The first phase of the major renovation of Ochoco Preserve is wrapping up! Crews finished most of the construction efforts in mid-September and then sprayed hydromulch over the project area. This wet straw layer will help prevent soil erosion and keeps soil moist in preparation for planting in October and November.

In late September and October, crews began moving McKay Creek into the newly restored channel. This was a multi-part process where a team of fish rescuers first helped move fish out of the old McKay channel into the Crooked River, then crews began to fill the old McKay Creek channel with soil. As they did, water began flowing into the newly restored channel. Watch the process in our video below!




What's next? Seeding and planting, lots of planting! We will be seeding native plants all across the project area, and then, in October and November, new native plants will be going in! We have several volunteer planting parties on the schedule so you can get involved in helping create better habitat for wildlife at Ochoco Preserve. Join us for one!

A special thank you to Portland General Electric, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Oregon Fisheries Restoration and Enhancement Act of 1989, the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, and many others for their support of the Ochoco Preserve Project.


Learn more:

• Watch all of our Ochoco Preserve Project videos.
• Read our last update on the Ochoco Preserve Project.
• About this year's work on McKay Creek.