Classes turn spotlight on Whychus Creek

Citizens can learn more about Whychus Creek starting in February by attending five two-hour classes sponsored by the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council (UDWC). At the end of the classes, an all-day tour of the Whychus watershed will occur in May.

Whychus Creek has its origins high up in the Three Sisters, runs down through Sisters, and continues northeast to join up with the Deschutes River on its way to the Columbia River and eventually the Pacific Ocean.

The Whychus Watershed Speaker Series will be presented by the UDWC and its natural resource partners, discussing the history, hydrology, water quality, habitat conditions, native fish, water conservation, and stream restoration of the creek. The program is supported by funding from the Roundhouse Foundation.

Knight said the UDWC has flourishing programs that get students out on the creek and into nature and they want to extend those opportunities to adults, particularly those who have the creek in their neighborhood.

Whychus Creek has undergone a name change and massive restoration in recent years.

Participants will learn about the removal of fish barriers, the restoration of Camp Polk Meadow, and restoration along the upper reaches of the creek above Sisters and through Rim Rock Ranch.

Preregistration and payment of a $25 pre-registration fee is required for the series. Contact Kolleen Miller at [email protected] to register or for more information.

All presentations will be held at Sisters Library from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., with a virtual attendance option:

•?February 15: Whychus Creek 101: Watershed Overview & History

•?March 1: Whychus Creek Hydrology & Water Use

•?March 15: Water Use & Conservation

•?April 5: Habitat Restoration & Native Fish

•?April 19: Climate Change & Glacier Health.