Overview

The Lake Creek restoration project includes 725 feet of stream channel reconstruction at Lake Creek Lodge in Camp Sherman. The project, led by the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council, Lake Creek Lodge and Deschutes National Forest, focuses on improving habtiat for fish and wildlife by removing concrete, rock retaining walls and a large pond that was built in the 1930s. On-the-ground implementation is scheduled for October 2006.



The old pond was surrounded by concrete and rip rap (above).  The project removed the pond and restored a naturally flowing creek (below).

The Importance of Lake Creek

Lake Creek is the focus of habitat restoration efforts because it supports native redband trout and federally-listed Threatened bull trout. In addition, Lake Creek is one of the most important tributaries in the Metolius River watershed for the reintroduction of chinook and sockeye salmon that is scheduled to begin in 2008. Although these fish have been blocked from Metolius River watershed for more than 40 years, the returning chinook are expected to spawn in Lake Creek and the sockeye will migrate up Lake Creek to Suttle Lake, where they are expected to spawn in the lake and in Link Creek.

Because Lake Creek travels only about six miles from Suttle Lake to the Metolius River, each reach is critically important for sustaining local fisheries. The restoration at Lake Creek Lodge is an important step in restoring the habitat necessary to support resident and anadromous fish for years to come.

Funding

Project funding and support are being provided by the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, Deschutes River Conservancy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and Oregon Department of Fish and WIldlife.

Click here to download an information sheet for the Lake Creek project.

 Lake Creek Project Schematic