Mud boggers damage fragile Sisters meadow

Vandals driving a large truck did major damage to a fragile wet meadow in the Metolius Basin over the Memorial Day weekend, according to Sisters Ranger District Forest Ecologist Maret Pajutee.

Now the Sisters Ranger District is asking for the public’s help in identifying who committed the crime.

The meadow is located in the Brush Creek Area off Road 12 and Road 550.

“A very large truck bypassed road closure barriers at the end of Road 550, as well as violating a general off-road travel closure in the B&B Fire area to drive out onto a very wet wildflower meadow,” Pajutee said. “The closures were put in place to protect recovering wet habitats in the wildfire area. The hundreds of feet of deep tracks immediately filled with water and the truck may have become stuck.”

Pajutee discovered the “mud bogging” damage during a weekend walk with her husband.

“This wildflower meadow is a bit of a secret,” Pajutee explained. “It’s one of the most unique wet meadows we’ve ever found in Sisters and the fire really brought it back to life.”

The first year after the wildfire Pajutee found millions of brodiaea lilies in every color, mountain arnica, penstemons, biscuitroots, wild onions and strange fire adapted mosses.

“Someone knew it was here, knew it was wet and mudbogged in to carve foot deep ruts which will now drain the water table which feeds Brush Creek,” she added.

Mud bogging on public land is illegal and may lead to fines of up to $5,000. “We’re seeing more and more of this type of damage across the forest with the increased popularity of off-road vehicles like ATVs, motorcycles, Jeeps, and monster trucks,” Sisters Field Ranger Kevin Foss said. “People want a challenge to see how their vehicles will do against Mother Nature. They look for particular natural features like creeks for creek driving, wet meadows for mud bogging, or rocks to pull out or climb over to show their power. And it’s costing us and the public a lot of money to repair this damage or to restrict access to prevent more damage.”

The Forest Service is now exploring what can be done to rehabilitate the meadow and wants to find the responsible party help pay for the cost of this work. Pajutee is hoping someone saw something and will come forward with information.

Anyone with information is asked to call Sisters Ranger District Law Enforcement Officer Fred Perl at 549-7700.