Grant will protect Whychus Creek

The Deschutes Land Trust has received a $450,000, three-year commitment from an anonymous Oregon family foundation toward the Campaign for Whychus Creek. The Land Trust will use the first installment of the grant as a challenge to raise $150,000 in matching campaign funds by the end of 2015. Funds will be used to conserve and care for lands along Central Oregon's Whychus Creek.

"We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the Oregon family foundation that stepped up to match the community's efforts in this Campaign for Whychus Creek. If you haven't already made a gift, now is the time - your impact will be so much greater," said Brad Chalfant, Deschutes Land Trust executive director.

Launched in the fall of 2014, the Land Trust's goal for the Campaign for Whychus Creek is to finish protecting the highest-quality wildlife habitat along Whychus Creek; ensure the permanent care of those lands for generations to come; and engage the community along the way. In the first year of the campaign, the Land Trust has raised more than a third of its goal for the campaign. They also protected two new parcels of land along Whychus Creek.

The 480-acre addition to Whychus Canyon Preserve, acquired in October 2014, protects another two miles of Whychus Creek and secures important habitat for salmon and steelhead, deer and elk, eagles and songbirds. Whychus Canyon Preserve is located between Sisters and Redmond and offers seasonal public hiking access to Whychus Creek. Public access to the 930-acre preserve is at the Whychus Canyon Preserve kiosk off of Goodrich Road.

Aspen Hollow Preserve was acquired in April of 2015 and protects another 58 acres of land along Whychus Creek near Sisters. The preserve includes a half-mile of Whychus Creek, unique columnar cliffs, and pine and aspen stands. The property is home to a variety of wildlife species including salmon and steelhead, mule deer, rocky mountain elk, golden eagles, spotted bats and numerous songbirds.