(Photo above: Whychus Canyon Preserve | Photo by Joan Amero)
Conserving Land for The Future
For 22 years, the Deschutes Land Trust has worked to protect the forests, meadows and creeks that Central Oregonians—people and wildlife—need to thrive. They accomplish their mission by working cooperatively with landowners to conserve their land, whether it be for wildlife, scenic views or local community benefit. Since 1995, the Land Trust has conserved more than 8,900 acres of land in Central Oregon.
Land trusts operate throughout the United States and abroad. They range from small groups run by volunteers to large, international groups. Regardless of size, they share the same purpose: conserving land for the future. Land trusts typically conserve land in one of two ways: purchasing a property outright or by creating a land protection agreement that stays with the land. Both methods are intended to be in perpetuity and the land trust’s long-term job is then to safeguard the property’s conservation values.
Deschutes Land Trust owns seven nature preserves that are managed for the benefit of wildlife and people. Whychus Canyon Preserve located between Sisters and Redmond is a signature project. The Land Trust purchased and created the original 450 acre Preserve in 2010 and then added another 480 acres in 2014. The Preserve includes four miles of Whychus Creek, outstanding canyon scenery, native grasslands, and old growth juniper stands.
Wildlife species abound and last year the Land Trust began the first phase of a massive restoration project designed to make this habitat even better for wildlife. The Preserve is also home to a network of trails that provide the only public access to Whychus Creek between Sisters and the Crooked River National Grasslands.
The Land Trust is charting the future of Central Oregon! Donate today to protect the forests, meadows, and creeks that Central Oregonians—people and wildlife—need to thrive.
Details: deschuteslandtrust.org/join
