PSU Magazine Winter 1994

Mother Nature's Creekside Class Just west of Bend in Deschutes County, Tumalo Creek meanders through the region on its way to join the Deschutes River. In 1979, a fire wiped out most of the plant life along the Tumalo Creek watershed and has had Mother Nature working overtime ever since. With the help of Lottery funds, this small piece of Oregon wilder– ness is now a thriving outdoor classroom. You won't find chalk boards or desks along Tumalo Creek. What you will find are newly planted trees, shrubs, and native grasses - all telltale signs that volunteers and hundreds of high school, middle school, and elementary students have been toiling to bring Tumalo Creek back to life. The project enables students to exercise both mind and body. In addition to the hundreds of plantings, stream banks are being stabilized and data is being col– lected. This information about stream structure, water quality, and fish count and inventory will help with future management of the stream. Tumalo Creek serves as a living reminder that the seeds of knowledge, when planted and nurtured with care and hard work, can have an impact for years to come. Future genera– tions will now be able to enjoy nature along Tumalo Creek, just as Mother would have wanted us to. It Does Good Things