Personal Use Christmas Tree Cutting Permits Available Nov. 23

Are you looking for an old fashion holiday experience or a new family tradition? How about a day trip into your National Forest to cut a wild tree?

The Mt. Hood National Forest will begin selling personal use Christmas tree cutting permits on Monday, November 23, 2009. Permits sell for $5.00 each (cash or check only) and there is a limit of five permits per household. Link to News Release

Barlow Ranger District Office Undergoing Remodel

Remodel of the Forest Service office in Dufur has begun. It is anticipated that the office will remain open to visitors during remodel and construction. Please call the Barlow Ranger District at 541-467-2291 before visiting to ensure that the office is open.  Intermittent shut down of electricity may also cause the visitor reception area to be moved for short periods of time to a building immediately north of the office. One change immediately visible to visitors is the temporary public parking area which has now been moved to the north side of the office. 

Exterior work will proceed during the next four to five weeks. Interior remodel work is expected to begin in approximately one month. The entire remodel is expected to be completed within six months. The renovated office will provide office space and parking which improves service to the public. Accommodations to the conference room will be improved. Accessibility to people with disabilities will be improved by an installation of a new elevator. Improved parking will provide additional parking spaces and spaces for recreation vehicles.

Economic Recovery Projects

Timberline Lodge

Mt. Hood National Forest will receive $4.25 million dollars to improve facilities at Timberline Lodge. The work is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for Forest Facilities and Trails and was announced by Secretary Tom Vilsack on July 21, 2009.  The 191 projects, funded at more than $274 million, are located throughout the US Forest Service in 32 states.

Timberline Lodge is a national landmark jewel which was created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression of the 1930s. The work at Timberline Lodge will employ numerous contractors and employ such trades people as painters, carpenters, electricians, masons, pipe fitters, roofers, and road construction crews. "The Recovery Act projects we're announcing today are central to creating jobs and building a better, stronger economy in the future," said Secretary Vilsack. "These projects exemplify President Obama's commitment to sustainability, reducing our environmental footprint, and increasing energy efficiency, which will benefit the 178 million people who visit the National Forests each year, while generating additional tourism and stimulating local economies." Link to more and news release

Link to:

"How to Do Business with the Forest Service"

Fee Increase Proposed for Rental of Fire Lookout Towers and Clackamas Lake Historic Cabin

Link to more information

Area Closed to Target Shooting

In order to ensure the safety of the public, all target shooting is now prohibited within an area surrounding the first approximately seven miles of Road 4500 (commonly known as the Memaloose Road ). Shooting is also prohibited on all connecting spur roads along this stretch of road. There has been an increase in target shooting within this area of the Clackamas River Ranger District. The closure to target shooting in this area is due to its lack of adequate backstops to provide safe shooting and because of the potential risk of bullet shells landing near camp sites, roads, and rivers where people recreate. While this specific area will be closed to target shooting, there still remains many areas, such as some rock quarries, where visitors are allowed to practice target shooting. Link to more information and news release

New Wilderness Areas Designated on Mt. Hood National Forest

The Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 designated over 124,000 acres of new wilderness on Mt. Hood National Forest.  Link to more information and maps of new wilderness additions.

Travel on Still Creek Road Restricted

Fill slope failures have occurred on Road 2612 (also known as Road 12 or the Still Creek Road) at approximately .25 miles from the road's junction with Highway 26 forcing a road closure at the point of slope failure.  Recreation residences can still be accessed between Highway 26 and the closure or by accessing the Still Creek Road via Forest Road 2620 (also known as Road 20). Upper reaches of Road 2612 can also be accessed via the 2620 Road and is passable as far as the winter gate (approximately 8 miles).  The winter gate is closed. 

Good Things Happening in the Sandy River Basin

Many opportunities to become involved in habitat restoration projects exit.  Click on the link below for more information.

On October 19, 2007, Marmot Dam, the largest dam ever to be removed in Oregon, was dismantled allowing the Sandy River to be free flowing for the first time in nearly 100 years. 

In 2008, the Little Sandy Dam will also be removed, improving access to over 100 miles of salmon and steelhead habitat on the Mt. Hood National Forest.

On December 17, 2007, the City of Portland and the Mt. Hood National Forest signed the new Bull Run Watershed Management Unit Agreement.  This Agreement now serves as a partnership guide for the long term stewardship of the Bull Run, the source of Portland's drinking water. 

Link to more information

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