The Nugget Vol. XLV No. 13
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
www.NuggetNews.com
Correspondent
Oh to be 50 miles north. That’s all the farther you would have to go to cross the line into normal. In terms of snowpack, that is. The Hood, Sandy, and Lower Deschutes water basin is at 99 percent of normal snowpack with two of their nine stations at 104 percent. Not so when you measure the Upper Deschutes and Crooked River basins, where Sisters lies: 82 percent total with one station at 70 percent and six others
of the 14 stations under 80 percent. Closest to home it is deceiving, with Three Creeks Meadows reporting at 89 percent and Santiam Junction (think Hoodoo) at 84 percent. But snowpack isn’t as important as snow-water equivalent. That’s really distressing. And it’s only March with nothing of consequence in the forecast, short or longrange. Deschutes Basin Watermaster Jeremy Giffin said, “We’re 71 percent of average on our snowpack.”
Correspondent
Sisters is probably going to be in the high or extreme risk category for wildfire according to the Statewide Map of Wildfire Risk, which will be completed by June 30, 2022, and available to the public. Sisters Fire Chief Roger Johnson said that risk level would be due to the city’s small geographic footprint and its proximity to the Deschutes National Forest on three sides. The risk assessment map is only one of a number of programs and tools being brought online statewide because of the passage of SB 762, “the most sweeping fire legislation in the state of Oregon in the last 30 to 40 years,” according to Johnson. The impetus for the legislation was the report published in 2019 by the Governor’s Council on Wildfire Response created to address growing wildfire problems in the state and the changing wildfire reality over the past decade in Oregon and the West. Governor Kate Brown signed the bill into law on July 30, 2021. The bill covers a myriad of issues
The SPRD skatepark was an active spot during spring break.
See DROUGHT on page 14
High risk for wildfire continues in Sisters By Sue Stafford
Wednesday, March 30, 2022
PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK
By Bill Bartlett
PRE-SORTED STANDARD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID Sisters, OR Permit No. 15
Catching some spring air...
Sisters Country faces ongoing drought
Inside...
POSTAL CUSTOMER
related to wildfire mitigation and preparedness, which have been clarified by the rule-making process at the state level. Besides the statewide risk map, SB 762 addresses other areas, including electric systems, defensible space guidelines, health systems for smoke, wildfire risk reduction, the Oregon Conservation Corps, small forestland management, prescribed fire, protected areas (those that currently have no fire protection, like Lower Bridge), wildfire response capacity, wildland/urban interface (WUI), and establishing the Office of State Wildfire Program Director and advisory council. The SB 762 information was shared by Johnson at a first-ever joint meeting on March 15 of the Sisters City Council and the Fire District Board of Directors, which included all the partner agencies with which they collaborate to provide wildfire preparedness and mitigation efforts. Each attendee shared what their agency is doing to be fire ready, and the list is impressive. Johnson outlined the See WILDFIRE on page 15
Rodeo celebrates return with kick-off party By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief
After a two-year layoff, Sisters Rodeo is saddling up for it traditional June run. But already it’s spurring out into the community arena — with a kickoff party set for Saturday, April 2, starting at 5:30 p.m. on Sisters Saloon’s outdoor patio.
Dry Canyon Stampede will provide live music, and Sisters Rodeo Queen Mary Olney will be on hand signing autographs, as will this year’s Rodeo bullfighters. The Rodeo Kick-off Party is a first for the organization. “We’re just excited to kick things off and have a great rodeo this year,” said event organizer Amarita Anstett.
The Sisters Rodeo Association recognizes that two years without a Sisters Rodeo due to COVID-19 restrictions was a blow to the economy and the spirits of the community. The kickoff was conceived as a way for the whole community to climb back on the horse after See RODEO on page 19
Supercross superstar stops in Sisters By Ceili Cornelius Correspondent
Sisters Moto is riding into spring events in style. Last Thursday, the motorcycle sports shop in the Three Wind Shopping Center hosted an autograph signing with motocross rider Kyle Chisholm. Chisholm is from Florida and stopped in at Sisters Moto before his race in Seattle on March 26. The race is the Monster Energy AMA Supercross at Lumen Field in Seattle and Chisholm was riding as part of the Yamaha factory team. He is also sponsored by Sisters Moto. Chisholm runs his own program, which means he publicizes when he needs title sponsors for certain races, because he often pays out of pocket for the gear, maintenance, flights, etc.
PHOTO BY JAROD GATLEY
Supercross rider Kyle Chisholm made a stop last week at sponsor Sisters Moto on his way to racing in the Monster Energy AMA Supercross in Seattle. “We are his sponsor for this race, and actually he had agreed to be sponsored by us before injuries to the Yamaha team allowed a spot for him to ride for the factory team of theirs as well, but he still was able to come up and do this
event for us,” said Biz Brent, co-owner of Sisters Moto. “He is a really great rider, he’s been around for a long time,” said Biz Brent. Sisters Moto reached out See MOTOCROSS on page 19
Letters/Weather ............... 2 Fun & Games ..................... 6 Entertainment ................. 11 Flashback ........................18 Classifieds................. 20-22 Meetings .......................... 3 Announcements...............10 Sisters Naturalist.............16 Crossword .......................19 Real Estate ................ 22-24