Care About Trout Creek? Speak Up! | The Source Weekly - Bend, Oregon

Care About Trout Creek? Speak Up!

Comment period now open for access to Trout Creek.

Attention climbers and friends of nature: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Prineville District Office announced the public comment period on the Trout Creek Rock Climbing Area Access and Environmental Assessment (EA) will be open from Aug. 17 – Sept. 15.

This winter Trout and its eager climbers weathered a voluntary closure in an effort to give the nesting golden eagles some peace and quiet. The voluntary closure was lifted and by May climbers were able to return to their beloved cracks. Now the BLM is asking for your input. Give 'em your thoughtful advice here:  http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/prineville/plans/index.php.

For background on the area, read on. Back in February we reported this:

The Bureau of Land Management announced this week that it is tempering a decision to close a popular rock climbing area on the Lower Deschutes near Madras. The Prineville-based staff said it is rescinding a blanket closure at Trout Creek in favor of a voluntary closure to protect nesting golden eagles. BLM staff said the move would allow them to “better communicate objectives” and complete an ongoing environmental analysis with “maximum public involvement.” The BLM staff has said that the inability of nesting golden eagles to successfully reproduce at Trout Creek is a concern for the agency. The staff is asking that climbers and other visitors respect the voluntary closure by staying away from the upland area and popular canyon walls. (EF)

In May, Friends of Trout Creek, a collective of climbers, said this:

I'm pleased to say that the closure is lifted and Trout Creek is open to climbing! The downside to this is that the nest failed, but this was not caused by climbers and climber compliance throughout the voluntary closure has been exemplary.


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