How to Become a Deschutes Basin Steward

When you complete 10 hours of training and 30 hours of volunteer service, you will qualify as a Deschutes Basin Steward.  You will be a key leader for our conservation efforts in the years to come and can join us in the following opportunities:

1. Monitoring physical and biological watershed conditions across the Deschutes basin
2. Implementing restoration projects with other volunteers
3. Sharing outreach education material at festivals and field trips
4. Supporting restoration and conservation planning for our future

This is a great opportunity for individuals interested in becoming more involved in active conservation work or who may have an interest in a career in conservation work.  You will have the opportunity to work with numerous conservation organizations, as well as many State and Federal agencies.  Immediate upcoming projects include riparian restoration, native revegetation, head cut repair, fence maintenance and stream monitoring, among others. See below for more detail on the Deschutes Basin Stewards program.

Trout Unlimited volunteers support a riparian planting on Whychus Creek at Camp Polk Preserve which is a property owned by the Deschutes Land Trust and is the recipient of a massive restoration project spearheaded by the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council and the US Forest Service.

Upcoming Workshops, Trainings, Day Trips and Weekends in the Field:

Together with our partners in the basin, we are offering educational workshops, trainings, hands-on projects and field trips into our local watersheds.  Each training and workshop will be customized to the area of concern based on regional experts, project opportunities, and on the ground needs.  By combining trainings and field work, you will lead volunteer teams to tackle restoration and educational projects in your region.

• Current Field Opportunities [1] – check out a showcase of upcoming volunteer projects
• Calendar of Field Projects and Other Events [2]

Priority River Restoration and Stewardship Projects:

• Crooked River Riparian Restoration Project (2011)
• Deep Creek Stream and Spring Restoration Projects (Spring 2011 – Fall 2012)
• Tumbull Habitat Restoration Project on the Upper Deschutes (2011)
• Wetland and Riparian Planting for Whychus Creek and Metolius restoration projects
• Other projects to be announced...

Any questions for upcoming events, please contact Darek Staab, Project Manager for Trout Unlimited, DStaab@tu.org [3] or 541-480-6976.

DROP and Deschutes Basin Stewardship Program Partners:

• Oregon State University - Cascades [4]
• Upper Deschutes Watershed Council [5]
• Wolftree [6]
• US Forest Service [7]
• Crooked River Watershed Council [7]
• Deschutes Land Trust [8]
• Oregon Department Fish&Wildlife [9]
• Oregon Natural Desert Association [10]
• Trout Unlimited [11]

Field Day with Deschutes Basin Stewards