands Day
- When: September 24th
- Where: Metolius River
- What: We will be utilizing National Public Lands Day as an opportunity to kick off the ambitious and much needed Metolius River Trail Restoration Project. On this day in particular we will be planting native vegetation at certain areas along the river trail in order to improve the sensitive riparian along the Metolius River. We will partner with staff from the Deschutes National Forest and the Friends of the Metolius to improve conditions along the trail and at various access points. This will be the first large volunteer effort for this project will likely take several years to complete. The Metolius River is a spectacularly beautiful place and one that has suffered from overuse in critical areas over the years. Our goal is to restore the damaged portions of the trail that have harmful erosion and contribute increased sedimentation to the river. Please join us for this momentous event!
Contact Darek Staab with TU for more details: dstaab@tu.org
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Riparian and Water Quality Monitoring in the Headwaters of the Ochoco Mountains
- When: August 29th, Time: full day trip
- Where: Crazy Creek, tributary to Deep Creek in the Ochoco Mts east of Prineville
- What: Join us for a stream restoration support day in the headwaters of the Ochoco Mountains and the upper reaches of the North Fork of the Crooked River. Working alongside staff from the Ochoco National Forest , our objectives will be to document water conditions before upcoming projects take place on Crazy Creek. We will be installing temperature probes to track changes in water temps. This baseline data will be very important as further projects take place in this area. Crazy Creek is a tributary of Deep Creek which feeds the North Fork of the Crooked River. This is a stronghold of genetically pure redband rainbows. Crazy Creek is a vital spawning ground for the resident fish of Deep Creek. This is a great opportunity to get involved in conservation work pertaining to a critical population of native redband trout. Carpooling to and from the site will be available.
Contat: Darek Staab, TU Project Manager, for details: dstaab@tu.org
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ODFW High Lakes Trout Survey
- When: August 23-26, Time: full day trips; free camping at the site will be available
- Where: Winopee and Taylor Lakes, in the Cascades of the Deschutes Basin
- What: ODFW is conducting a survey of the these two lakes and surrounding, smaller lakes for the first time to determine the success of natural reproduction of the resident trout populations there. In order to collect this survey information, we will need anglers to catch trout and collect basic information (species, length, weight, and scale sample for aging). ODFW staff will be using gillnets to gather fish for additional information. Each day we will be hiking in to various lakes (1-3 miles) from the base camps at Winopee and Taylor lakes. Camping at base and meals will be provided by ODFW. This is a unique opportunity to go fishing for the greater good of conservation efforts in this chain of high Cascade lakes.
Contact Jennifer Luke for more information: jennifer.a.luke@state.or.us
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Insect Collection and Sampling of Whychus Creek with Upper Deschutes Watershed Council
- When: August 20th, Time: full day trip
- Where: Whychus Creek, various sites
- What: In partnership with the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council and Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation we will be taking aquatic insect samples at various sites along Whychus Creek. This project is one component of a 10 year, watershed-scale restoration effort on Whychus Creek to prepare the watershed for the reintroduction of salmon and steelhead to the Upper Deschutes basin. Historically, Whychus Creek has provided a spawning sanctuary for native steelhead. Volunteers in this monitoring project will be assisting with insect data collection which will provide a depper understanding of the food sources available for juvenile anadramous fish rearing in Whychus Creek. This is a great opportunity to play an important role in a hugely important large scale project.
For more information, or to RSVP, please contact Lauren Mork with the UDWC: lmork@restorethedeschutes.org
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Odell Lake Bull Trout Sampling Effort with ODFW and DNF
- When: August 8, 9; Time: 9pm-1am
- Where: Trapper Creek, tributary of Odell Lake
- What: ODFW and the Deschutes Nat'l Forest are conducting their annual assessments of the bull trout population in Trapper Creek. Trapper Creek is an important spawning ground for a very sensitive bull trout population in Odell lake. The adult fish swim up Trapper Creek to use it as a spawning ground before returning back to the lake. This is a nighttime project where we will be meeting at a campground on Odell Lake and then heading over to Trapper Creek. Volunteers will need waders and boots and will be asked to follow snorkelers along the bank to record data as the snorkelers locate juvenile bull trout in the creek. A headlamp is mandatory for this project. This project is a great way to get involved in monitoring efforts for this important strain of bull trout, and to do so at night along the creek makes it all the more adventure!
Contact Darek Staab, TU Project Manager, for details: dstaab@tu.org
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Invasive Chub Removal in East Lake with ODFW
- When: July and early August
- Where: East Lake, southeast of Bend
- What: ODFW has been engaged in an ongoing effort to control the invasive tui chub fish population in East Lake. Tui Chub are harmful to native fish speicies in East Lake as they outcompete these fish for vital food sources. Their population has erupted in recent years, and in order to control this population ODFW is asking for our help to catch the chub with large nets and remove them from the lake. The work here is fairly labor intensive as it involves a lot of lifting and moving heavy loads. It does mean a day out on the boat with ODFW staff on East Lake which is scenic and a lot of fun.
