As development pressures grow in high-risk areas, we must consider every new development in the WUI carefully. Smart planning that takes wildfire risk into account will help avoid unnecessary loss of life and homes, risk to our health, and endangerment of firefighters.

Yesterday afternoon, the group of public officials guiding the Urban Growth Boundary process voted unanimously to approve the initial map for Bend's boundary expansion. 

Building on momentum from community urban growth boundary discussions, Central Oregon LandWatch and The Tree Farm LLC successfully reached a settlement agreement on a proposed development west of Bend.

Dewey and Schueler worked with other westside landowners to come to an agreement dubbed the “Westside Transect,” which addresses wildlife, wildfire, and transportation concerns. 

The 2015 fire season was worse than any on record, and summertime temperatures are steadily escalating.

We believe Scenario 2.1 (pictured below) comes the closest to addressing our community values of preventing urban sprawl, protecting wildlife habitat, sustaining vibrant neighborhoods, and achieving balanced growth, but a few modifications are necessary to make Bend even better.

At the May 2015 City Club of Central Oregon Forum, Ray Rasker, Executive Director of Headwater Economics discusses this topic. 

 At the UGB steering committee meeting, Executive Director Paul Dewey advocated for including wildfire risk to potential UGB lands as part of the planning process

This year's frightfully warm winter, as predicted by climate change models, means there will be less snowpack to buffer forest fires during fire season. The repercussions might include losing wildfire insurance for the state.