METOLIOUS, OR — The Sisters Ranger District of Deschutes National Forest has partnered with a private landowner to restore a fish passage for bull trout in the Metolius Basin.
“[The Lundgren family] had changed their irrigation system and no longer needed the diverted water off of Jack Creek,” says Sisters Ranger District fish biologist Mike Riehle. “So we partnered with them to remove their irrigation for the bull trout on Jack Creek.”
Bull trout are listed by the Fish and Wildlife Service as threatened. Removing the dam will restore access to important upstream spawning grounds, which give bull trout a chance to repopulate.
“By opening this fish passageway we are going to basically have unimpeded migration through that site and open that important habitat up above,” Riehle says. “That way they can redistribute themselves throughout all the habitat in Jack Creek.”
Riehle says the Bridge 99 Complex fires are miles away and pose no threat to the restoration project.
However, the recreation area near the dam site will be closed to the public during operations.
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