Riparian Restoration Progress Across Our Watersheds

This season has brought significant advancements in our riparian restoration efforts across multiple watersheds, thanks to three key grants that have funded critical work in our region.

Invasive Species Control at Black Butte Ranch

At Black Butte Ranch, we’ve made substantial progress in controlling Reed Canary Grass, an invasive species threatening the headwaters of Indian Ford Creek. Through the USFWS Partners Program, we conducted herbicide treatments across 30 acres over a two-year period. By targeting this invasive weed at its source, we’re preventing seed dispersal downstream. We’re currently working to secure additional funding for a third treatment phase that would include seeding and plantings to restore native vegetation.

New Watershed Group Forms for Indian Ford Creek

The Bureau of Reclamation Grant has enabled us to establish a dedicated watershed group for the Indian Ford Creek Watershed. Since its formation in 2022, this collaborative effort between partner organizations and private landowners has been instrumental in identifying natural resource concerns throughout the watershed.

The group has cataloged existing data, identified information gaps, and developed recommendations for future monitoring and management. We’ve already completed 11 property assessments, and are now applying for grants to fund monitoring in the lower reaches to better understand water quantity issues and investigate why the creek hasn’t flowed to Whychus Creek in over a decade.

Upper Deschutes Riparian Plantings Enhance La Pine State Park

In the Upper Deschutes, our partnership with Think Wild/Beaver Works has yielded impressive results. With support from an OWEB Small Grant, we’ve completed riparian plantings at two key sites within La Pine State Park—the Big Tree site and Fall River. These plantings will help stabilize banks, provide shade, and enhance habitat for wildlife along this treasured waterway.

Looking Forward: Building on Restoration Success

These projects demonstrate how strategic partnerships and targeted funding can create meaningful restoration impacts across our watersheds, and we look forward to building on this momentum in the seasons ahead.