Squaw Creek cleanup finds trash and treasure

Fifteen volunteers helped make Squaw Creek a little more scenic during river cleanup on Saturday, May 22.

The group visited six sites, from Petersen Ridge to the Sisters city limits, learned about river issues, and removed 50 bags of trash.

The trash was predominantly beer cans, food containers, and other discards including numbers of spent ammunition casings.

Many in the group found treasure as well, discovering secret spots, including scenic canyon overlooks and areas where the wild creek swirls between cliffs and old growth pines.

The cleanup and tour was held by members of the Squaw Creek Committee of the Deschutes Watershed Council, as a way to develop more community stewardship of the creek.

Organizer Katherine Cerino wanted to share the less visited side of the area.

"It's a compelling experience to see the creek change from a rushing stream in the upper canyons to the flat channeled stream near town," she said.

Watershed council member Rod Bonacker agreed.

"People are usually quite taken with the wilder side of Squaw Creek, and it's interesting to see how the trash grows exponentially as you approach the city outskirts," he observed.

Most people are unfamiliar with Squaw Creek's wild and scenic stretches which are hidden away down small dirt roads. For many, their only experience of the creek is near Creekside City Park where the channel has been bulldozed for flood control and is often dry during summer irrigation withdrawals.

The cleanup crew learned about a variety of issues surrounding the creek, including why the creek is so floodprone and the hurdles to the reintroduction of steelhead. Recent gains for the creek, such as the purchase of water rights and conservation efforts by irrigators were also highlighted.

"We were very pleased with this first effort," Cerino said. "We hope to be repeat the cleanup with several trips this summer."

For more information regarding stewardship work on Squaw Creek, contact Squaw Creek Committee chairman, Bob Bridgeford at 549-9539.