Healthy runoff this spring gave the Land Trust an opportunity to see how Ochoco Preserve's new restoration area responded to the influx of water. The Land Trust completed the first phase of the Ochoco Preserve Project in 2022, restoring the section of McKay Creek that runs through the Preserve. Brief episodes of warm weather and rain in April and May this year caused rapid snowmelt in the mountains, which in turn boosted flows significantly in McKay Creek and the Crooked River.

Restoration specialist Jason Grant was pleased with how the restored portion of McKay Creek responded. Water spread out as it came into the Preserve, helping slow floodwaters and reduce its erosive power. Where McKay Creek meets the Crooked River, water backed up to create a small pond, again helping slow waters on the Crooked River itself. Fly over the project during high flows in our video below!

Some portions of the restoration area were impacted by the high flows and lack of established vegetation, but crews were onsite in late May to fix those places, primarily building more small beaver-like dams to help impound and slow water. Some of the newly planted grasses, shrubs, and trees were lost to the high flows, but we will replant those this fall.

While we'd love to see our new plants more established before a significant flow event—they help stabilize the site following restoration and reduce erosion—the restoration area is doing well and will be even more ready next spring!

Learn more:

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