FANs Stewardship in Action
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Peninsula wildlife guzzlers get a makeover in 2024
by Rod Miller, FANs board member
On June 17, a group consisting of Kurt Cundiff and Mikayala Bivona from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), a volunteer with the ODFW, three Ochoco National Forest employees, and FANs board members Mac Walker and Rod Miller ventured into the National Grasslands at the end of Peninsula Drive to work on wildlife guzzlers. FANs board member and stewardship coordinator Jeff Scheetz arranged the project but did not attend.
What is a guzzler? It is a man-made structure consisting of a sloping metal roof, a catch trough at the lower end of the roof to capture snow melt and rain water running off the roof which is then drained into a 500 gallon tank underground, and a pipe connecting the tank to a drinking trough under the roof where wildlife of all sizes can drink.
by Rod Miller, FANs board member
On June 17, a group consisting of Kurt Cundiff and Mikayala Bivona from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), a volunteer with the ODFW, three Ochoco National Forest employees, and FANs board members Mac Walker and Rod Miller ventured into the National Grasslands at the end of Peninsula Drive to work on wildlife guzzlers. FANs board member and stewardship coordinator Jeff Scheetz arranged the project but did not attend.
What is a guzzler? It is a man-made structure consisting of a sloping metal roof, a catch trough at the lower end of the roof to capture snow melt and rain water running off the roof which is then drained into a 500 gallon tank underground, and a pipe connecting the tank to a drinking trough under the roof where wildlife of all sizes can drink.
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/2/6/132638490/published/guzzler-add-water.jpeg?1719337549)
Since the tank is a flat tank with a pipe connection from the base of the tank to the base of the drinking trough under the roof, the water level in the trough is determined by the water level in the tank. The clever design does its job with no moving parts. Normal precipitation provides the water.
Two of the three guzzlers on the Peninsula were serviced. One was severely damaged, requiring removal of the metal roof and replacement of the roof support beams, then reassembly. Since the damaged roof had not been draining into the tank, water that the ODFW had brought was added to the underground tank; normal precipitation will then replenish the water supply. Job done!
The second guzzler was in good condition with water in the drinking trough so the only tasks were to install upgrades developed by the ODFW. The upgrades included beams across the top to prevent snow from sliding off the roof before it melted fully, screens to keep small animals out of the water intake areas, and screens on the drinking trough ramp to help small animals get traction when climbing out.
A third guzzler which has a challenging access remains to be upgraded by ODFW assisted by FANs volunteers. After that guzzler has been upgraded, volunteers from FANs will periodically monitor the condition of the three guzzlers and provide reports to the ODFW.
Two of the three guzzlers on the Peninsula were serviced. One was severely damaged, requiring removal of the metal roof and replacement of the roof support beams, then reassembly. Since the damaged roof had not been draining into the tank, water that the ODFW had brought was added to the underground tank; normal precipitation will then replenish the water supply. Job done!
The second guzzler was in good condition with water in the drinking trough so the only tasks were to install upgrades developed by the ODFW. The upgrades included beams across the top to prevent snow from sliding off the roof before it melted fully, screens to keep small animals out of the water intake areas, and screens on the drinking trough ramp to help small animals get traction when climbing out.
A third guzzler which has a challenging access remains to be upgraded by ODFW assisted by FANs volunteers. After that guzzler has been upgraded, volunteers from FANs will periodically monitor the condition of the three guzzlers and provide reports to the ODFW.
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What’s in a name?
by Jeff Scheetz, FANs stewardship coordinator
In Central Oregon, we are surrounded by the beauties of the Ochoco and Deschutes National Forests, as their names trigger memories of past trips and pleasures in the great outdoors. Naming a place creates an image which helps define the importance of the land and its recreational value.
Letting visitors know that some BLM lands have special value promotes respect and stewardship principles. To this end, FANs has recognized the importance of identifying Steelhead Falls Wilderness Study Area (WSA) accesses through the use of signs. Wild and Scenic Rivers sections are also viewed as deserving signpost recognition.
At official trailheads BLM has always provided name recognition through educational signs posted at kiosks. FANs is working with the BLM Prineville office to place additional signs beyond and between the trailheads. In some cases, several signs need relocation due to border changes. For example, to accommodate community wildfire protection by fuels reduction, the WSA boundary adjacent to Crooked River Ranch homes was moved west several years ago.
by Jeff Scheetz, FANs stewardship coordinator
In Central Oregon, we are surrounded by the beauties of the Ochoco and Deschutes National Forests, as their names trigger memories of past trips and pleasures in the great outdoors. Naming a place creates an image which helps define the importance of the land and its recreational value.
Letting visitors know that some BLM lands have special value promotes respect and stewardship principles. To this end, FANs has recognized the importance of identifying Steelhead Falls Wilderness Study Area (WSA) accesses through the use of signs. Wild and Scenic Rivers sections are also viewed as deserving signpost recognition.
At official trailheads BLM has always provided name recognition through educational signs posted at kiosks. FANs is working with the BLM Prineville office to place additional signs beyond and between the trailheads. In some cases, several signs need relocation due to border changes. For example, to accommodate community wildfire protection by fuels reduction, the WSA boundary adjacent to Crooked River Ranch homes was moved west several years ago.
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FANs team removes noxious weeds along the Deschutes River
Five hardy FANs volunteers, Maggie, Marilynne, Ed, Pat and Al answered the call to hike two miles in and out of a remote section of the Wild & Scenic Deschutes River to remove spotted knapweed on May 14, 2024.
Maggie and Marilynne have made this trek at least five times over the last five years. Every time, it seemed as if the weeds were winning. But not this time!
