Pile burning planned in Whychus Canyon
As the next stage of its ongoing fuels reduction and habitat restoration work, the Deschutes Land Trust anticipates conducting pile burning on approximately 100 acres at Whychus Canyon Preserve near Sisters, starting the week of January 7 th .
Whychus Canyon Preserve, located 6 miles northeast of Sisters, will be closed to the public during the burn. The slash pile burning will be conducted by professional foresters from Pacific Stewardship, a private local forestry contractor.
The burn piles consist of small juniper trees that were thinned at the Preserve this past spring. This pile burning will complete the first phase of habitat restoration on the property.
Whychus Canyon Preserve was acquired in 2010 to conserve and restore fish and wildlife habitat. Thinning encroaching juniper from ponderosa pine and aspen stands improves wildlife habitat and helps protect nearby subdivisions from the threat of wildfire.
The pile burning is weather dependent and will be completed in consultation with the Oregon Department of Forestry and in compliance with ODF’s smoke management plan. The contractor will postpone burning if weather conditions are unfavorable.
The Deschutes Land Trust conserves land for wildlife, scenic views, and local communities. As Central Oregon’s only nationally accredited and locally-based land trust, the Deschutes Land Trust has protected more than 8,200 acres since 1995. For more information on Deschutes Land Trust, contact us at (541) 330-0017 or visit www.deschuteslandtrust.org.
