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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (April 27, 2016)
8 Wednesday, April 27, 2016 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Collaboration key to forest health By Craig F. Eisenbeis Correspondent When conflicting inter- ests arise in forest man- agement, Forest Ecologist Maret Pajutee says that win- win solutions are still pos- sible. Pajutee, whose 25-year Forest Service career is in its final days, spoke to a keenly receptive audience last week as part of the Sisters Trails Alliance (STA) speakers series. She dubbed her talk “Tale of Two Rivers — The Sequel — Keeping the ‘Wild’ in Wild and Scenic,” build- ing on earlier references to restoration efforts on the Metolius River and Whychus Creek. She began by relating how, 20 years ago, the Forest Service asked its planners to start thinking about the land- scape and its future. So, they did, starting with analysis of watershed data dating back to the mid-19th century. One of the particular concerns was the astoundingly pathetic condition of what was then called Squaw Creek, which was so oversubscribed for irrigation that the stream often went completely dry on its way through Sisters in the summer. Two decades later, the stream has a new name and new life — the result of what Pajutee touted as col- laboration. In looking at how to restore what is now known as Whychus Creek, the Forest Service recog- nized that “It wasn’t our water, our fish, or our dams, so we had to adopt a collab- orative approach,” Pajutee said. Today, Whychus Creek once again flows year-round, and its decimated fish popula- tions are being restored. This all came about, she said, not through the efforts of one agency or organization, but as a result of collaboration among many. “When you think about how screwed up the Whychus system was 20 years ago,” Pajutee said, “that was a really fast turnaround.” She reported that, as part of the elaborate restora- tion efforts, steelhead have already been recorded in a restored portion of Whychus Creek at the Deschutes Land Trust’s Camp Polk Preserve, and a few have been observed in the Metolius River, as well. Pajutee pointed out that Upper Whychus Creek and the lower Metolius River are among the few national gems Congressionally designated as “Wild and Scenic Rivers.” There are only 203 such des- ignations in the entire nation, and two of them are right here in our own neighborhood. Pajutee conceded that the substantial growth projected in Central Oregon will defi- nitely challenge future forest planning. “Where is the sweet spot for development versus con- servation?” she asked, before admitting, “I don’t have the answer. None of us does.” She likened the Deschutes National Forest to the prover- bial golden goose and showed a graphic with an admoni- tion pleading, “Don’t kill the golden goose.” And that is the challenge now being faced, she said. Amazingly, use of the Three Sisters Wilderness doubled in 2015 over just the previous year, and it had already been on a steady increase. There are currently 1,566 miles of trails in the Deschutes National Forest, 400 of them in the Sisters Ranger District. Various proposals for new trails in the Sisters Ranger District alone would add more than 800 miles. So, obviously, the opportunities for col- laborative planning are far from over. Much more will have to be done in the future to balance wilderness with the growing demands being placed upon it. Part of that process will entail what Pajutee described as “growing new stewards.” To accomplish that, the Forest Service and others are already working closely with schools to instill young people with an “attachment to the land” in the hopes of creating an emo- tional link to the land around us. Adults are also being edu- cated through outreach with other organizations such as that provided by the STA forum. There was a time, Pajutee PHOTO BY CRAIG EISENBEIS Maret Pajutee chats with STA board members Gary Guttormsen and Chuck Humphreys following her pre-retirement address. said, when competing out- from last October which door, forest, and environ- read “Everybody wins on mental issues were viewed Whychus Creek,” which was in a solely partisan manner. the hoped-for resolution all Instead, she says, opposing along. In that way, she said, parties can better view each we can all be winners in the other as allies with common long run. interests in order to seek com- Her remarks were greeted mon solutions. She hopes the with a standing ovation. days of win/lose confronta- For more information tions are a thing of the past about STA or performing vol- and that the concept of “muti- unteer work on trails or other ple-use” can make everyone outdoor-related projects, winners. contact the organization at As a perfect illustra- 541-719-8822 or visit https:// tion, she cited an edito- sisterstrailsalliance.wildapri rial headline in The Nugget cot.org.
