Tony Lasher, CGCS
Superintendent

Volunteers prepare willow cuttings for planting

Coho salmon in newly-created gravel beds in the Wee Burn..

The Resort at the Mountain is located in Welches, Oregon in the foothills of the Cascade mountains near Mt. Hood. Golf facilities at the resort include three nine hole layouts that are bordered by a variety of pristine environmental habitats, including the Salmon River, which is a part of the Sandy River watershed system. The Wee Burn (Scottish for "small stream") passes through the lower portion of the golf course and ultimately converges with the Salmon River. Coho Salmon and steelhead have been observed for a number of years in the section of the Wee Burn nearest the Salmon River. However, because of channel modifications to the Wee Burn that occurred during the construction of the original golf course in the 1920’s, suitable spawning and rearing habitat have been unavailable to support wild fish development further upstream.

As a means of complementing its existing Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program, the owners of the Resort at the Mountain, Ed & Janice Hopper, made a commitment to restore sustainable fish habitat in the upstream reaches of the Wee Burn. The restoration effort was designed from the outset to be a cooperative effort between variety of volunteers, environmental groups, and regulatory agencies.

Coordinated by Tony Lasher, golf course superintendent at The Resort, restoration of Wee Burn habitat began in 1995 following the donation of $10,000 by The Resort’s owners to Wolftree’s Mt. Hood RiverKeeper program. The resulting partnership led to the development of strategies for stream restoration and enhancement of fish habitat along the Salmon River and some of its tributaries, including the Wee Burn. As the project moved forward, The Mt. Hood National Forest Service, The Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, Trout Unlimited and the Mt. Hood Mazamas joined as partners in the effort, providing volunteer effort and expertise. In 1997 the Governor’s Watershed Enhancement Board (GWEB) awarded The Resort a $50,000 grant to support the 1998-99 phase of the project, and in 1998 the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service provided additional assistance in the form of a $20,000 grant to The Resort. Over the course of the restoration process, the total investment by The Resort approached $200,000.

Upon completion of this project, a significant enhancement of Wee Burn habitat has been realized. The Wee Burn now has established wetland areas in proximity to the stream and alcoves within the stream that result in a slower, meandering flow. Stream side plantings of native plants and trees contribute to the maintenance of cooler water temperatures, in-stream structures for spawning and resting areas have been created, and fish ladders that allow fish access to ponds located on the upper reaches of the stream have been installed. The collective impact of this effort has resulted in access for fish to a previously inaccessible 1/3 mile of the Wee Burn, and 2 acres of pond habitat.

Following the completion of the Wee Burn project, fish have been observed in locations of the Wee Burn and ponds that have been inaccessible since 1928. Monitoring of fish movement within the restoration areas has revealed that two crops of wild coho salmon and steelhead smolts that spawned in the new habitat have migrated to the open sea, confirming that the restoration efforts are showing encouraging signs of success. In addition to achieving the goal of enhancing Wee Burn habitat, the restoration project has provided a valuable means to educate the public regarding sensitive environmental issues during their golfing experience. Finally, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America has recognized the importance of this project by presenting Tony Lasher and the Resort at the Mountain with its 2001 Environmental Leaders in Golf Award

While the early signs indicate that the restoration project has been successful, the Resort and its partners remain committed to long-term maintenance and monitoring practices to ensure the continued success of the project. If you would like to obtain additional information regarding the restoration of the Wee Burn, contact Tony Lasher at (503) 622-2217.