Trashing Sisters forests

Weekend partiers are making a trash heap out of the forests south of Sisters, and Sisters Ranger District law enforcement officer Larry Duncan is asking residents to help stop the littering.

Duncan says he investigates incidents of littering and trash dumping in the forests "every weekend and sometimes daily."

The area south of Sisters off Three Creeks Road is particularly bad because weekend partiers go out into the woods and leave beer bottles and other trash in their wake.

One Sisters resident who jogs in the area reported picking up several trash bags full of bottles and other garbage, including a car muffler, near the Squaw Creek Irrigation canal. She said she also put out the remains of a bonfire that appeared to have smoldered for days.

Duncan said the public's help is vital in putting the reins on rampant littering.

"Anybody who sees kids out in the area (partying), call 9-1-1," Duncan said. "We need the assist. We're stretched so thin, we need the public's help."

Duncan said citizens should not try to contact people who appear to be littering out in the woods, but get license plate numbers and call the Sisters Ranger District at 549-2111.

"They don't even have to give their name if they don't want to," he said.

Duncan noted that the Forest Service is just beginning to get a handle on the forest-wide problem of abandoned cars. He said that dealing with trash dumping and littering costs him on average two days per week of his time, and costs the district the expense of sending out clean up crews and paying to dispose of the trash.

All of those costs wind up coming out of taxpayers pockets, he observed.

Duncan noted further that citizens should contact him regarding people who appear to be living permanently in the forest, which is illegal.

"They can't use the National Forest as a residence," Duncan said. "Camping (for a maximum 30 days) is fine."

Citizens who would like to participate in forest clean-up efforts can contact Paul Engstrom at the Sisters Ranger District, 549-2111.

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

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