Big bug count on Whychus Creek

Last Saturday was a big day for the unknown, often overlooked, tiny residents of Whychus Creek.

Thanks to the efforts of The Xerces Society, The Upper Dechutes Watershed Council, Deschutes River Conservancy, Trout Unlimited, Central Oregon Flyfishers, stoneflies, caddis flies and other tiny organisms-literally-had their moment in the sun.

Twenty-two volunteers from all over Central Oregon, from age 12 to 80, gathered at Creekside City Park in Sisters early in the morning to take part in a census of all the invertebrates of Whychus Creek.

The project is allied to other conservation efforts to bring salmon back to Whychus Creek.

Bill Seitz, conservation chairman of Central Oregon Flyfishers (COF), cracked a big grin and, pointing his chin toward the swift-flowing burbling creek, said, "Yeah, I'd sure like to see salmon choking the creek again!"

Twelve-year-old Alex Heisler of Bend thought spending the day with the bugs of Whychus Creek might, as her dad, Todd suggested, "...be a good way to start a science project."

When Jeff Johnson, another volunteer from COF, was asked why he was willing to spend most of his day wading through the cold creek counting and collecting invertebrates, his response was, "I'm here to learn a few things and have fun."

And "...having fun while we learn" was the theme of Celeste Mazzacano's address as everyone formed a circle to introduce themselves and hear what was to be done and how to do it right.

Mazzacano is the staff scientist for The Xerces Society, a Portland-based nonprofit organization that protects wildlife through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitat.

The organization was started by butterfly enthusiasts, but over time has become a leader in helping people to understand the importance of invertebrates in attaining healthy wildlife habitat.

Mazzacano explained that the State of Oregon has placed mussels on their list of protected species; they can only be collected with a scientific take permit. To reduce the need for collecting macro-invertebrates that salmon need for food, each participant was supplied with a series of publications explaining further what protocols are in place for collecting and identification.

Once the mussels were indented, they would be placed back in the creek.

Each team was assigned a section (reach) of Whychus Creek to conduct the bug-count, both below and above Sisters.

John Adamson said, "I think we were the hardiest of the volunteers; we were the only ones who had a reach above the irrigation diversion, and believe me, the water was bigger, swifter and colder."

"It was a perfect day; not too warm, not too cold, and there was no rain during the previous days to wash away all the invertebrates," Mazzacano said. "We found three different species of caddis flies, lots of stoneflies, including lots of golden stoneflies."

Then, with a sigh, she added, "Unfortunately, no mussels were found anywhere during the census... I guess they just haven't returned yet..."

The samples were to be taken to Forest Grove, where the ABR Lab will identify all the invertebrates.

"It's vital that we go to the species level to get a better idea of the health of Whychus Creek," Mazzacano said. "Too often, restoration projects end up as a 'field of dreams,' hoping that everything will repair itself when only one or two steps are taken to restore salmon habitat... We have to know as much as possible about the ecosystem of the creek if we're going to be effective in the restoration projects."

When this year's inventory of invertebrates is completed, then The Xerces Society scientists and their other conservation partners will look at the data from similar investigations carried out in 2005 and 2009. Once the variables of water flow, temperature and numbers of invertebrates are worked into the results, the various agencies helping to restore salmon to Whychus Creek will have a better idea of how they're doing.