100,000 Trees in the Deschutes

The 100,000 Trees in the Deschutes River Basin project seeks to restore compromised riparian habitat to protect the native fish stocks and water quality of the Deschutes River basin. Since the launch of this effort in 2004, The Freshwater Trust staff has worked with community volunteers to plant native riparian trees on both public and private land. The reaches prioritized for planting provide key habitat for spring and fall Chinook, Pacific lamprey, resident redband trout and ESA-listed summer steelhead. By engaging the local community in restoration work, we also advance our goal of promoting a long-term, locally-based restoration ethic. The Deschutes River corridor is very popular with recreational users, and the high visibility of this project will increase the likelihood of similar projects taking place in other areas where riparian health is a limiting factor.

In 2009, The Freshwater Trust exceeded its goal of planting 100,000 trees in the Deschutes basin. With the help and support of our partners and hundreds of volunteers, we concluded the multi-year planting process - 118,000 native trees were planted and are contributing to water quality and providing habitat benefits to trout, salmon and steelhead.

Many thanks to the following, whose contributions made this project possible:

  • The Flyfisher Foundation
  • Members of the Flyfisher’s Club of Oregon
  • The Tattam family
  • Wells Fargo 
  • Members of Oregon Trout
  • Brad Staples of Western Fishing Adventures
  • Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
  • The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
  • Deschutes Club
  • All Star Rafting & Kayaking
  • American Forest Foundation
  • National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
  • Weyerhaeuser
  • Mt. Jefferson Farms
  • Cory Stubblefield and Blake Bennett
  • Richard Walsh with special support from General Mills Co.

We will continue to work in the Deschutes basin in 2010 on livestock fencing projects and weed removal work designed to protect sensitive riparian areas and promote native habitat.  This work will also be powered by volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, contact Mark McCollister, Senior Wild Fish Restoration Manager at mark@thefreshwatertrust.org.