Pure Water Partners Update
| | | | | | | | | | |

Pure Water Partners Update

ByTom Atkinson

As soon as it was safe to enter the fire-impacted area, EWEB, McKenzie Watershed Council, McKenzie River Trust, the Upper Willamette Soil & Water Conservation District and other members of Pure Water Partners banded together to work with landowners to keep toxic ash and other hazardous materials from entering the river. There were a number…

Re-Marking of Hazard Trees Underway Soon
| | | | |

Re-Marking of Hazard Trees Underway Soon

ByTom Atkinson

When hazard trees were originally marked – between January and April of this year – several hundred trees statewide showed signs that they had at least a slim chance of survival. Trees may have demonstrated a greenery crown scorch right at the minimum threshold or a bark char marginal enough to give it a possibility of…

Your Web Searches Today Can Help with Wildfire Restoration
| | | | | | | |

Your Web Searches Today Can Help with Wildfire Restoration

ByTom Atkinson

Ecosia (Ecosia.org), a not-for-profit search engine that uses profits to plant trees, is going to dedicate all revenue from searches today (Tuesday, July 27) towards wildfire efforts in the US, Brazil and Australia as part of its Ecosia Wildfire Relief campaign. This will include launching a new project in partnership with American Forest Foundation to…

Campfires banned in state parks, state-managed forestland east of I5 effective Thursday, July 22
| | | | | | | | | | | |

Campfires banned in state parks, state-managed forestland east of I5 effective Thursday, July 22

ByTom Atkinson

Source: ODFFire.com Salem, Ore — Due to fire danger and limited firefighting resources across the western U.S., effective Thursday, July 22 no campfires will be allowed in state parks and in state-managed forests east of Interstate 5, even in designated campfire areas. This includes charcoal fires, cooking fires, warming fires, charcoal briquettes, pellet grills, candles,…

Independent Arborist Completes Review of State Hazard Tree Removal Program
| | | | | | |

Independent Arborist Completes Review of State Hazard Tree Removal Program

ByTom Atkinson

An independent arborist has reviewed Oregon’s hazard tree removal program and found a sound operation underway, plus provided helpful context for future work Press release issued by the Oregon Debris Management Task Force on June 7, 2021 (Link) In response to calls for an investigation and as part of the unprecedented effort to remove fire-damaged…

Arborists Tackle 230-foot Hazard Trees Along Highway 126
| | | | |

Arborists Tackle 230-foot Hazard Trees Along Highway 126

ByTom Atkinson

State contractors continue to remove hazard trees in the fire area. Recently, two large trees were removed using a helicopter. A portion of each tree was left behind to serve as a nesting site for osprey.  Wtch the video below or visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQPyt5B-BFI 

Wildfire Debris Cleanup Update
| | | | | | |

Wildfire Debris Cleanup Update

ByTom Atkinson

Source: Oregon.gov Community air monitoring Community air monitoring is set to begin in the Holiday Farm fire area. This monitoring is in addition to the dust control and air quality monitoring that has been part of the cleanup process at each ash and debris removal site. Protecting air quality is a priority for all fire-affected sites….

Oregon State Uni’s Forestry & Wildfire Webinars
| | | | | | | |

Oregon State Uni’s Forestry & Wildfire Webinars

ByTom Atkinson

Source: Extension.Oregonstate.edu Tree School Online – Into the WoodsJoin us for an inspiring and fun immersion into the wild world of our remarkable forests, the native trees that grow in them, the wood they provide, and their connections to your life and work in this webinar and a virtual hike through Hopkins Demonstration Forest,Date: Tuesday, June…

Get Involved – House Special Committee On Wildfire Recovery – May 21st
| | | | | | | | | | | |

Get Involved – House Special Committee On Wildfire Recovery – May 21st

ByTom Atkinson

We hope you took the opportunity to get your voices heard at the last Public Hearing on May 7th which covered Senate Bill 745 & Blue River’s ability to form a Sanitary District. The next chance for McKenzie River residents to participate in the House Special Committee On Wildfire Recovery is May 21st at 10am….

Hazard Tree Removal Update
| | | | | | |

Hazard Tree Removal Update

ByTom Atkinson

The State’s Debris Management Task Force published an article earlier this month to share more information about how the hazard tree marking and removal process works.  Distinct, separate duties between those marking the trees and those who remove them helps ensure accountability and quality. The arborist/forester assessment and evaluation process happen separately from the tree…