This year the Land Trust celebrates 30 years of conserving and caring for the lands and waters of Central Oregon! As we approach the end of the year, we thought we’d look back on 30 ways we’ve worked together over the years to make Central Oregon such a great place to live, work, and grow. Highlights include:
1. Together we formed a land trust to protect and care for the lands we love in Central Oregon! The Deschutes Land Trust was incorporated as a 501c3 nonprofit in 1995.
3. Protected our first property—a little meadow! We acquired and protected Indian Ford Meadow Preserve in 1996. Today the meadow is a community favorite, with commanding views, lovely walking loops, and protected habitat for a wide variety of plants and animals.
4. Worked with partners in the Sisters community to protect a rare penstemon and learning lab for local students. The Trout Creek Conservation Area was protected in 1997, and today the Land Trust remains a steward of this 161 acre parcel near Sisters High School.
5. Helped conserve a former ranch and the confluence of Whychus Creek and the Deschutes River. Alder Springs, protected in 1998, was a collaboration with the Trust for Public Land to acquire and transfer the 840 acre property to the Crooked River National Grasslands. Since then, generations of Central Oregonians have come to enjoy this remote, beautiful place and its outstanding geology.
6. Volunteered! The early of days of the Land Trust volunteers helped bolster our staff of three. They helped lead the organization, completed restoration projects, identified lands to protect, and so much more. Their initial efforts help set the stage for decades of amazing volunteerism. Check out some of this year's outstanding volunteers!
8. In the early 2000s we launched a new program to connect the community to our protected lands, guided walks and hikes. Today we continue to offer Walks + Hikes, thanks to the expertise of an amazing community of volunteer leaders! Thank you to these volunteers and to all the folks who have joined us outside to learn more about the nature of Central Oregon.
9. The Metolius Preserve was a huge acquisition for our eight-year-old Land Trust, but we did it thanks to our amazing community of supporters! Together we raised $2.5 million to protect a key part of the Metolius region, that would go on to become another community favorite with beautiful forests, burbling sections of Lake Creek, and 10 miles of trails for exploring!
10. For our 10th anniversary in 2005, we went big and publicly announced our intentions to acquire and conserve Skyline Forest, a 33,000 acre forest between Bend and Sisters. Twenty years later we are still working to conserve this important forest, and we know the relationships we’ve built over the years will help make it happen one day.
12. Worked with private landowners to conserve their land. In 2006-2007, we worked with dedicated landowners to protect Rimrock Ranch, Boyer, and Ranch at the Canyons.
13. Achieved national accreditation. In 2009, the Land Trust was first awarded national accreditation. We were among the first 53 land trusts in the nation to become accredited and the second one in the state of Oregon. Today we celebrate 15 years of national accreditation.
14. Decommissioned roads. The Metolius Preserve had many former logging and access roads throughout the Preserve. We worked with partners, contractors, and volunteers to de-compact these roads and then restore them with native plants. Today, you wouldn’t even know they existed!
16. Launched a new nature-focused lecture series: Nature Nights! Since our first Nature Night in 2011, this annual series has helped thousands of Central Oregonians connect to the wonders of nature through engaging, accessible presentations.
17. Celebrated returning Whychus Creek to its meandering path through Camp Polk Meadow Preserve! Smiles abounded on the cold winter day in 2012 when the full flow of Whychus Creek was finally able to access the meadow after more than 50 years. Today the restoration is flourishing, providing healthier habitat for fish, wildlife, and native plant communities.
18. Created a network of more than seven miles of walking and hiking trails at Whychus Canyon Preserve! First built in 2012, these trails are loved by the community today, providing a place to explore wildflowers, the Santiam Wagon Road, and Whychus Creek.
20. Launched the six-mile restoration of Whychus Creek at Whychus Canyon Preserve and Rimrock Ranch. In 2016, the first 1.5 miles of creek were restored at Whychus Canyon Preserve, returning water to the floodplain and dramatically improving habitat. The portion of Whychus Creek at Rimrock Ranch was restored in 2021 and 2023. Learn more about the restoration.
21. Protected Willow Springs Preserve. Acquired in 2017, this 129 acre Preserve includes one mile of Whychus Creek, creekside meadows, aspen and cottonwood stands, and rimrock cliffs. Ochoco Preserve was also established in 2017, protecting portions of the Crooked River, McKay Creek, and Ochoco Creek and important wildlife habitat.
22. Established a new historic interpretive trail at Camp Polk Meadow Preserve in 2018, sharing the deep history of the Preserve and preserving the historic structures on site. We also acquired the Metolius River Preserve in 2018, protecting 30 acres of forest, meadow, and fen along the Metolius River.
24. Helped boost Indigenous access, ownership, and stewardship of land in Oregon. As a conservation organization and a landowner, the Land Trust continues to seek ways we can support increased Indigenous access, stewardship, and ownership of land. We have been collectively advancing this work through our participation in the Oregon Land Justice Project since 2021.
25. Protected Paulina Creek Preserve in 2022! This 1,099 acre Preserve protects ponderosa and lodgepole pine forests, wet and dry meadows, and 3.7 miles of Paulina Creek, and provides habitat for a wide range of wildlife. The Preserve helped start a partnership with the Klamath Tribes to conserve and protect land in their territory.
27. Restored Ochoco Preserve. The second phase of the Ochoco Preserve Project wrapped up in 2024, creating new main channels and side channels for Ochoco Creek and part of the Crooked River, adding fish and wildlife habitat, and establishing places for community connection. The first phase focused on McKay Creek and was finished in 2022.
28. Launched Nature Kids, a new program of guided nature walks for families with kids ages 5-10! This new program helped double the number of kid-friendly outings we offer, engaging more than four times the number of participants.
29. Completed our first prescribed burn! The Land Trust completed our first burn at the Metolius Preserve, helping return fire to the pine forest. Together we also worked to recover from wildfires that burned thousands of acres at Land Trust Preserves in 2025.
30. Deschutes Land Trust celebrates 30 years of conservation, community, and caring for the land! Thank you for being by our side and protecting what we love about Central Oregon. (And for reading this long list!) Together we have conserved 18,742 acres, connected 13,175 people, and celebrated 129,238 hours of volunteering. We 💚 you!
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