News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
A stream crossing considered vital by nearby property owners and managers has been preserved in a Forest Service decision on a project to restore Indian Ford Creek.
The Indian Ford Creek Restoration Project Decision Notice was released by Sisters District Ranger Kristie Miller last week. The project will restore aspen stands, wet meadows, fish passage and riparian habitat along the creek northwest of Sisters.
The Forest Service decided not to decommission Forest Road 2058 (the far northern extension of Pine Street) due to concerns over access to private property and prime birding areas.
"The City of Sisters, local fire officials, and nearby residents voiced concerns about losing emergency access to private residents along Pine Street," Miller noted in her decision notice. "In addition, adjacent property owners did not want to lose access to their properties located on the northern side of Indian Ford Creek."
Local birding groups had also raised concerns about losing access to the popular Calliope Crossing birding area.
To accommodate those concerns, the Forest Service will replace an existing culvert with "a larger structure such as a culvert or a bridge to better accommodate stream flows" while still preserving access. Work will be done in a manner so as to avoid disrupting conditions for birders.
Jack McGowan lives along Indian Ford Road and manages property on both sides of the creek. He was one of those concerned about the potential loss of access.
Those concerns revolved around emergency access and the ability to effectively manage property and "creating a potential road hazard with slow-moving farm vehicles on Indian Ford and Camp Polk Roads by property owners/managers having to use these roads for access to their properties thus creating an additional 14 miles of travel rather than their current and historical use of the existing crossing."
McGowan was pleased with both the process and the outcome of his interactions with the Sisters Ranger District when he and others raised concerns over the project.
"In the meetings held with Sisters Ranger District representatives at the crossing site, we were pleased and impressed with their willingness to listen to our collective concerns and the respectful dialogue that ensued," McGowan said. "Needless to say, we're happy with the decision for the property owners, bird-watchers and the recreation community who regularly use this crossing. Our collective thanks go to those folks from the Sisters Ranger District for the courtesy and professionalism extended to all of us. We're fortunate to have them in our region."
The Indian Ford Creek Restoration Project is designed to improve habitat for fish and wildlife along the creek and in Glaze Meadow.
"The improved health of wet meadows, aspen and hardwood areas will add important riparian habitat elements to the Whychus Creek watershed over the long term," Miller wrote.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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