Summer Lake Wildfire Risk Reduction
Project Background
The Summer Lake Wildfire Risk Reduction project area will focus on an approximately 600 acres within an overall 1,800- acre area with multiple ownerships. Three private landowners make up about 1,358 acres with the remaining 475 acres under BLM management. The project area is flanked by three wildfire scars and the US Forest Service has been focused on conducting thinning treatments to the boundaries.
This area is the last dense forested stand at risk of wildfire. A stand that would lead wildfire to four permanent residences and one hunting cabin. The area is currently being surveyed for pre-wildfire roads and contingency lines within a grant agreement between the USFS and the High Desert Rangeland Fire Protection Association (HDRFPA).
The implementation of a thinning project would successfully complete a wildfire contingency line spanning nearly 10 miles from Paisley to the project area west boundary. Additionally, the treatment would improve watershed function in four sub-watersheds of the region.
Project Partners
Lake County Umbrella Watershed Council, Lakeview Bureau of Land Management, Fremont-Winema National Forest, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Department of Forestry, and the private landowners within the project area.
Project Status
With funding secured, treatment areas identified, bid tours and contracts established, we are ready to proceed with implementation of thinning and piling this spring 2022. More funding is being pursued to add on to the existing acres identified and complete the wildfire risk reduction for this project area.