We work to preserve and restore the wild landscapes of the Middle Deschutes and Lower Crooked Rivers and Lower Whychus Creek through stewardship, outreach and education.
-FANs of the Deschutes Canyon Area's Mission Statement
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Our Lens on Learning Series Continues Online
Animal Migration in Central Oregon
Presented by Suzanne Linford, Executive Director of Protect Animal Migration
November 14, 2020, 10:00 a.m.
Free event on Zoom
Register Now
Protect Animal Migration (PAM) is an educational nonprofit providing fact-based wildlife biological information to the general public. They are a collaboration of wildlife biologists from Oregon Department of Transportation, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Deschutes National Forest and wildlife advocates. Our goal is to inform the public of increasing threats to wildlife and of the need for public advocacy to support mitigating solutions that will stabilize species like mule deer.
Suzanne Linford, the Executive Director of PAM, a Master Naturalist and wildlife interpreter; Cidney Bowman, Wildlife Passage Coordinator (biologist), ODOT; Sara Gregory, Wildlife Habitat Biologist, ODFW; will share information and updates to wildlife passage here in Central Oregon. Lauri Turner will be in the audience to answer questions relevant to land management and recreation, and Suzanne Linford will explain new federal initiatives on migration and habitat and how collaborations and individuals are joining resources for wildlife. Learn more and register for this event.
Photo: Tom Iraci
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Autumn Guided Hikes
Jeff Scheetz, FANs Hiking Coordinator
We are offering small guided hikes, with temporary restrictions to mitigate COVID-19 risks. We believe our program meets all current health authority rules and recommendations. Hikes are subject to cancellation due to changing conditions of weather, fire, and public health.
Space is limited to 8 participants, including hike leaders, and registration is required. You can learn more and sign up using the links below. In addition to the conditions listed for each individual hike, participants need to abide by the following COVID-19 safety measures:
- Participants need to maintain 6 ft distance between each other.
- Each participant must bring their own face mask in case social distancing cannot be maintained when encountering other hikers.
- Bring hand sanitizer to use in parking lot after hiker sign-in process.
- Carpooling is limited to partners/family members.
- Outside of partners/family members, no sharing supplies or equipment.
- In the event of crowded trail indications, group leader may opt for a near alternative location for the hike.
- Participants should stay home if they are showing symptoms of COVID-19 or if anyone in their household is currently in quarantine or awaiting results of a COVID-19 test. If you do not feel well before the hike, contact the leader as soon as possible to cancel, as we maintain a waitlist.
The Peninsula: Past, Present and Future
Crooked River National Grassland
Thursday, October 29, 8:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Rating: Easy (~2.5 miles of fairly flat, easy hiking; 0.5 mile of cross country hiking)
Guide: Eric Hanson, FANs trail monitor
This easy hike includes great views of the Lower Crooked River gorge, Middle Deschutes River gorge, historic homestead remnants, wildlife guzzler, wildflowers and a discussion about the past, present and future of this very special and unique landscape.
This hike is full; please register on the waitlist.
Walking Workshop: Native Bunchgrasses in Autumn
The Peninsula north of Crooked River Ranch
Saturday, November 7, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Rating: Easy; approximately 1 mile
Guide: Marilynne Keyser, FANs president
We will walk along dirt roads on the Peninsula, stopping frequently to look at native bunchgrasses and discuss how to identify particular bunchgrass species in autumn. Participants will be given a species list on which to take notes.
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Eric Hanson leads guided hikes on the Peninsula. Photo by Wendy Fink
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Volunteer and Learn about Invasive Weeds!
Are you interested in learning more about invasive weeds and native plants? Join our growing Invasive Weed Consultants team. You will work with Penny Radtke and other volunteers to help property owners identify weeds, along with native plants, on their properties. Invasive weed consultations usually occur May through August. If this is of interest to you, please join our team - we need help, and this is a great way for you to learn new things and share your new knowledge with others in our community. If you would like to learn more about this, call Penny Radtke at 541-410-0299 or email fansofdeschutes@gmail.com.
Lead Invasive Weed Consultant Penny Radtke removes a towering invasive thistle.
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Help Update FANs Brochure
It's time to update our trifold brochure. How can we make it better? If you would like to review our current brochure and share your ideas on how to improve it, please email fansofdeschutes@gmail.com. Provide us with your name and mailing address, and we will mail you a brochure and ask for your suggestions. Thanks in advance for your help!
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Whychus Creek and Deschutes River Confluence
This month, Whychus Creek was running high and muddy. This is quite evident in the photo taken by FANs member Amy Sue Matthews. You can see quite clearly the cleaner water flowing down the Middle Deschutes River mixing with muddy brown water flowing out of Lower Whychus Creek.
Thank you to FANs members that emailed Senator Wyden to nominate Lower Whychus Creek for Wild and Scenic River protection. Senatory Wyden's office is reviewing comments as he develops upcoming legislation to designate more Wild and Scenic rivers and streams in Oregon.
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