Volunteers help plant native plants along a restored section of the Metolius Preserve's Lake Creek. Photo: Staff.

On October 10-11, 22 Trout Unlimited volunteers were busy at the Metolius Preserve helping plant nearly 1,500 plants along the south fork of the Preserve’s Lake Creek. The planting was a final step in the restoration of a stretch of Lake Creek where the Land Trust and the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council recently removed a large culvert (see pictures) to improve fish passage and habitat.

Prior to the planting, crews ripped up the old road creating a bumpy streambank strewn with logs and branches. Plants installed by volunteers included grasses, sedges, roses, and willows and many were fenced in to prevent the ever voracious deer from eating them. Thank you to all the volunteers who helped with this project!