For more information, please contact Mike Harrington with ODFW: Michael.r.Harrington@state.or.us or Jennifer Luke with ODFW: jennifer.a.luke@state.or.us
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Bull Trout Collection and Reintroduction for the Clackamas River with ODFW
- When: July 11- July 28
- Where: Metolius River and tributaries, Clackamas River and tributaries
- What: The USFS, ODFW, and US Fish and Wildlife Service are attemtping to reintroduce bull trout to the Clackamas River. Bull trout originally inhabited the Clackamas watershed, and because they are now listed as a threatened species these agencies are hoping to help safeguard the future of this unique and sensitive fish species by reinstating their population throughout the Clackamas River watershed. The work in this project involves: collecting bull trout juveniles from Metolius River tributaries; counting and prepping these fish for the transition to the Clackamas; and then moving them to the Clackamas River and releasing the fish there. Volunteers will be needed for the parts 1 and 3 of this process. Electro-fishing, placing minnow traps, and hiking into the Clackamas with the fish intended to be released are all aspects of the project in which volunteers are needed to participate. Waders/boots and polarized sunglasses are necessary for any aspect of the project.
Please contact Darek Staab with Trout Unlimited for more information or if you are available to participate on any of the days above: dstaab@tu.org
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Spring and Stream Restoration in the Headwaters of the Ochoco Mountains
- When: May 25 and June 2, Time: full day trips
- Where: Deep Creek, in the Ochoco Mountains, east of Prineville
- What: Deep Creek is a small stream which feeds into the upper portion of the North Fork of the Crooked River. It is nestled high in the Ochoco Mountains, east of Prineville. Carpooling options will be available on these days as the trip is substantial both to and from the restoration site. Our goal is to take baseline data in order to lay the groundwork for future restoration work in this area. Our work will be done in conjunction with staff from the Ochoco National Forest and will involve native species plantings along the riparian as well as placing temperature probes in the creek to gather water temperature data. There is a very healthy population of redband trout in this small creek, and we are working to preserve the appropriate conditions for these fish to continue to thrive in this high desert environment. Come join us to contribute to the important work going on in this beautiful area.
Contact: Darek Staab, TU Project Manager, for details: dstaab@tu.org
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Weed Pulls and Tours of Deschutes Land Trust Preserves: Rimrock Ranch and Whychus Creek
- When: May 7, every first Saturday and first and third Tuesday each month through the summer, Time TBD (generally either morning or afternoon half day trips)
- Where: Rimrock Ranch and/or Whychus Creek
- What: One of our key partners in the Deschutes Basin is the Deschutes Land Trust. All through the summer we will be teaming up with the DLT to contribute on stewardship days on both the Rimrock Ranch and Whychus Creek properties. These are both key areas within the Whychus Creek basin. We will be identifying and removing invasive weed species that compete with and harm native vegetation in these areas. Whychus Creek has been a critical Deschutes tributary in supporting the reintroduction of native steelhea into the Upper Deschutes basin. Our goal is to provide quality riparian conditions for both the returning adult fish as they spawn in Whychus Creek as well as to create the necessary rearing habitat for juvenile fish. Both of these properties are spectaculalry beautiful and we will have an opportunity to tour the property during the course of our work day.
For details contact Larry Weinberg (The Weed Warrior) at: larry@deschuteslandtrust.org
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Tumbull Fish Habitat Project - Riparian Planting with Deschutes National Forest
- When: May 20, 9am-3pm
- Where: Upper Deschutes River, Besson Day Camp (south of Sunriver)
- What: This project will take place on the Upper Deschutes near the town of Sunriver. It may be familiar for those of you who joined us last fall for cutting willow stakes in the same area. On this day, we will be planting those willow stakes as well as container stock sedges. Our goal is to restore and improve the river riparian along approximately 800 feet of the riverbank. The Upper Deschutes experiences a wide range of flows throughout the year, and it is critically important that the river has a stable riparian that can stand up to the rigors of receding and swelling flows. Recently, stretches of the river in this area received large placements of woddy debris to add stabilization to the banks and provide much needed fish habitat. The added vegetation we will be planting on our field project day also benefits resident trout populations that thrive on the cover and shade provided by enhancements to the riparian. Be ready to get your hands dirty and come out for a day in this beautiful spot along the Upper Deschutes River!
Contact: Darek Staab, TU Project Manager, for details: dstaab@tu.org
