100s of trees to be removed in Newberry National Monument
(Update: New info, corrections from USFS)
The Deschutes National Forest said Friday it recently awarded a stewardship contract to remove several hundred trees to address insect and disease infestations within campgrounds and along roadways in Newberry National Volcanic Monument later this summer.
For the majority of the summer, visitors can reserve campgrounds in the Monument on Recreation.gov.
However, beginning in August, the forest will begin closing campgrounds to allow the contractor to safely remove several hundred trees, most infected by the bark beetle.
Campground s ites can be reserved during the following timeframes:
Site
Open for Reservations
Site Closes for Season
East Lake Campground
May 25 to August 18, 2018
August 20, 2018
Cinder Hill Campground
May 25 to Sept. 2, 2018
Sept. 4, 2018
Little Crater Campground
May 25 to Sept. 2, 2018
Standard Seasonal Closure
Newberry Group Camp
May 25 to Sept. 13, 2018
Standard Seasonal Closure
Chief Paulina Horse Camp
May 25 to Sept. 2, 2018
Standard Seasonal Closure
Paulina Lake Campground
Can be reserved all season
Standard Seasonal Closure
The East Lake boat launch will be closed beginning Aug. 20. However, the East Lake Resort boat launch will remain open. All other boat launches and day use sites will remain open through Sept. 3. Hot Springs and Paulina Lake campground boat launches will remain open throughout the 2018 season Periodic closures may occur after Labor Day to complete tree removal.
In 2017, some campgrounds were closed to visitors for periods of time to mark trees for removal. he Forest Service anticipates most of the work in the campgrounds and some along roadways will be completed this year. Tree removal operations will resume in spring 2019; however, there is expected to be little impact to campground reservations in 2019, depending upon weather conditions this fall.
Visitors should be aware that painted trees do not pose an immediate hazard, the agency added. Trees that are an immediate hazard to visitors are removed annually.
For more information on the project, contact Scott McBride, Monument Manager, at 541–383–4712.
