McKenzie River Reflections THURSDAY, JULY 15, 2021 Serving the McKenzie River Valley ... And SubscriberDoc Shepard of Lyons, OR Volume 43, Issue 48 00 OSP Reports Home Country Heat$1 & plants Resisted arrest, was It has its one singular There’s no denying the damage placed into handcuffs consolation: our summer is severe behind his back evenings PAGE 2 PAGE 4 PAGE 5 Riparian work begins for Cougar slope still floodplain restoration shedding boulders Two-foot rock falls keeping Aufderheide closed Project is tied to Fall’s return of salmon MRT Before construction work began, crews worked to capture fish and other aquatic life in the project area for release in nearby water that would not be affected by construction activities. FINN ROCK: “It is im- flood mitigation.” the amount of water flow- portant that the restoration Project details include a ing through channels and work be completed before temporary water diversion wetlands and dramatically the salmon arrive from of the lower Elk Creek side improving habitat quality the Pacific Ocean in early channel, fish and aquatic for spring Chinook salmon, September,” according to organism relocation to un- bull trout, Pacific lamprey, Daniel Dietz, the McKenzie impacted areas, earthwork, rainbow and cutthroat trout, River Trust’s Conserva- and placing logs and other as well as Western pond tion Director. “When com- large wood pieces to create turtles, and many other spe- pleted, the restoration will a complex habitat, The Elk cies of fish and wildlife. improve salmon spawning Creek side channel will have “The Finn Rock project and rearing habitat, includ- water restored once the hab- is modeled after the flood- ing for juvenile Spring Chi- itat work is complete, along plain restoration project nook, and increase nesting with replanting of the site completed on the South habitat for Western Pond with native trees and shrubs. Fork McKenzie River in Turtles, as well as address Benefits of the project are 2018 and 2019, where Elk Creek bank erosion and expected to be a doubling of Riparian work - Page 2 USFS COUGAR RESERVOIR: Willamette National Forest officials report Drive (Forest Service Road 19) remains closed to through traffic near milepost 52 due to continued safety hazards. In- spections have shown the cliff face adjacent to the road is still unstable, with rocks and other Readers welcome library’s return debris continuing to break loose. Contractors are continuing work that includes rock bolting and installing a rockfall mesh screen before it is safe to reopen the roadway. Estimates are RAINBOW: Over 65 that work will be completed by the fall of this year. The Terwilliger Hot Springs site is not ac- people showed up for the cessible on FS Road 19 from the north side (Hwy. 126). The springs are accessible from the July 5th ribbon cutting cer- Westfir side, involving a nearly 100-mile long round trip. Officials are advising people to -en emony at the Upper Mc- sure they have enough fuel to cover those miles, along with adequate provisions. Kenzie Community Cen- ter. What they found was a large selection of books, audiobooks, and DVD’s Forest seeks concessionaires to borrow, as well as new free books for children and The Willamette National The south package is for 38 ted recreation facilities as adults to keep. Forest is looking for con- facilities on the McKenzie specified in the prospectus. Other features of the tractors to operate camp- River and Middle Fork For more information, O’Brien Library’s tem- grounds and other govern- Ranger Districts; where contact Recreation Program porary quarters inside the ment-owned recreation fac- average annual revenue Manager Matt Peterson at Center included a new chil- ilities. was almost $785,000 from matthew.peterson1@usda. dren’s area, refreshments, a Sites include camp- 2016-2020. gov or 541-735-1223 with Families like the Clokes found the shelves were full inside the treasure hunt and free use of grounds, day use areas and The Forest Service plans any questions or requests children’s area. computers and on-site WiFi boat launches divided into to release a formal pro- for alternative formats of access. Thursday at 10:30am. 17th). two packages. The north spectus later this winter to the pre-solicitation. Over $1,000 in donations The library is now open Volunteers say that if package is for 28 facilities solicit proposals to operate A guided in-person site to help build the permanent every Monday through someone can’t find a book on the Detroit, Sweet Home and maintain these facilities visit is scheduled for Tues- library in Blue River topped Wednesday from 1 to 3 they would like to see on the and McKenzie River Rang- under a Special Use Permit. day, August 3rd through Fri- off the day’s festivities. p.m; and Thursday, Friday shelves to let them know, so er Districts; which have an The operator will be respon- day, August 6th. Children and parents are and Saturday from 10 a.m. they can order it. average annual revenue of sible for all operations and invited to Story Time every to noon (except for July $650,000 from 2016-2020. maintenance of the permit- Page 2 McKenzie River Reflections Thursday, July 15, 2021 tion and response. 