Thinning to save wildlife habitat and homes

With a heavy blanket of smoke and ash hanging around Sisters Country in recent days, forest fire is a hot topic. Last Thursday afternoon, County Commissioner Alan Unger got an up-close look at what the Deschutes Land Trust (DLT) is doing to help keep wildfire from burning up their new Whychus Canyon Preserve, and adjacent properties.

Throughout the tour of the preserve the topic of "defensible space" kept surfacing, especially as associated with forest practices.

"Over 100 acres have been hand-cut and piled by students from the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council and will be burned as soon as the weather cooperates," DLT's Amanda Egertson said. "We have another 120 acres that are considered a high-priority fuels-reduction area, but we must wait for another

$80,000 in funding from FEMA and other sources before we can take it on. In the meantime we will continue studying the juniper, sagebrush canyon lands with Darin Stringer, head of Integrated Forest Management, to ensure we leave enough thermal cover and shelter for mule deer who frequent this habitat year-long."

The emphasis on the "show-me" trip was on how well the county, DLT and other partners are working together, especially with the aid of private-sector forester Stringer, working in close association with Ed Keith, and Egertson.

"DLT purchased the land to preserve wildlife habitat and quality recreation and to prevent future development," Deschutes Land Trust's Brad Chalfant said, "while we also feel it is our responsibility to work closely with Deschutes County and Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife."

"I'm excited about the prospect of assisting landowners in achieving their management goals and reducing wildfire risk," County Forester Ed Keith said. "Whether it is providing risk-of-fire education to homeowners, or assisting in finding funds for projects we are hoping to implement with the Deschutes Basin Land Trust, the county has an interest in bridging those

gaps."

Unger was gratified to see the work accomplished.

"You don't know how refreshing it is to make a plan and see it happen," Unger said as the group was completing the tour. "That's what we enjoy about working with the Land

Trust."