Land management offices reorganized

Last month, a major federal reorganization consolidated the management of many federal lands in Central Oregon.

Already, the Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests are being managed as one, and Bureau of Land Management holdings are being brought under the same banner, as well.

It's all part of the Federal Government's "Central Oregon Initiative," which is designed to "streamline" land management practices.

"Reorganization" and "streamlining" are buzzwords tossed around in corporate and government circles and generally refer to reductions in management staff personnel and centralization of management functions.

Bill Anthony, Sisters District Ranger for the Deschutes National Forest, has seen his own role with the Forest Service grow more complex in recent weeks.

For some time, Anthony has been a member of the Deschutes Management Team; but now he has additional responsibilities on the Ochoco-Deschutes Leadership Team and a Central Oregon Team, as well.

Still, despite a significant shakeup in the upper echelons of the Forest Service's Central Oregon chain of command, Anthony says that any direct impact on the Sisters Ranger District is slight "at this point in time."

Anthony explained, "There are no plans to make significant administrative changes affecting the Sisters Ranger District.

"However, in a few years there could be a need to look at additional opportunities to gain administrative efficiencies across Central Oregon, and those could have some bearing on the district.

"We're always looking for opportunities to gain efficiencies," Anthony said.

For example, he pointed out that -- as a result of the forest merger -- the number of "key staff positions" in the Ochoco and Deschutes National Forests has been reduced from eight to six.

Further, there is only one Forest Supervisor now instead of two.

Another key part of the reorganization plan is the inclusion of the Bureau of Land Management under the same managerial umbrella.

The BLM's District Manager is now also listed as an "Associate Supervisor" of Central Oregon's National Forest management team -- a title also assumed by the former Deputy Forest Supervisor of the Deschutes National Forest.

"Merging our leadership will better serve Central Oregon," Anthony said. "Our initial phases are concerned with consolidating and streamlining at the headquarters level in Bend and Prineville. That helps reduce expenses so more resources will make it to the ground."

He reiterated that there will be "no immediate effect on operations in Sisters."

Anthony also said that there will continue to be separate National Forest offices in Bend and Prineville, although he expects significant opportunities to reduce office space expenses in the months ahead as the Forest Service and BLM continue to redefine their respective roles.

In another Central Oregon change, the management of the Crooked River National Grassland, northeast of Sisters, will be consolidated with the BLM offices in Prineville.

Anthony described the new inter-agency relationship with the BLM as a "close collaboration" rather than a merger.

"The BLM and Forest Service will continue to be separate agencies," he said, "but our goal is to serve Central Oregon as if we were one."

As an illustration, Anthony cited a large of block of BLM land near La Pine. The land in question is entirely surrounded by the Deschutes National Forest.

In the past, the BLM has devoted considerable resources to managing the area. Under the new plan, the Forest Service's Crescent Ranger District will assume management of the neighboring BLM land.

Both agencies expect that the new arrangement will save money by eliminating duplication of management efforts in the area.

Anthony left open the possibility for more changes, and the current management team will continue to evaluate Central Oregon's needs.

"We'll re-examine the situation two or three years down the road," he said, "at which time we will again look at realigning boundaries and responsibilities in the region."