Project Overview
The Deschutes Land Trust purchased 4,500 acres of Priday Ranch near Willowdale, Oregon. Priday Ranch is approximately 18 miles northeast of Madras and 10 miles southwest of Antelope. The property includes 10 miles of steelhead streams.
The Trout Creek subwatershed is the major steelhead production area in the Deschutes Basin, producing as much as 30% of Deschutes steelhead. The property includes some of the best spawning habitat on the creek, with as many as 152 steelhead redds documented on the Trout Creek portion alone. Priday Ranch supports a variety of other priority species, including nesting golden eagles.
Land Acquisition will permanently protect the property, including significant stream restoration and recovery efforts. There is also an opportunity for stream, riparian, and upland restoration, as well as for transferring a portion of the property's water rights instream to improve stream habitat.
Project partners include ODFW, the Jefferson County SWCD, the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs, Portland General Electric, and the Deschutes River Conservancy.