Fire, land use dominate meeting

The threat of fire and the impact of potential land use changes dominated discussions at the annual Friends of the Metolius (FOM meeting) at the Camp Sherman Community Hall on Saturday, May 27.

A small gathering heard Sisters District Ranger Bill Anthony describe recent projects to reduce wildfire danger in the local area.

The B&B Fire costs were something in excess of $40 million, Anthony reported.

“This was one of the largest fires in Central Oregon history covering 91,000 acres and lasted from August 19 until November (2003),” said Anthony. “The winter snows finally put it out completely.

Drivers along Road 14 or 1419 into Camp Sherman are familiar with efforts to treat the area for hazardous fuels by thinning the forest and piling cut trees.

“It’s much cheaper to prevent fires then to pay for the aftermath,” said Anthony.

Slash piles will be burned in the fall. The Forest Service treated 2,000 acres in 2005 and plans to treat 3,000 acres this year, reported Kirk Metsker of the Forest Service. A total area of 12,500 acres will eventually be treated.

“We’ve used mowing, burning, and goats to cut down fuels in the local forest,” said Anthony. “Half the dead trees will fall every 10 years.” Asked about the treated areas and death of some pines during controlled burns,, Anthony described this as “mortality by design.”

“Reforestation will plant pine, larch and Doug fir in the area,” he said.

“We’ve also found an increase in noxious weeds after the fire from 62 to an additional 97 types.”

Commenting on the recent flap over two new highway passing lanes proposed by Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) on Highway 20 between Tollgate and Cold Springs road, Anthony said, “We’ve rethought our (Forest Service) position but ODOT has easement rights to create these lanes on Forest Service land and state highway. ODOT still has it on the table and will be back with the proposal in the next six months to a year.”

Apparently, the blue markings on trees will also stay put.

Dick Kellogg, reporting for FOM, recounted the group’s activities over the past year.

“The Lake Creek Lodge dispute between FOM, the Lodge owners and Jefferson County has been resolved. County land use ordinances will be followed and new cabins will be added to the existing rental units,” he said.

“The county’s Comprehensive Plan, formulated in 1981, is being updated,” Kellogg reported.

“The Planning Commission will be here on July 22 and the County Commissioners on October 9, to discuss changes with local citizens,” he said.

Camp Sherman is now described as an “unincorporated community of Jefferson County.” Concern was expressed that new zoning ordinances might allow doubling current density. However, county officials deny this.

“They’re changing the rules,” said Tom Landis, former long time member of the Camp Sherman Land Use Advisory Board.

“It cost us (FOM) lots of money to have the county obey their land use rules.”

Lois and Kent Gill were honored at the meeting for long service to FOM. They are now retiring from the group. They were presented with a framed picture of the Metolius River by Gary Albertson to hang in their home. Also honored at the meeting was Kirk Metsker, retiring from the Forest Service after 34 years of service. He retires on June 1.