Our last efforts had been two years earlier, when we had a large team that attacked the weeds in the spring before they went to seed. This time it seemed like a miracle—there were very few plants that had gone to seed last year. We were able to dig up the first-year growth in short order, leaving a truly transformed landscape.
During the hike out, we learned a lot about the geology of the canyon from Al and learned to identify a few wildflowers with Marilynne. It was a good day.
Five hardy FANs volunteers, Maggie, Marilynne, Ed, Pat and Al answered the call to hike two miles in and out of a remote section of the Wild & Scenic Deschutes River to remove spotted knapweed on May 14, 2024.
Maggie and Marilynne have made this trek at least five times over the last five years. Every time, it seemed as if the weeds were winning. But not this time!
Our last efforts had been two years earlier, when we had a large team that attacked the weeds in the spring before they went to seed. This time it seemed like a miracle—there were very few plants that had gone to seed last year. We were able to dig up the first-year growth in short order, leaving a truly transformed landscape.
During the hike out, we learned a lot about the geology of the canyon from Al and learned to identify a few wildflowers with Marilynne. It was a good day.
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FANs holds Earth Day 2024 stewardship project on April 20
In recognition of Earth Day 2024, and in support of our mission “to preserve and restore the wild landscapes of the middle Deschutes and lower Crooked Rivers and Lower Whychus Creek through advocacy, stewardship and education,” Friends and Neighbors of the Deschutes Canyon Area participated in a trail maintenance and refuse removal project on the BLM Shelf Court trail at Crooked River Ranch area.
In recognition of Earth Day 2024, and in support of our mission “to preserve and restore the wild landscapes of the middle Deschutes and lower Crooked Rivers and Lower Whychus Creek through advocacy, stewardship and education,” Friends and Neighbors of the Deschutes Canyon Area participated in a trail maintenance and refuse removal project on the BLM Shelf Court trail at Crooked River Ranch area.
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Lone Pine Trail maintenance completed, March 2024
A team of four FANs members recently performed trail maintenance on BLM's Lone Pine trail (part of the Horny Hollow complex). Apparently, the prolonged low temperatures early this winter produced freeze wedges which dislodged many rocks above the trail.
Tread damage due to falling boulder impacts was repaired at eight sites along the steep and narrow trail. The downhill side of the damaged tread was reinforced by deeply embedding large rocks for better stability. Additionally, one boulder felled an uphill juniper onto the path which required cutting the tree to clear the trail.
Lastly, vandalism was countered by re-installing an end-of-trail sign alongside the river. We finished the trip with a short tour of the hydraulic ram pump artifacts from the Stapf ranch (a nearby neighbor of H.V. Gates, who was the original owner of what is now Crooked River Ranch) near the end of the trail. Thanks to Eric, Mac, Greg and Jeff for this non-routine response.
A team of four FANs members recently performed trail maintenance on BLM's Lone Pine trail (part of the Horny Hollow complex). Apparently, the prolonged low temperatures early this winter produced freeze wedges which dislodged many rocks above the trail.
Tread damage due to falling boulder impacts was repaired at eight sites along the steep and narrow trail. The downhill side of the damaged tread was reinforced by deeply embedding large rocks for better stability. Additionally, one boulder felled an uphill juniper onto the path which required cutting the tree to clear the trail.
Lastly, vandalism was countered by re-installing an end-of-trail sign alongside the river. We finished the trip with a short tour of the hydraulic ram pump artifacts from the Stapf ranch (a nearby neighbor of H.V. Gates, who was the original owner of what is now Crooked River Ranch) near the end of the trail. Thanks to Eric, Mac, Greg and Jeff for this non-routine response.
Deschutes Wild & Scenic River Area focus of FANs cleanup, once again, April 23, 2022
By Jeff Scheetz, FANs Stewardship Coordinator Have you ever been enjoying the wonders of nature while hiking in the wild, and then stumble upon a pile of trash? This disgusting scenario repeats itself far too often on our public lands. On April 23rd, in celebration of Earth Day, 13 members of Friends and Neighbors of the Deschutes Canyon Area (FANs) expended 70 volunteer hours collecting trash in the W&SR section of the Deschutes River south of Lower Bridge Way. This area contains many illegal spur roads into the protected land along the canyon rim. After some reconnaissance hikes, we identified about a dozen sites for clean-up. Typical trash (estimated at 40 large bags total) included beverage containers, food packaging material, auto parts, and clothing. Surprisingly, major appliances (a washing machine and TV) were found and presented some additional transport challenges. With the approval of BLM, one new tool used by FANs this year was the addition of two ATVs and a small utility trailer, owned and operated by Robin Galloway, FANs president, and her husband, Mike. They used the quads to access areas which were too rugged to get into with regular vehicles. The volunteers picked up and bagged trash, then the Galloways were able to collect the bags and take them to the main staging area. Along the way, they cleaned out every trash-filled fire ring. BLM also provided trash bags and trucks to assist in collection along the one legal road and hauled everything to a landfill. FANs has been working with public land managers for years to mitigate such abuse on public lands. We believe public education is a first and necessary step to stem the frequency of mistreated sites. Placing “NO Motor Vehicle” signs plays an important role here and can be readily accomplished by volunteers. To combat the persistent violators, physical barriers on illegal roads are unfortunately required. Lastly, law enforcement action (citations and fines) can impact public perception of risks resulting from unlawful behavior. We wish to thank all volunteers, acting individually or in groups, for helping preserve our fragile environment through education, outreach and stewardship. |
Many of our members volunteer for specific stewardship projects throughout the year, and we deeply appreciate their commitment. As a non-staffed organization that is growing quickly, FANs leadership is additionally looking for volunteers for very specific needs. If you are willing to make a commitment for at least a year, contact us at: [email protected]