Wolftree wins funds for property

It's official. A $500,000 grant has been approved that will allow the Wolftree educational organization in Sisters to purchase 58 acres on Whychus Creek.

Agreement in principle has been reached between Wolftree Central Oregon and owners Ron and Sandy Neal of Bend to purchase the property. Escrow is expected to close in mid-June, according to local board member Janet Zuelke.

The grant will come from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB). Zuelke received a phone call with the good news last week.

The property will be used primarily to provide outdoor science education to middle and high school youths from Sisters and surrounding communities.

A key educational strategy, she noted, is to get kids out of the classroom and take a "hands on" approach to learning.

"Put them in the creek with hip boots," Zuelke said.

The program will be coordinated by school personnel with assistance from volunteers. There should be no need for large buildings or staff, although a storage shed will be needed, Zuelke said.

While much planning will take place this summer to implement the program, some students will be on site Friday, June 6, and plant willows to help restore Whychus Creek.

Zuelke, who has a background in fund-raising, began work on the project last fall, when 175 people in Sisters donated $30,000 for the project.

She said the property will not be open to the public, but community groups will be allowed to use it for approved uses.

Zuelke lives on property adjacent to the Wolftree property.

OWEB gets its funding from Oregon Lottery revenues and other sources that include salmon license plate revenues, federal salmon funds, and funds that come from the purchase of "salmon-friendly" power.

The Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board is a state agency led by a policy board.  The board's 17 members represent the public, tribes, state natural resource agency boards and commissions, and federal natural resources agencies.   

Of the board's 17 members, 11 vote.  At least one voting member is a tribal representative, and five others are citizen representatives.  The remaining five are drawn from state agencies:  the Board of Forestry; Board of Agriculture; Environmental Quality Commission; Fish and Wildlife Commission; and Water Resources Commission. 

Of the six non-voting board members, five represent federal natural resource agencies with expertise in forest and agricultural land management, water quality and salmon recovery, and one represents the Oregon State University Extension Service.