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Sisters, Oregon
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The contents of the on-line edition of The Nugget represent a selection among the stories that appear in the weekly print edition.

Citizens weigh future of watershed
By Jim Cornelius

More than 20 Sisters area residents turned out last week to explore their interest in protecting and enhancing the Squaw Creek watershed in the Sisters country.

The January 14 meeting was hosted by the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council to encourage citizens to weigh in on an action plan designed to improve stream flows, fish passage and water quality on the Squaw Creek watershed.

Council member Len Knott said the meeting brought some new faces to the table.

However, he said, the council still hopes to bring in broader participation, especially from local residents mobilized by a struggle over a proposed land swap that would have put some lands along the creek into private ownership.

"We're trying really hard to bring them into the process," Knott said.

Interested citizens will form a stewardship committee to help implement projects to further goals laid out in the council's Squaw Creek Action Plan.

According to Knott, the council wants broad community involvement in plans to restore bull trout habitat. Water users and conservationists have long expected some government action to enforce habitat restoration for bull trout throughout the Northwest.

"Bull trout is an up-and-coming issue that's going to have to be addressed by the community," Knott said.

He hopes to see the "community take action on its own before action is forced on them by the government."

So far, the council has identified 16 willing participants -- citizens whom Knott said were interested in doing, not just in talking.

Further meetings will be scheduled.

Those interested may contact Knott at 923-6438.

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