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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (March 11, 2015)
12 Wednesday, March 11, 2015 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Seminar focuses on salty Lake Abert Fatbike event set at Black Butte Ranch By Helen Schmidling Correspondent Lake Abert in south Central Oregon has no fish, is too shallow for boating, too harsh for swimming, and far from scenic with its bar- ren shoreline, teeming with rattlesnakes. You wouldn’t want to pitch a tent or build a cabin on the shore. But if you’re a Wilson’s phalarope or an eared grebe, or other migrating bird, it’s prime din- ing on the north-south flyway, a buffet of brine shrimp and alkali flies. Lake Abert and nearby Summer Lake are the remains of the pluvial Lake Chewaucan, which once cov- ered 500 square miles in the high desert of south-central Oregon, between Klamath Falls and Lakeview. Next week, Oregon Public B r o a d c a s t i n g ’s O r e g o n Field Guide will visit Lake Abert. The program will air Thursday, March 19, at 8:30 p.m. and again on the follow- ing Sunday, March 22, at 6:30 p.m. Furthermore, a work- shop and symposium on the lake and its importance in the Lower Chewaucan Basin Aquatic Ecosystem will take place on April 24- 25 in Camp Sherman. The High Lakes Aquatic Alliance Foundation, Inc. (HLAAF), headquartered in Camp Sherman, is hosting the two-day event. Frank P. Conte, PhD, of Camp Sherman, professor of zoology (emeritus) of Oregon State University, calls the situation of Lake Abert criti- cal. The lake is in jeopardy, because the salinity of the water has increased and lake levels – which historically varied from year to year – have receded dramatically of late, to the point where the once-plentiful brine shrimp are nearly all gone. This dra- matically impacts the histori- cal migration pattern of these many birds. This year’s drought has compounded the situation. What the lake needs is more water. The seminar will address the issue and potential solutions, from the perspec- tive of scientists, environmen- talists, fishers and ranchers. As an expert on salt (in water, in your body, and in the environment), Conte has become one of Lake Abert’s champions. As president of HLAAF, he is a prime orga- nizer of the upcoming semi- nar. He’s also petitioning the state for help on behalf of the lake, the lowly brine shrimp, and the birds who rely on them as a food source. “If you were to prepare a cup of water approximating the salinity of Lake Abert, it would give new meaning to the salty taste,” Conte said. “But it does not give meaning to ‘salt load / hypernatremia’ of blood. That comes about if you cannot pee out the salt, or secrete it out your nose or eyes or ears or lungs. That is why the birds can eat the Spring Break Specials! Full Set of Acrylic Nails - $35 Partial Weave & Cut - $55 Men’s Cuts - $15 Allie • Heather • Colinda Exp. 3/24/15 541-549-6456 | 450 E. Cascade Ave. | Next to the big horse statue. We’re Committed To Your Family’s Dental Health! Flexible Payment Plans Including 0% Interest Financing (Ask for details, restrictions apply.) Ben Crockett, D.D.S. p 541-549-9486 f 541-549-9110 410 E. Cascade Ave. • P.O. Box 1027 • Sisters, Oregon 97759 Hours: Mon., 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Tues.-Wed., 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; Thurs., 7 a.m.-3 p.m. brine shrimp and flies in Lake Abert. They can eliminate the salt from their nose salt glands. They eat brine shrimp and flies for fats and proteins, and pee out the nose. Very dif- ferent from humans.” Conte is reaching out for support, both to Governor Kate Brown, and to the pub- lic, who use the high lakes Aquatic System for fishing, sailing, shoreline hiking, sce- nic photography, exercising pets, biking, or other types of recreation. Lifetime mem- bership in the HLAAF is available for a $25 donation. HLAAF is a 501(c)(3) dedi- cated to creating a partnership network of science and con- servation agencies. For more information on the organiza- tion or upcoming events email Frank Conte at spfclrecon@ centurylink.net. Black Butte Ranch and Blazin Saddles are set to bring the third and final race in their Cow Patty Crit Fatbike Race series. This “FUNale” will take place at noon on Saturday, March 14, at Hoodoo Ski Area. The course will be designed to inspire anyone to give it a whirl (so it won’t be too tough), but stairs, ramps, logs, tight corners, and cyclo- cross-style barriers are all part of the fatbike fun. Awesome prizes will be up for grabs for each category from Blazin Saddles Bike Shop, Hoodoo Ski Area, and Black Butte Ranch. Pre-race registration closes Friday, March 13, at 12 a.m. and can be done online at www.ultrasignup.com (search for “Cow Patty Crit”). Day-of registration and check-in will be available at the race site from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Pre- race registration fee is $15 and day-of registration fee is $25. There are no refunds. Race begins promptly at noon. The race site will be snowy and/or muddy, so please dress appropriately. If you are com- peting be sure to wear appro- priate clothing including closed-toe shoes and a helmet (both are required). If you are spectating, dress for weather and site conditions. For more information contact race coordinator Kevin O’Hara at 541-595- 5877 or by email: KOhara@ BlackButteRanch.com. Live Music at the Winery Year-round FIREWOOD SALES Thirsty Thursday with CinderBlue — Kindling — March 13 | 6-9 p.m. | $5 cover | $30 Fondue for Two — — SISTERS FOREST PRODUCTS 541-410-4509 SistersForestProducts.com March 12 | 6-9 p.m. | $5 cover Fondue Friday with Jeff Jackson 541-526-5075 70450 NW Lower Valley Dr. Terrebonne, Oregon faithhopeandcharityevents.com n i g n i s i t r e Adv ! s k r o W t e g g u The N It’s amazing to me that it’s been nearly fi ve years since I opened my business, Essentials Skincare, here in Sisters. Th e success of Essentials belongs not just to our fabulous products, our continuing education, or the love of what we do, but also to getting the word out about all of those things. Without a doubt, the best advertising venue has been locally, in Th e Nugget. I’ve received the best value for advertising dollars spent, and the resulting business has more than paid for the cost of my ads. In addition, I always feature a half-page half-pa ad in the Sisters Oregon Guide. For 18 years I’ve been an avid fan of the Sisters Oregon Guide. When I chose to be a business- owner here, I knew I would be in that beautiful, year-long publication. Th e guide reaches almost a quarter of a million visitors, and is distributed statewide. I’m already booking services for June from readers of last year’s Sisters Oregon Guide ad, which has paid for my upcoming ad! As always, I depend on the design team at Th e Nugget to help with set-up, photos, wording and presentation, and these professionals off er a great bargain for my advertising dollar. — Karen Keady, Essentials Skincare Call Lisa at 541-549-9941 today!