Bureau of Land Management releases draft plan to address dying trees

Medford, Ore. — Almost everywhere in the Applegate Valley, people see massive numbers of dead and dying trees. More Douglas fir have died in southern Oregon in the last four years than the last four decades. The alarming number of dead conifers is fueling concerns about public safety along roadways, increased fire risk, changes in wildlife habitat, and economic impacts to local communities. Bureau of Land Management officials are asking for feedback on the best strategy for addressing this devastating tree mortality.

The Strategic Operations for Safety Environmental Assessment proposes to address the crisis by allowing BLM managers to quickly address concerns along roads, near homes, and in locations where firefighters have the best chance of stopping fires quickly and safely.

The proposal will strategically target dead and dying trees and those showing significant signs of decline in optimum places close to where people live. The BLM has worked closely with researchers from the US Forest Service and Oregon State University Extension Office on developing indicators and criteria for dying trees.

“We don’t have any additional funding to address the conifer mortality that is creating safety concerns across 200,000 acres of public lands in southwestern Oregon,” said Elizabeth Burghard, BLM Medford District Manager. “So, we have to rely on timber sales to remove dead and dying trees in strategic locations.”

“It’s important we act fast,” she continued. “Otherwise these trees could fuel the next large wildfire or create access and safety issues along roads. Doing nothing is not an option.”

This programmatic plan creates a framework to guide future site-specific analysis as problem areas are identified under subsequent EAs. The BLM Medford District anticipates that this EA will cover an estimated 10,000-15,000 acres of treatments, including salvage sales of timber with remaining commercial value, removal of non-merchantable trees, and fuel treatments. Implementation of the work could happen using timber sales, stewardship contracts, and/or other service contracts to remove dead and dying material and associated activity fuels. The first project could begin in mid-2025.

The BLM is also seeking input on the first site specific EA, known as the SOS EA Project #1, available on ePlanning at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2035179/510.

Learn more about the SOS EA during a virtual public meeting on December 10 at 5 pm. Register in advance at: https://blm.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_ChfKufZ0RD23Jxr3CY4isQ#/registration. Comments on the draft plan will be most beneficial if received by Jan. 6, 2025. Additional information can be found on ePlanning at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanningui/project/2027249/510.