FS plans thinning project in Newberry Caldera
The Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District on the Deschutes National Forest is inviting the public to comment on a proposal to thin overstory trees (primarily lodgepole pine) infected by insects and disease and remove dead fuels to reduce fire hazards within the Newberry Caldera.
The Shield Insect and Disease Project proposes to address both forest health and visitor safety in heavily-used developed recreation sites within the Newberry National Volcanic Monument approximately 20 miles east of La Pine.
The 2,938-acre project seeks to identify overstory trees showing signs of future failure from diseases like gall rust in addition to trees susceptible to, or already damaged by, insect infestations, officials said Monday.
The project proposes to minimize the impacts of insects and disease through small tree thinning, pile burning, mowing, mastication and chipping to reduce fuels and improve public safety within the developed recreation sites in the caldera while maintaining and enhancing ecosystem diversity.
Removing trees at risk, primarily lodgepole pine, and encouraging the development of longer lived species such as white fir and hemlock will accelerate the development of mid to late successional species, making these sites more resistant to insects and diseases into the future, the agency said.
Written and verbal comments will be accepted for this proposal until the close of business on November 10. They may be delivered to Kevin Larkin, District Ranger, Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District, 63095 Deschutes Market Road, Bend, Oregon 97701 or submitted via email, to: pacificnorthwest-deschutes-bend-ftrock@fs.fed.us
Please include in the subject line: Shield Insect and Disease Scoping Comments
If people have any questions about the project, contact Anne Trapanese, NEPA Planner, at 541-383-4028 or atrapanese@fs.fed.us .
For more information about this proposal, visit the Deschutes National Forest Schedule of Proposed Actions at: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=47385
