Great American Outdoors Act Funds Improving Oregon Campgrounds

We're happy to see the first snow fall on the Ochoco National Forest and hope that means we're in for some cold weather and deep snow drifts in the coming months. With this cooler, wetter weather, our firefighters are already hard at work burning piles leftover from previous commercial thinning operations across the forest. Removing these dense accumulations of fuel near homes, facilities and roads decreases fire behavior and reduces additional risk to firefighters and the public in the hot summer months.

While most of our field work has finished for the year, we can reflect back on a very successful summer for the Forest. First, we have secured funding through the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) to improve a wide range of forest infrastructure. This means improved access for you to get here and a better recreation experience once you arrive. The Ochoco will receive 87 new fire rings and 95 new picnic tables for our busiest campgrounds. We will also be partnering with Heart of Oregon and Americorp to move and install all the new equipment.

The second project chosen for funding is rehabilitating 9.6 miles of Forest Road 42. This project would consist of grinding old asphalt, the removal and repurposing of grindings, adding base rock, and then repaving and striping. Forest Road 42 has the second highest traffic of all roads on the Ochoco National Forest. It serves as the primary access and haul route for timber sales, wildfire suppression, grazing permittees and cattle haul, accessing private inholdings, and is a major contributor to the economic stability of local communities.

The road also serves as the main access road to Cold Spring Recreation Rental, Deep Creek Campground and the eastern portion of the Ochoco National Forest. While Phase 1 of the project was delayed due to Industrial Fire Precaution Level IV that was in place for an unprecedented two months this summer, this project is slated to now begin as soon as possible in order to continue the work in the spring. Not only will this repaving improve visitor access to a variety of recreation sites, but it will also allow visitors, contractors and landowners to safely move across the forest on this major thoroughfare.

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One final thing—while we have been able to secure funding for large scale plans on longer term projects, our staff continues working to enhance services right now to ensure your experience on the Forest is a good one. This year, our recreation trails staff cleared 105 miles of trails. Our engineering staff has quietly been improving water lines at Ochoco Divide Campground to ensure that there will be water for next summer for the first time in many years.

Read the full article from the Central Oregonian here.