Land Trust dedicates new Camp Polk site

More than 100 people braved cold, strong winds last Friday, June 1, to show their support for one of the Deschutes Basin Land Trust's biggest successes.

The Trust, which works to protect key land areas in Central Oregon, formally dedicated its new Camp Polk site before an enthusiastic crowd of community-minded citizens.

The Trust's action capped a nearly three year effort to protect the historic site -- and its enormous habitat potential -- with a ceremony that recognized numerous community members and volunteers.

Brad Chalfant is Executive Director of the Trust, and he was clearly excited by the significance of his organization's accomplishment. Foremost among those recognized by Chalfant were Lewis and Mary Anderson.

The Andersons were the landowners who agreed to sell their unique property holding to the Trust.

Most significantly, however, the Andersons realized the importance of the site they owned and agreed to make it available to the Trust at a price "well below the market value."

"This is a special occasion," said Chalfant. "This has become a very special place for quite a few of us."

He pointed out that "the Andersons put their lives on hold for two and a half years, while we put this together."

Chalfant acknowledged that the Andersons could easily have sold their land to a developer who could have paid more than the Trust. Because they recognized the significance of the land, they were willing to work with the Trust to preserve the unique site.

In addition to its status as critical wildlife habitat, Camp Polk has important historical significance to the Sisters area.

The camp itself-- which gives the site its name -- was established in 1864 by a contingent of volunteer Federal soldiers from the Willamette Valley's Polk County.

At the time, there was a perceived Indian threat in the area, and all other Federal troops were committed to the Civil War. To help support the war effort, the Polk County volunteers agreed to establish the outpost.

The Indians turned out to be much friendlier than imagined, and the volunteer detachment never fired a shot in anger.

What it did accomplish, however, was something much more lasting. When the army abandoned the post, the land became available to the public under the Homestead Act.

Taking advantage of the partially cleared and developed land, Samuel Hindman claimed the site for a homestead in 1870. The framework of the barn from Hindman's original homestead is still standing on the property and provided the backdrop for the Trust's dedication ceremony.

"This (the Hindman homestead) was really the beginning of permanent settlement in this area," said Chalfant. "It pre-dated Sisters by quite a few years."

Chalfant went on to outline a quick history of the area.

Part of that recitation included how, over the years, private landowners and the Army Corps of Engineers channelized the stream.

"The effect," he said, "was to dramatically alter the hydrology of the creek."

Cutting a deep, straight channel for the creek essentially "rushed" the water off the land.

As a result, the meadows along the floodplain no longer were able to absorb and retain the water which gave the land its rich biological character.

In order to maintain a healthy stream system, the surrounding floodplain needs to be fully charged with water in order to sustain the system's hydrologic stability.

The Trust hopes to reintroduce water stability to that reach of the creek by eliminating the ditch-like straight cut that rushes water through and away from the property.

"We've been doing studies to re-meander the stream," Chalfant said, "and our dream is to get steelhead trout back up here into Squaw Creek."

Chalfant feels that the site offers some of the best potential habitat for restoration of steelhead runs to Squaw Creek.

The Trust's director also had lavish praise for Portland General Electric, which helped with funding, planning and project support.

"We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to PGE to put in this kind of a commitment," Chalfant said. "For an entity like PGE to stick with a very young organization like the Land Trust to help bring steelhead and salmon above the dams is a truly wonderful thing."

Chalfant explained that the new site will be divided into two separate sections.

The access from the Camp Polk Cemetery road will be designated for the general public and have visitor facilities to interpret the area's history and natural history.

The second portion -- and the majority of the property -- will be, in Chalfant's words, "truly a wildlife preserve," with limited public access.

For more information call 330-0017.