Mowing operations set to reduce wildfire fuels

The Sisters Ranger District plans to implement approximately 3,600 acres of mowing operations across Sisters Country.

Mowing operations are strategically located in areas critical to reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfires to communities. Project areas slated for mowing include the Sisters Area Fuels Reduction (SAFR) Project Area, Highway 20 Project Area, and the Metolius Basin Project Area.

Work is already completed or underway in some units and will continue during the fall and winter. Mowing work will be ongoing during wetter, cooler weather through early 2025. Mowing work is scheduled in the fall and winter months to take advantage of cooler weather and increased moisture, as well as to minimize impacts to ground-nesting birds and other wildlife.

No trail or road closures are anticipated; however, short duration impacts may occur. The Forest Service asks the public to be aware of this work and avoid areas when mowing is occurring.

Mowing reduces the height and density of brush, which if left untreated, can pose a serious risk for wildfires that burn with higher intensity and are more challenging for firefighters to stop.