73,000 acres of Ochoco National Forest in question
A sensitive riparian area found in Ochoco National Forest. Photo: Jim Davis
An update on the Mill Creek and North Fork Crooked River Projects
This past fall, we were concerned to see a series of projects proposing large tree logging across a total of 73,000 acres on the Ochoco National Forest.
A popular hiking destination, Steins Pillar towers 400 feet above the surrounding forest along Mill Creek. Photo: Morgan Shannon
Mill Creek Project
Defending Prineville’s backyard forest
Just outside of Prineville, the Mill Creek project area encompasses over 36,000 acres of the Ochoco National Forest. Mill Creek flows below the 400-foot Steins Pillar on its way to Ochoco Creek, providing critical but sensitive stream corridors for native fish. The surrounding mature stands of ponderosa pine provide habitat for a range of wildlife including elk, mule deer, mountain lions, and even black bears.
In September, LandWatch submitted comments on the Forest Service’s proposed project. We expressed significant concerns with the project’s plans to log large, old trees and conduct widespread logging in riparian areas and sensitive wildlife habitats.
The scale of proposed treatments across the Mill Creek project area is staggering and would leave few forested enclaves un-logged or untreated. We’re working to rein in the scope of this project and improve aspects of the plan that would be detrimental to the forest’s important natural values.
Map of the Mill Creek Project Area within Ochoco National Forest.
The unique “scabland stringer” landscape defines the geography along the North Fork Crooked River. Photo: BLM
North Fork Crooked River Project
Preserving a unique and wild corridor
Further east in the Ochoco National Forest, the North Fork Crooked River project area encompasses more than 37,000 acres on either side of the North Fork Crooked Wild and Scenic River. The project area includes the diverse “scabland stringer” landscapes.
An aerial view of the scabland stringer landscape.
What is a scabland stringer landscape? “Scablands” describe the unforested sagebrush plateaus, and “stringers” refer to the sinuous seasonal and perennial streams lined with trees that course across the landscape before draining into the North Fork Crooked River.
The stream corridors, sagebrush, and forested wildlands support rare native species such as Peck's mariposa lily, Henderson's needlegrass, and Ochoco lomatium – and are particularly sensitive to disruption.
In December, LandWatch submitted comments on the Forest Service’s proposed project. Similar to the Mill Creek project, the Forest Service again proposes to log large, old trees, and conduct extensive logging activities within sensitive riparian and wildlife habitat areas.
Map of the North Fork Crooked River Project Area within Ochoco National Forest.
Large ponderosa pine and larch trees can be found east of the Cascades. Photo: Wasim Muklashy
protections for large trees east of the cascades
Implications for Mill Creek and North Fork Crooked River
A particularly concerning aspect of both the Mill Creek and North Fork Crooked River projects is the proposed logging of large trees.
In August 2023, Judge Hallman of the District of Oregon found that the Forest Service's 2021 Amendment to the Eastside Screens – which eliminated the “21-inch rule”-- was unlawful, and recommended that the Screens Amendment be vacated. In other words, the Trump-era Amendment should be abandoned, and the protection of large, old trees should once again be the guiding Forest standard on the Ochoco National Forest and other forests east of the Cascade crest.
However, both the Mill Creek and North Fork Crooked River projects propose to log large trees, in contradiction of the recent court’s findings. LandWatch will closely monitor both projects to ensure that large trees and special wildlife habitats are appropriately managed and protected. We expect that the Forest Service will release their final proposals for both projects sometime this spring. We will keep you updated as the story unfolds.
Photo: James Parsons
A Watchdog for Central Oregon
At LandWatch, a core tenet of our forest work is ensuring that our public lands are managed with an eye to the future and a focus on conservation. We keep a close eye on federal projects and advocate for preserving our wild lands for their inherent value and for the wildlife habitats and ancient forests they host.