The Deschutes Basin Land Trust (DBLT) met its Friday, July 25 deadline to purchase forest land optioned from Willamette Industries just before they were taken over by Weyerhaueser.

The purchase required a Herculean fund-raising effort that targeted $3 million for the purchase and for restoration and management of the property.

"We raised a sufficient sum to acquire the property and we'll continue to raise funds for the restoration and management," said DBLT director Brad Chalfant. "We still need to raise about $600,000."

In addition to its value as wildlife habitat, Lake Creek is a crucial link in stream system restoration to allow the return of salmon runs.

The DBLT purchase will protect the three arms of the creek. Chalfant said there was concern that the area could be sold for development that would have a major impact upon the entire Metolius Basin.

"This is a very satisfying moment," Chalfant said. "I think this is probably the biggest project done by any of the Oregon land trusts to date."

Chalfant credited local support for the project with creating the momentum to raise funds from literally all over the world.

Major funding came from the Paul G. Allen Forest Protection Foundation, the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board and other organizations -- but that funding was all explicitly dependent on a demonstration of local support for the project.

"It's been the local support that has been so essential," Chalfant said.

The project drew contributions ranging from a $600,000 grant to $10 and $20 contributions from local residents on fixed incomes.

The acquisition is part of the Land Trust's "Back to Home Waters" campaign designed to restore salmon and steelhead runs to the upper Deschutes River watershed.

Biologists believe Lake Creek is the most critical stretch of salmon habitat in the Metolius Basin.

Substantial work will be done on the property, Chalfant noted, including the repair of culverts, construction of foot bridges, conversion of roads to trails, thinning, planting and weed eradication.