Volunteers sought to help restore Steelhead Falls
Steelhead Falls on the Middle Deschutes River is one of the crown jewels of Central
Oregon. Thousands of people visit to camp, hike, fish, kayak and birdwatch. Steelhead Falls, and the trail that accesses it, are in Steelhead Fall Wilderness Study Area, managed by the Prineville District of the Bureau of Land Management.
As a result of increasing recreational use and recent winter storms, the Steelhead Falls Trail has deteriorated. Washouts caused by storms, together with informal trails created by hikers, kayakers, and fishermen are a serious problem. Along with erosion, there has been a significant increase in invasive weeds at the trailhead and along the trail.
With a $3,000 grant from the American Hiking Society, Friends and Neighbors of the Deschutes Canyon Area (FANs) volunteers, under the direction of Marilynne Keyser, have been removing invasive weeds and planting native seeds and plants since last December. As of March 21 , 2015, 250 hours have been donated to this project by 57 volunteers.
On Saturday, April 18 , FANs will team up with the Prineville BLM and SOLVE IT Central Oregon to complete this native plant restoration effort. Beginning at 9:00 a.m., volunteers will plant 250 flowering shrubs and wildflowers, weed areas around the parking lot, and clean up the campground. At 11:00 am, volunteers can hike the trail to Steelhead Falls to see the results of our shared efforts. At noon, FANs will provide lunch for all the volunteers, and we will celebrate our success!
If you can help, please contact Marilynne Keyser at mtkeyser@gmail.com . If you have your own trowel or small shovel and work gloves, please bring them. FANs will provide drinking water, extra work gloves and small trowels and shovels for those who don’t have them.
