Walton Lake in the Ochoco National Forest holds fond memories for many Crook County residents. We invite you to join us for a photo competition and to share your favorite snapshot of Walton Lake!
Events
Although many people have heard the phrase “biomass” at some point in the last decade or two, few are knowledgeable about the wide range of utilization strategies available today. What does success look like in this current landscape, and what can we learn from the lessons successful project developers have learned along the way?
By Janel Ruehl, Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council Panel Summary What’s the right size biomass utilization project for your community? How do you assess the supply available in your region, and the viability of a variety of potential sources? In panel two of the OFRC Biomass Summit, our panelists focused on […]
By Vernita Ediger, Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council and the Central Oregon Forest Stewardship Foundation Panel Summary A wide range of technologies and approaches exist for creating value from small-diameter woody material. Each of these has pros and cons that make them more or less viable in certain locations and contexts. […]
By Nicole Strong, Oregon State University Extension Panel Summary Steve Forrester from the City of Prineville started us off with an overview of Prineville’s growth and energy needs. Prineville is situated in a place and time that offers an opportunity to make biomass utilization a feasible enterprise. In light of […]
What actions should we take to manage our forests for the multiple benefits we expect? We need to recognize that fire has a role to play and that, at the same time, we can reduce the risk of catastrophic loss.
Logging is up in the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest under the U.S. Forest Service timber program that focuses less on commercial sales and instead sees logs as a byproduct of restoration and efforts to cut the risk of fire.
Without regular fires, Oregon's dry, east-side forests have grown much thicker. The unnaturally dense forests that exist today are more susceptible to insect and disease outbreaks and are fueling bigger, more intense wildfires that put nearby communities in danger.