Black Butte Conservancy

10/29/2026

Huh? This river seems to appear from nowhere before joining another, which, in turn, seems to have appeared from nowhere. Or did it? Learn why springs like this occur, what’s happening below the surface and how Central Oregon's volcanic past of fire and lava helped create one of the most remarkable groundwater systems in the western United States.

Join Black Butte Conservancy for "The Cascades Connection: Volcanoes, Groundwater & the Origin of Springs" next Wed., Nov 4 from 5-6 pm at Black Butte Ranch's Community Center. Dr. Daniele McKay, Senior Instructor in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Oregon, will lead the talk.

This is the last evening science talk for 2026 and it is open and free to Sisters friends, Black Butte residents and anyone who is interested. Simply show up! Learn more about the Black Butte Conservancy at blackbutteconservancy.org.

Thank you to Black Butte Ranch for graciously hosting these talks. Learn more about the Black Butte Conservancy at blackbutteconservancy.org and be sure you're signed up for our eNews.

10/25/2026

Save the date! Join us Wed., Nov 4 from 5-6 pm at Black Butte Ranch's Community Center and learn how Central Oregon's volcanic past of fire and lava helped create one of the most remarkable groundwater systems in the western United States. Dr. Daniele McKay, Senior Instructor in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Oregon, will lead the talk. This is the last evening science talk for 2026 and it is open to Sisters friends, Black Butte residents and anyone who is interested. Learn more about the Black Butte Conservancy at blackbutteconservancy.org.

10/08/2026

Volunteers with the Black Butte Conservancy proved the adage “many hands make light work” this week when they gathered to nearly double the original plantings put in place earlier this summer as part of the Paulina Springs restoration project.

At first glance, the task of planting 700+ plants (mostly Oregon Grape and Aspen) may have seemed like a reach for just 20 people, but in under a few hours each plant had been tucked into its new home and the new irrigation systems was serving up a nice, long drink. Thank you to Black Butte’s Natural Resources team for its expert oversight, and for the hard-working volunteers!

Now the plants get to do the hard work of helping with erosion, providing habitat, and returning Paulina Springs to something closer to its original lush setting.

08/25/2026

Go Wild with iNaturalist - A wildly fun community science project!

Saturday, August 29 | 9 a.m.–Noon
Black Butte Ranch Natural Resources Building (previously the real estate office)
Drop-in Open House

Join us to learn how to use the iNaturalist app on your phone to help document the incredible biodiversity of Black Butte Ranch, located within the greater Black Butte region. It’s a fun activity for all ages, and our team will get you started. Then, it’s time to head outside and discover the wild world around you.

Sisters High School student Ander Rhoads, working in coordination with the Black Butte Ranch Natural Resources team, Jake Derksen and Cody Stevens, has created a new Black Butte Ranch iNaturalist project that invites residents and visitors to become community scientists simply by observing the natural world around them.

iNaturalist is a worldwide community science platform where people record observations of plants, wildlife, insects, fungi and other living things simply by taking and uploading photographs. You don’t even need to know what you’ve found because iNaturalist’s community of naturalists and experts can help identify it.

Even better, observations made within the boundaries of Black Butte Ranch will automatically become part of the Ranch’s iNaturalist project, gradually creating a valuable picture of the plants and wildlife found here.

The information collected can help Black Butte Ranch’s Natural Resources team better understand and manage the Ranch’s biodiversity, while also making these observations available to scientists and researchers around the world.

Bring your smartphone and your curiosity. Then head outside and go wild, discovering what lives at Black Butte Ranch!

07/26/2026

OUR LODGE TRAIL NEEDS SOME LOVE!
Wednesday, July 29, 8:00 am - 10:00 am

Location: BBR Big Meadow Golf Parking Lot

What to Bring: A shovel, sturdy closed-toed shoes, work gloves, eye protection, sun protection, and water.

After several 2025 work parties to enhance our nature trails in Big Meadow, back to the trail we go in 2026…

The Lodge Trail - the amazing nature trail across Phalarope Lake from the Lodge - has developed some significant, tall bunchgrass that is obscuring parts of the trail. We need energetic volunteers to come help dig up the pesky grass by the roots, and spread bark chips to revive the trail.

We will meet at 8 am on Wednesday, July 29 at the Big Meadow Parking Lot (toward the back of the lot) and will head toward the Lodge Trail via the bike path. To sign up, visit our website and click on "Events" to sign up for this week's work party!

06/12/2026

Wondering what's going on to move the proposed wildlife crossings forward? Sisters High School students are helping! Read more below.

SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon State University-Cascades, and Sisters High School are teaming up this month to conduct a “bioblitz” at four proposed wildlife crossing structure locations along US Highway 20. A bioblitz is a communal effort to record as...

05/11/2026

Have you chosen your plants yet? Scan the QR code!

The Pre-Order Sale is open now through May 15th. Skip the line, choose your favorites, and pick them up on May 23rd.

Native favorites are going quickly—and we’ve expanded inventory this year. We have showy milkweed! Don’t wait—we sold out by noon last year!

Or come shop in person:
May 23, 2026 | 10am–2pm | BBR General Store

Let’s grow something good for the Black Butte landscape.

Questions? Contact lead volunteer Cathy Mick | [email protected] | 503-780-4329
More info? Visit us at www.blackbutteconservancy.org.

05/03/2026

The Pre-Sale is now LIVE! We have expanded our selection this year. Find your favorite native plants - yarrow, red columbine, lupine and more! Pre-order now and pick up on the day of the sale. Or visit our sale on Saturday, May 23rd at the Black Butte Ranch General Store. Open to the public!

Pre-Sale Link: https://givebutter.com/c/bbc-native-plant-sale-2026

More info? Head to our website: https://www.blackbutteconservancy.org/

04/12/2026

If you’d like to help, sign up on our website under “Events” - or if that’s too complicated just comment here or email us. Let’s clean up the mess on Highway 20!

04/12/2026

Looking for four more volunteers for highway cleanup on Thursday, April 16, from 8-10 am. Sign up on our website under “Events” or just comment here if you would like to participate. You’ll be paired with one other person and we’ll provide equipment and safety vests.