Juniper thinning project gets underway on Crooked River National Grassland as part of Wildfire Crisis Strategy

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Ochoco National Forest announced Thursday that it has begun juniper thinning on the Crooked River National Grassland as part of a broader effort to reduce wildfire risk and restore ecosystem health.

Over the past century, fire suppression, historical forest management practices, the discontinuation of cultural fire use by Indigenous people and the spread of invasive species have led to unnaturally dense forests and overgrown grasslands. These changes have made landscapes more vulnerable to high-intensity wildfires, officials say.

"Fire seasons like the one we experienced this summer are a stark reminder of the risks we face from overgrown vegetation,” said Slater Turner, Lookout Mountain & Grassland District Ranger for the Ochoco National Forest. “Managing juniper encroachment is crucial not only to reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfires but also to restore the natural balance of our grasslands.”

Although juniper trees are native to the area, their population has grown unnaturally dense, increasing wildfire risk and intensity, reducing forage for wildlife and livestock, depleting water resources, and disrupting native plant communities.

This thinning project, supported by the Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy, is a crucial step in addressing these challenges and restoring ecological balance, the agency says.

By removing excess juniper, the Forest Service is restoring open grasslands, improving habitat for species like pronghorn antelope and mule deer, and enhancing water availability.

Thinning operations will continue through the fall, with crews working in phases across priority areas.

Once cut, the junipers will remain on the unit for about a year. Once dry, they will be burned.

Meanwhile, in another, similar effort, the National Wild Turkey Federation and the Forest Service launched a juniper-removal project earlier this month on the Ochoco National Forest.

About the Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy:

The U.S. Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy is an aggressive, science-based approach to address the growing threat of catastrophic wildfires across the nation. The strategy focuses on reducing fuel loads, restoring ecosystems, and increasing resilience to climate change through collaborative partnerships and targeted treatments on millions of acres of vulnerable landscapes. Read more about the Wildfire Crisis Strategy in Central Oregon on our website, https://origin-fs.fs.usda.gov/detail/ochoco/home/?cid=fseprd1070210.