The Fall River and Trout Unlimited
The Fall River is an essential source of cold, clean water for the Deschutes River, one of Trout Unlimited’s Priority Waters. The Fall River meanders through public, private, and state lands and is enjoyed by hikers, dog walkers, bicyclists, anglers, and locals who come here daily to enjoy the serenity that the river offers.
Since 2014, Trout Unlimited has been partnering with Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) to implement significant restoration projects along the Fall River in La Pine State Park. Trout Unlimited has also been leading educational field trips along the Fall River for local elementary students from Bend, Sunriver and La Pine, as well as youth camps and summer programs, since 2015.
The Fall River is one of Trout Unlimited’s favorite places to bring kids because of its crystal-clear water, abundant trout population, extensive trail network, and undeniable beauty. Trout Unlimitied’s youth lessons focus on the importance of healthy habitat for fish and wildlife, with an emphasis on how people share the habitat and what we can all do to protect and repair it.
Youth Education at the Fall River
Trout Unlimited has been partnering with Camp Chica since 2023, providing service-learning opportunities for kids during after school and summer camp programs. The kids that participate in Trout Unlimited and Camp Chica’s programming learn the importance of caring for our local streams and rivers through hands-on activities such as macroinvertebrate sampling and planting native grasses, forbs and shrubs.
Camp Chica is a program of the regional non-profit, Vámonos Outside. Vámonos Outside works to advance an inclusive outdoor culture in Central Oregon by providing outdoor recreation opportunities for Latine and BIPOC children and teens.
Other Trout Unlimited educational programming with Camp Chica involves students participating in reflection activities and creating artwork such as poetry and drawings. You can see from the new educational signs in La Pine State Park, as well as the photo gallery in this blog, that Camp Chica students excel in these activities. When we asked Camp Chica about collaborating on the signs, they got to work right away developing art and translating our writing into Spanish.
Fall River Habitat Restoration
For the last decade, Trout Unlimited staff have been leading a variety of projects to restore and protect fish and wildlife habitat on the Fall River.
We work with local volunteers from the Deschutes Redbands Chapter of TU, as well as youth crews from Heart of Oregon Corps (HOC) and Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council (COIC), to help with trail maintenance and planting native plants near the river. Volunteers and youth crews are critical for the river’s success because they help us achieve complex and long-term restoration work.
Some of our projects have involved the use of heavy equipment to place boulder barriers to keep vehicles away from sensitive habitats, and construct drains and rolling dips on the road to prevent dirty water from entering the river. It is vital that we keep the Fall River clean, so that the fish, wildlife, and communities downstream benefit from the river for years to come.
Unfortunately, much of the habitat degradation for fish and wildlife along the Fall River is human caused. Our footsteps, bike tires, and fishing lines have an impact that we often cannot see right away. Over time, our impacts build up and begin to have negative effects on water quality, plant life, and fish and wildlife habitat. It is important to remember that we share this place with wild animals such as beavers, osprey and trout. As fellow river lovers, please give this place and all its inhabitants the respect they deserve.
Conclusion
Through restoration projects, inclusive educational programs, and strong partnerships with agencies, nonprofits, volunteers, and youth crews, Trout Unlimited is helping ensure that this remarkable river remains clean, resilient, and accessible for generations to come.
Every trail maintained, native plant restored, and young person inspired strengthens the future of the Fall River and the greater Deschutes River watershed. By working together and being mindful of our shared impact, we can protect this special place and honor the wildlife and communities that depend on it. The Fall River reminds us that conservation succeeds when it is rooted in community, education, and a shared love for our rivers.
Funding for our project work on the Fall River in 2024 and 2025 came from the Bend Sustainability Fund, a Visit Bend project. The Bend Sustainability Fund aims to protect outdoor and recreational resources and ensure sustainable and lasting opportunities for all.
Trout Unlimited doesn’t do this work alone; we never could. Whether you are passionate about wild and native fish, inspired by the wonder of rivers or dedicated to clean water, we invite you into our community of optimists.
Interested in becoming a champion for places like the Fall River? Contact the Deschutes Chapter here or visit our Priority Waters website here to learn more about our work and how to get involved.
James Corbett – Central Oregon Project Coordinator
Darek Staab – Oregon Conservation Education Manager