Timber crews remove hazard trees along highway

Crews from three public agencies were hard at work last Friday, February 24, removing hazardous trees along Highway 20 near Black Butte Ranch. Large dead trees near the highway were cut down in a cooperative project involving the U. S. Forest Service (USFS), the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), and the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF).

Traffic was delayed for a brief time as individual trees were being removed.

“This cooperative project was put together in a very short time after several trees blew down across the highway during the recent windstorm,” said Kristen Fields, USFS forest pathologist.

Fields monitors forest diseases on four national forests, including the Deschutes National Forest.

ODOT is responsible for maintaining the highway right-of-way that runs through the National Forest. They contacted ODF, which provided tree fallers to cut down the dead trees close to the highway while ODOT provided traffic control. Since a few snags located off the right-of-way also were removed, USFS participated in the project.

“We are not taking down every dead tree at this time, just the ones that show an immediate threat,” Fields explained. “Insects have killed some of these scattered large trees. Those that have little or no bark that we call ‘buckskins’ are being taken out now. In addition, I have been examining other trees for any signs of root rot that might cause a healthy looking tree to fall.”

The hazard tree removal project will continue on west along the highway. ODF personnel will be marking additional trees for removal. The project should be done by April 1, Fields added.

Travelers should watch for the road work and expect brief delays along Highway 20 during March.