The Land Trust completed the first phase of the Ochoco Preserve Project in 2022. Phase one focused on habitat restoration in and around the McKay Creek portion of the Preserve. Phase two of the project was completed in 2024 and was focused on restoring Ochoco Creek and a portion of the Crooked River at the Preserve. Highlights of phase two include:

1. Create new main channels and side channels. A new meandering Ochoco Creek was built on the Preserve, doubling its overall length from 0.5 miles to 1.0 miles. Then a portion of the Crooked River (.06 miles) was moved onto the Preserve, adding more curves and channel complexity. Finally, an additional 1.5 miles of side channels were built.
   
   
2. Build new floodplains. Land surrounding Ochoco Creek and the Crooked River were adjusted to create 33 new acres of floodplain, and 5 new acres of wetlands. These new areas will give the waterways more room to spread out and slow high-water flows.
   
   
3. Add more fish and wildlife habitat. Riffles (shallow parts of a stream that have rough water) and deep, calm pools were added to Ochoco Creek and the Crooked River. Riffles and pools help diversify habitat for native fish. We also used wood (from salvaged trees) to help build 63 new habitat log jams in and around the stream. Stream and floodplain wood creates habitat for fish and wildlife, helps protect soils as the restoration project evolves, and provides places for new plants to grow.
   
   
4. Construct an acclimation pond. Another acclimation pond was built in Ochoco Creek, in addition to the one built in McKay Creek in 2022. The Ochoco Creek pond will help accustom young spring Chinook salmon and summer steelhead to Ochoco Creek, before they are released to journey to the Pacific Ocean and, hopefully, back to the Preserve to spawn.
   
   
5. Established more diverse topography. Nearly 400,000 cubic yards of earthen material was moved during phase two. These materials were used to build rolling hills and create more diverse terrain at the Preserve. That's 40,000 dump truck loads (10-12 yards in a standard dump truck) of material that was moved!
   
   
6. Planted new native plant communities. Volunteers and planting crews added more than 72,800 native plants to the newly restored portion of the Preserve. These plants will help reduce soil erosion, filter runoff, provide shade along the creek (eventually keeping creek waters cooler), and provide habitat for wildlife. We also sowed 2,386 pounds of native seed.
   
   
7. Establish locations for community connections. Part of the habitat restoration also included establishing locations for the trails and educational sites that will be built in phase three.

Once active construction efforts were finished, the Land Trust lets the restoration area rest, recover, and evolve while continuing to manage non-native weeds. See before and after footage of phase two.

Phase three of the Ochoco Preserve Project is planned for 2026, pending funding and permitting.

Learn more:

• About phase one on McKay Creek.
• Watch all of our Ochoco Preserve Project videos.
• About the Ochoco Preserve Project.