Whychus Creek is back home

Whychus Creek returned to Camp Polk Meadow last Tuesday, after an almost 50-year absence.

Some 50 people lining the banks were ecstatic as they watched the heavy equipment placing trees and tons of soil into the log jam that was shunting the creek's water out of the ditch that had made it gush downstream like it was coming out of a fire hose.

Last week's events, the culmination of a project spearheaded by Deschutes Land Trust, is the closest thing possible to wrestling back the hands of time.

Before American settlement began around Sisters Country, Whychus Creek flowed naturally through land flourishing with birds, deer, salmon and steelhead. It was a vital spawning area in the upper Deschutes Basin, responsible for up to 40 percent of the steelhead production, with the potential for up to 9,000 spawning fish. By 1918, as irrigation demands became intense, not a drop of Whychus Creek reached Sisters.

During the 1960s, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers deepened and straightened 1.5 miles of Whychus Creek in Camp Polk Meadow to prevent flooding upstream. The change was catastrophic to native plants and wildlife, especially birds and fish. The result was a net loss of half a mile of cold, healthy stream, an increase in erosion and a significant loss of fish habitat, wetlands and flood plain area. Eventually, the prime spawning habitat at Camp Polk Meadow was also lost.

Brad Chalfant, executive director of the Deschutes Land Trust was perhaps the most excited of all to witness Whychus Creek flowing back into Camp Polk Meadow.

"This wouldn't have been possible without all the dedication and hard work of my family," he said. "Yes, my Land Trust family. It's taken over 12 years to see this moment take place, something I was afraid would never happen."

He pointed to the gurgling water slowly flowing into the channel.

"Look," he said, "that water will recharge the meadow again, bring new life to everything it touches; revitalize more wildlife habitat and put life to the restoration work we've been doing to return ocean-run salmon and steelhead to the creek."

Bobby Brunoe, of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, was on hand as well, representing the Warm Springs, Wasco and Paiute Native American Tribes. Historically, these native peoples hunted, fished and gathered plant materials in the high country where Whychus Creek begins, and into lands stretching from the snowcapped summit of the Cascades to the palisade cliffs of the Deschutes River. It was at the behest of the Warm Springs people that the name Whychus is used for the creek today.

Portland General Electric, another partner in bring Whychus Creek back to it's ancestral home, was also there. PGE is also a principal partner in assisting with the recovery of ocean-run salmon to Whychus Creek.

Ryan Houston, executive director of the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council - and consultant to the Land Trust - was front and center, sharing the highlights of bringing Whychus Creek back into Camp Polk Meadow Preserve.

Volunteers from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) planted thousands of native riparian plants throughout the preserve. Such plantings are vital to the welfare of the meadow and will enhance wildlife habitat for years to come. The native willows will again become nesting and foraging habitat for a variety of warblers, and the meadow will produce a grand profusion of invertebrates for western and mountain bluebirds to feed their nestlings. As the salmon population grows, there is little doubt that the American bald eagle will also return to nest in the pines along the creek.  

The restoration project has been a labor of many years and many hands.

When old irrigation rights in Camp Polk Meadow were abandoned and the land went up for sale in 1997, the Deschutes Land Trust had a vision to return the creek and meadow to more natural conditions, restoring this vital fish and wildlife habitat.

They worked with the landowner to acquire the property, and teamed with Upper Deschutes Watershed Council, U.S. Forest Service, Deschutes River Conservancy and more than a dozen other partners to develop a long-term restoration plan. Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board funding was used to put the plan into action. Hundreds of volunteers went to work restoring much of the native plants that were lost when the meadow dried out.

Upon completion of restoration work in 2012, nearly two miles of Whychus Creek will be returned to its historic location, as Chalfant hopes, "To wander where it wants to so that in summer it will release cool water into the creek.

"Thirty-five acres of wetlands will be restored. The drive to remove invasive weeds will be continue, and adding to the more than 200,000 native plants will go on. By working together on this important project, the partners, school children, and everyone who believes in conservation will work to keep Whychus Creek safe as it again creates a place where wildlife flourishes, clean water flows and native fish can once again thrive in a healthy environment."

As Whychus Creek slowly flowed into the old channels and quietly began filling small, dried-up ponds, Maret Pajutee, ecologist with the Sisters Ranger District, said, "We've been dreaming of this day for about 15 years, so to see it happen is a huge thrill. The inspiring part is that it took the collective will of so many people and organizations with a common vision working together.  Water is life and I can't wait to see what happens next !"