Wednesday, October 28, 2020 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon RESTORATION: Project is collaboration of many agencies Continued from page 3 opportunity to demonstrate the diversity of great organi- zations working to ensure that all Oregonians have opportu- nities to enjoy our state9s fish, wildlife and outdoor recre- ational areas across the state.= Funding for the project also came from Pacific Gas and Electric through their Pelton Dam Fund which sup- ports conservation, water quality and promotes fish passage and improved habi- tats for fish above the dam. Because Link Creek runs through public and pri- vate land, funding was split between Trout Unlimited and the Forest Service, who will be involved in the restoration work. Nate Dachtler, a fisher- ies biologist with Deschutes National Forest9s Sisters Ranger District, will focus on a large wood restora- tion project. Trees provide cover and slow-water rearing areas for fish. He9ll be work- ing with Trout Unlimited9s Pacific Northwest Education Coordinator Darek Staab, and Caldera Arts9 Youth Program Director Karena Salmond. <It9s nice to have all these different people from so many agencies working together. That9s really great,= said Dachtler. Work on Link Creek began in 1997 when a sur- vey was done and data was collected. <We found there was little wood on Link Creek back then,= said Dachtler. <You could tell the previous own- ers had logged along the creek and cut the bigger trees. When a tree died they took it for firewood so trees couldn9t fall in and serve as habitat for fish. I began talking to Caldera folks and told them what we found and we9d like to do a project to increase the wood and stream for fish habitat. They9ve been great partners on the project.= With forest fires devas- tating areas and taking away team members who would have been working on Link Creek restoration, the time- line for the project has been pushed back to next year. In the meantime, Staab and Salmond have been work- ing on online virtual field trips for students. It9s their hope that students unable to attend Caldera Arts9 sum- mer programs and local stu- dents who9ve been learning from home will still be able to learn from the restoration plan and eventually walk along Link Creek and help with projects now slated for next spring and summer. <I9m excited given that Caldera has an environmental and arts focus. We9re finding more ways to promote inte- gration through the project and connecting creativity and art,= said Salmond. <There9s so many possibilities. I9m looking forward to doing things in person to fulfill the project9s potential.= Staab was able to do one fieldtrip to the site with students from Black Butte School in Camp Sherman. Students toured Link Creek to see areas that haven9t had wood placed in them yet, and then saw a site where wood had been placed. <They saw what the log structures looked like and observed kokanee salmon using the habitat,= said Staab. Wo r k i n g f o r Tr o u t Unlimited, Staab9s emphasis is on education and the res- toration of cold-water fisher- ies. Staab created two virtual experiences that inspire and engage students. <We wanted kids to feel like they were there in per- son,= said Staab. Along with students, the other big winners from the project are the fish. Suttle Lake has one of only two pop- ulations of sockeye salmon in the state of Oregon. It is the only run considered recov- erable. They went extinct in the 1930s and 940s due to dams. Sockeye salmon are being reintroduced. Chinook salmon used to be in Link Creek and will benefit as well as kokanee which are a land- locked sockeye. According to Dachtler, there9s a potential for bull trout to benefit too. <They9ve been docu- mented in Suttle Lake but not in Link Creek,= he said. <In the last 15 years we9ve been working on fish pas- sage up to Suttle Lake by removing dams and build- ing natural streams simula- tion over the dams. Now fish can get up there from the Metolius.= Pajutee is hoping people will participate in the fund- raising campaign and donate $10 each. <It9s a great chance for all of us including hikers, bik- ers, bird watchers, and nature lovers to demonstrate we care about our natural places and creatures and are willing to help support improvements so we can all enjoy being outside more often,= said Pajutee. With funding diminishing for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the effort can show state legisla- tors that Oregonians are will- ing to invest in habitats and access to nature that can pro- vide comfort during difficult times. A sincere THANK YOU to our fi refi ghters from all of us at THE GARDEN ANGEL 23 years in business • LCB#9583 • 541-549-2882 PATTY CORDONI 541.771.0931 patty.cordoni@cascadesir.com Principal Broker Residential Sales, Farm and Ranch Division CascadeSothebysRealty.com | Each offi ce independently owned and operated. d n a e af een! S a H ave y H allow H app 220 S. Pine St., Ste. 102 | 541-548-9180 GOLF HOME 13 • $999,000 • mls 220108804 Custom home located in quiet, secluded setting yet close to Lodge amenities PENDING SPRING HOME 51 • $749,000 • mls 220109792 Views of Black Butte and Big Meadow. Two main-fl oor master suites. SUDOKU SOLUTION for puzzle on page 21 Exclusive Onsite Realtor for the Ranch 13 transactions successfully closed in the last 10 months. I would be honored to assist with your real estate needs. Call Jen McCrystal, Broker 541-420-4347 • jen@reedbros.com Reed Bros. Realty 291 W. Cascade Ave. Sisters, OR 97759 541-549-6000 • www.reedbros.com Each office is independently owned and operated. Comments? Email PHOTO BY DAREK STAAB A restoration project at Link Creek near Suttle Lake will reintroduce wood debris for fish habitat. RESIDENTIAL FARM & RANCH Stop by and visit with Tiana & Shelley. 23 Don Bowler, President and Broker 971-244-3012 Gary Yoder, Managing Principal Broker 541-420-6708 Ross Kennedy, Principal Broker 541-408-1343 Carol Dye, Broker 541-480-0923 | Joe Dye, Broker 541-595-2604 Corrie Lake, Broker 541-521-2392 Open daily, 9 to 5, by the Lodge Pool Complex 541-595-3838 Black Butte Ranch 541-549-5555 in Sisters, 414 W. Washington Ave. see all our listings at blackbutterealtygroup.com