FAST FACTS:WHO: Sonny Timber Sale
WHAT: 1,150 acres of fuels reduction
WHEN: 6 AM- 3 PM, Sept. 21-Dec. 31 (approximately)
WHERE: Deschutes National Forest land north and east of Sunriver
WHY: Reduce possibility of catastrophic wildfires
WHAT: 1,150 acres of fuels reduction
WHEN: 6 AM- 3 PM, Sept. 21-Dec. 31 (approximately)
WHERE: Deschutes National Forest land north and east of Sunriver
WHY: Reduce possibility of catastrophic wildfires
HOW: B&S Logging of Prineville will cut 3 million board feet of timber and haul to Interfor Pacific in Gilchrist.
IN MORE DETAIL:
Sunriver residents and guests may hear heavy equipment noise early in the morning in the forests north and east of Sunriver for the next few months.
IN MORE DETAIL:
Sunriver residents and guests may hear heavy equipment noise early in the morning in the forests north and east of Sunriver for the next few months.
The Forest Service recently awarded the Sonny timber sale to Interfor Pacific in Gilchrist. Interfor Pacific hired B & S Logging of Prineville to cut and haul approximately three million board feet of timber from 27 units spread over 1,150 acres of federal forestlands near Sunriver.
The Sonny timber sale was specifically designed to reduce fuels in the forest around Sunriver to protect homes and lives from catastrophic wildfire. It is the first timber sale under the Sunriver Healthy Forest Restoration Act Environmental Analysis. The project was reviewed in 2007 and 2008 under the National Environmental Policy Act.
"Operations will start at 6 a.m. on weekdays and, during fire season, will end at 1 p.m. After fire season is over, they will be operating until about 3 p.m.," said Linda Fitzer, Deschutes National Forest representative. "Operations will stop at noon on weekdays before a holiday (Friday at noon for Monday holidays, Wednesday at noon for Thanksgiving, etc.). Warning signs will be in place for logging and hauling operations on all roads leading into the areas."
Fitzer said the 6 a.m. start time allows the project to be completed in a period of months versus years. She added that logging companies prefer to start work even earlier, often 3 or 4 a.m., but agreed to wait until 6 a.m., because the project is close to a residential area.
"It will be close to several homes and will be heard by some residents," Fitzer said.
The logging operation was scheduled to begin Sept. 21 in an area north and west of Cottonwood Road. Sunriver roads will not be used by the logging crews and several miles of old forest roads will be closed after thinning is complete. Motorists should expect to encounter logging trucks and equipment on Hwy 97.
Areas to be thinned include just north of River Village condos near Circle 7, near the canoe take out, and near the Benham Falls Day Use Area. A number of harvest units border the railroad tracks due east of Sunriver, and wrap around the resort-owned Lake Penhollow property.
Much of the forest along both sides of Cottonwood Road between Sunriver and Highway 97 will be thinned during the approximately four-month operation. The thinning along Cottonwood Road should allow more sun to shine on and melt snow and ice from the roadway during winter months.
Information: (541) 383-5561
The Sonny timber sale was specifically designed to reduce fuels in the forest around Sunriver to protect homes and lives from catastrophic wildfire. It is the first timber sale under the Sunriver Healthy Forest Restoration Act Environmental Analysis. The project was reviewed in 2007 and 2008 under the National Environmental Policy Act.
"Operations will start at 6 a.m. on weekdays and, during fire season, will end at 1 p.m. After fire season is over, they will be operating until about 3 p.m.," said Linda Fitzer, Deschutes National Forest representative. "Operations will stop at noon on weekdays before a holiday (Friday at noon for Monday holidays, Wednesday at noon for Thanksgiving, etc.). Warning signs will be in place for logging and hauling operations on all roads leading into the areas."
Fitzer said the 6 a.m. start time allows the project to be completed in a period of months versus years. She added that logging companies prefer to start work even earlier, often 3 or 4 a.m., but agreed to wait until 6 a.m., because the project is close to a residential area.
"It will be close to several homes and will be heard by some residents," Fitzer said.
The logging operation was scheduled to begin Sept. 21 in an area north and west of Cottonwood Road. Sunriver roads will not be used by the logging crews and several miles of old forest roads will be closed after thinning is complete. Motorists should expect to encounter logging trucks and equipment on Hwy 97.
Areas to be thinned include just north of River Village condos near Circle 7, near the canoe take out, and near the Benham Falls Day Use Area. A number of harvest units border the railroad tracks due east of Sunriver, and wrap around the resort-owned Lake Penhollow property.
Much of the forest along both sides of Cottonwood Road between Sunriver and Highway 97 will be thinned during the approximately four-month operation. The thinning along Cottonwood Road should allow more sun to shine on and melt snow and ice from the roadway during winter months.
Information: (541) 383-5561
