The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Large earth moving equipment now occupies a portion of the grounds at Lake Creek Lodge as work crews pursue a $175,000 removal of the old pond on the site.

That pond will be replaced by a more natural flowing Lake Creek.

Other parts of the restoration plans include two new bridges - one for guests on the grounds and one for bicyclists and pedestrians passing the lodge.

"We have built the bridges above the '96 flood level," said co-owner Gordon Jones.

Jeff Jones of Sisters is his brother's partner in the lodge.

"It always has been our intent since purchasing the property to be environmentally conscious," Gordon Jones said. "I look forward to watching from the bridge red bands and bull trout swimming upstream to spawn."

Ryan Houston, Executive Director of Upper Deschutes Watershed Council, is in charge of restoration operations.

"We expect to finish this part of the project in about two weeks," said Houston.

The workers have been starting at 7 a.m. and finishing at about 6 p.m.

"We have to be considerate to the owners of this lodge," said Houston. "They have been very cooperative while their business is shut down during this two-week restoration. We also have to make sure that the landscaping doesn't disrupt normal operations at the lodge."

"We'll be doing planting and landscaping after that to improve the riparian areas for better fish passage," Houston said. "New trees and sedge plants will increase and improve habitat for fish and other wildlife."

The project has been two years in planning and design. Cement from the old pond has been removed and replaced with gravel and rocks.

The design work for this project was done by the Forest Service. This includes environmental review, monitoring and implementation of the project. Eventually, it is hoped that migrating chinook and sockeye salmon will return to Lake Creek. This depends on the success for moving these fish around the Pelton-Round Butte Dams located about 25 miles down river and the fish migrating up the Metolius River.

Lake Creek runs from Suttle to the Metolius River, a distance of about six miles.

A new sewer system, costing $500,000, is planned for Lake Creek Lodge. Grant funds from state, federal and private individuals are financing the project. This includes the Deschutes National Forest, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, Deschutes River Conservancy, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and Lake Creek Lodge.