2025, and allows an additional through both Chambers. Requires Department of Con- five years past that date to com- • It has a number of specific Guest Opinion sumer and Business Affairs to mence development. The bill also funding allocations that will assist adopt wildfire hazard mitigation provides direction to the Depart- in the recovery from the Holiday building code standards from ment of Environmental Qual- Farm Fire: 2021 Oregon Legislature es. The counties jointly signed a within the wildland-urban inter- ity with respect to repairs or re- $1.8M, McKenzie Valley Well- wrap up: Wildfire policy request for $27.5M, which was face. placement of subsurface sewage ness (for Orchid Health Clinic submitted to both Chambers’ Requires Department of Envi- disposal systems, provided the temporary clinic and permanent and new resources wildfire committees by Lane ronmental Quality to develop and owner does not receive any state rebuild By Alex Cuyler County Commissioner Heather implement a program for support- or federal government for that re- $903,520, McKenzie Fire and Lane County Intergovernmental Buch. Ultimately the Legislature ing local communities to mitigate pair or replacement. Rescue, Disaster Relief Logistics Relations Manager passed HB 5006, which provided the impacts of wildfire smoke. HB 5006, pending signature Center The 2021 Oregon Legisla- Lane County with some $755,000 Requires Department of Human from Governor Brown $2.1M, Upper McKenzie Rural ture convened in early February. for capacity building in the Land Services (in coordination with the • This measure is one of the Fire Protection District equipment Among its first orders of business Management Division of the Pub- Oregon Health Authority distrib- end of session spending bills, and and facility replacement was the formation of two wild- lic Works Department. ute grant dollars to local govern- formally appropriates money to $15.5M, Lane County, for drink- fire committees; one in the House Lane County worked with ments to establish emergency the Emergency Board for interim ing water and wastewater system and one in the Senate. The House EWEB and the University of Or- clean air shelters or otherwise fil- funding decisions. It is informally replacements Committee was a “special” com- egon to make a pitch for eight dis- ter air into public buildings. referred to as the “Christmas Tree $755, 319, Lane County, for mittee, with its only charge wild- creet recovery projects, totaling Requires Department of For- Bill” as it usually is the vehicle staffing building and planning de- fire related issues. It was chaired $48.8M. These were initially all estry to develop long-range fire for a variety of specific projects partments due to impacts from the by Representative Brian Clem and listed in HB 3172, which did pass resiliency programs and practices that individual members want to 2020 wildfire season was exempt from regular com- from the House Wildfire Recovery and to evolve the Oregon Conser- bring home to their districts. HB $4M, Eugene Water and Electric mittee rules, meaning that it was Committee to the Joints Ways and vation Corps Program, for youth 5006 in 2021 was particularly Board, for restoration and acquisi- allowed to stay open long after Means Committee (JWM). JWM aged 13-26 and focused on wild- large because of the influx of the tion of high-priority riparian prop- most of the other House commit- completely reconstructed the mea- fire risk reduction activities. American Recovery Plan Act, a erties tees were shuttered. The House sure and funded some parts of it Requires Counties to ensure congressionally approved meas- $325,000, Eugene Water and Committee had representation on via HB 5006. More discussion of all lands outside forest protection ure that delivered some $2.6B in Electric Board, for Finn Rock Res- it from any Lane County members that measure is contained later in districts have baseline fire protec- relatively flexible dollars to Or- toration Project (from Rep Paul of the Legislature. The Senate this document. tion by January 1, 2026 (see sec- egon. This measure is evolved Holvey’s district investment) Committee was combined with KEY WILDFIRE BILLS: tion 28-29). mostly behind closed doors, and $1.4M, Blue River Community the Senate’s normal committee on SB 405, effective date Requires Department of Forest- moves quickly through the Joint Library, rebuild project Natural Resources, and chaired 5/12/2021 ry to enhance wildfire detection Ways and Means process and by Senator Jeff Golden.