June and early July have been busy months for forest thinning projects at the Land Trust! Thanks to funding received this spring from the Central Oregon Shared Stewardship Landscape Resiliency Project, we have been able to start small diameter juniper thinning at several Land Trust Preserves. This forest restoration work will help reduce wildfire danger at our Preserves and for our neighbors, while also helping mimic historic forest conditions and improving habitat for wildlife.

As of early July, thinning efforts were finishing up at Rimrock Ranch and Whychus Canyon Preserve. We were also able to complete a small thinning project at Camp Polk Meadow Preserve near the main trailhead. It will help the small pine saplings in the thinned area thrive, while reducing fire danger. Wherever possible, we will use the cut juniper for upcoming stream restoration projects. Otherwise, it is piled, left to dry, then burned in the winter, as weather conditions allow.

Next, we plan to focus on thinning efforts at Aspen Hollow Preserve and Willow Springs Preserve. We hope to have crews at Aspen Hollow Preserve this fall, which gives our recently fledged golden eagle the space it needs to thrive. Finally, we hope to thin junipers along the entrance road at Willow Springs Preserve in the fall or winter, and hope to use those trees in the current restoration efforts at the Preserve.


Learn more:

• Stewardship Collective Awarded $6.25 Million Grant
• Pile Burning 101
• East Cascade Dry Forests and their historic conditions