‘I think it’s critically important’: Forest Service mowing to curb wildfire risk west of Highway 97 near DRW

(Update: Adding video, comments from Forest Service, Deschutes River Woods resident)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) --   The Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District is starting to clear bush from hundreds of acres near the Deschutes River Woods community south of Bend. 

They're conducting about 825 acres of brush mowing operations along the west side of Highway 97 between mileposts 145 and 148 near Deschutes River Woods south of Bend, starting this week.

The work began Monday and will continue for the next few months.

"They are strategically being conducted near Deschutes River Woods and near railroad infrastructure to reduce wildfire risk to those values," Deschutes National Forest Public Affairs and Partnership Affairs Officer Kaitlyn Webb said Monday.

Operations are strategically being conducted within the wildland urban interface directly adjacent to the community of Deschutes River Woods and along railroad infrastructure to reduce wildfire risk to these values.

A Deschutes River Woods resident understands the impact. 

"I think it's critically important," Terry Humphrey said. "The wildfire danger is increasing dramatically every year."

"I worked in fire programs and all over the West and, I've never seen anything this extreme," Humphrey added. "Just these last couple of years, it just is beyond comprehension."

Mowing operations reduce the height and density of brush. If left untreated, tall, thick brush can pose a serious risk for wildfires that burn with high intensity and are more challenging for firefighters to safely suppress.

No trail or road closures are anticipated with the project, Webb said, but the Forest Service has asked the public to be aware of the work and avoid areas where brush mowing operations are occurring.

Mowing is scheduled during fall and winter months to take advantage of cooler weather and increased moisture, as well as to minimize impacts to ground-nesting birds and other wildlife.

This work is a part of the 25,804-acre Cabin Butte Vegetation Management Project, which will improve forest resilience against large-scale disturbance events such as high-intensity wildfire, damaging insects and disease south of Bend. 

Webb said, "That includes a whole suite of restoration treatments. There is thinning, mowing, which is what we're talking about now, as well as prescribed fire treatments. So there's a number of different treatments that we do over the years in a set of order."

The work is occurring within the Central Oregon Landscape, one of 21 focal landscapes identified within the Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy. The implementation of this work supports the Deschutes National Forest’s commitment to addressing the Wildfire Crisis Strategy which aims to reduce severity of wildfires, protect communities, and improve the health and resiliency of fire-dependent forests. 

For more information, contact the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District at (541) 383-5300.