Coyote Butte area to close for herbicide treatment

A temporary area closure will be in effect in the Coyote Butte area, off of Forest Service Road 18, from October 1 through October 5. The closure is necessary to implement an invasive plant treatment in the quarry area.

This is a high-use area and closing the area will reduce conflict and ensure the safety of those doing the treatment.

Coyote Butte is located approximately 5 miles southeast of Bend off of FS Road 18, also known as China Hat Road. The area will be posted prior to treatments with the dates of treatment, the herbicide used, and when the area will reopen.

The Coyote Butte treatment area is a high priority for controlling invasive species because of the high use and likelihood of invasive plant spread. All applicable project design features in the Record of Decision for the 2012 Invasive Plant Treatment project will be followed.

The herbicide treatment will be spot spraying using a backpack or OHV, and some broadcast spraying where the dominant plant community is invasive. This area has been treated in the past by manual hand pulling, which has proved to be ineffective and not efficient.

For more information, please contact Charmane Powers, Botanist on the Bend/Fort Rock District of the Deschutes National Forest at (541) 383-4730.