Land trust acquires 58 acres on Whychus Creek

The Deschutes Land Trust announced Monday it has purchased 58 acres of land along Whychus Creek northeast of Sisters, the latest in a series of acquisitions aimed at protecting the area’s habitat.

The new Aspen Hollow Preserve includes a half-mile of creek frontage, unique columnar cliffs, and pine and aspen stands, the organization said.

The property is home to a variety of wildlife species including salmon and steelhead, mule deer, rocky mountain elk, golden eagles, spotted bat and numerous songbirds. The acquisition was made possible by the Land Trust’s Campaign for Whychus Creek.

“Our purchase of Aspen Hollow Preserve is a great example of how the Campaign for Whychus Creek can help conserve the best of Whychus Creek,” said Executive Director Brad Chalfant.

“Early donors to the Campaign provided bridge funding for the project while we worked with other funders to secure final purchase funds,” he explained. “The availability of this bridge funding allowed us to move quickly to secure the property when the opportunity presented itself.

“Going forward, we expect the campaign will continue to be critical to conserving the remaining priority lands along Whychus Creek,” Chalfant added.

Launched last fall, the goal of the Campaign for Whychus Creek is to protect the highest-quality remaining wildlife habitat along the Creek, ensure the permanent care of those lands for years to come, and engage the community along the way.

The Land Trust has raised nearly a third of its goal for the campaign. Additional funding for the new Aspen Hollow Preserve came from a variety of sources, including Land Trust members, the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, the Laird Norton Family Foundation, and the Roundhouse Foundation.

Aspen Hollow Preserve includes a half-mile of quality steelhead habitat, cliff habitat for raptors and sensitive bat species, and aspen and Ponderosa pine woodlands. The Land Trust is developing plans for removing dilapidated buildings from the floodplain, enhancing fish and wildlife habitat, and providing guided tours and hosted educational activities.

The Deschutes Land Trust conserves land for wildlife, scenic views, and local communities. As Central Oregon’s only nationally-accredited and locally-based land trust, the Deschutes Land Trust has protected more than 8,750 acres since 1995. For more information on Deschutes Land Trust, contact us at (541) 330-0017 or visit www.deschuteslandtrust.org.