OVERVIEW

The South Warner Forest Health Project (SWFHP) encompasses 39,037 acres of private, non-industrial forestland in Lake County, east and south of Lakeview. This landscape scale project is tied directly to Fremont- Winema National Forest’s South Warner Integrated Landscape Restoration Project, totaling 85,620 acres and is adjacent to the North Warner Forest Health Project where current treatment is underway. Through a century of fire suppression, the forests of this region have increased in density, lost diversity, and altered the structure and hydrologic function of watersheds. This loss from historic conditions has increased the scale and risk of fire severity, and reduced forest resiliency to drought, insects, and disease. High priority resources and habitat such as waterways and associated sensitive species, homes, ranch land, and private/industrial timberland are currently in jeopardy. 

The goal of the SWFHP is to initiate a landscape-level forest management effort aimed at improving forest health conditions that will reverse the current fire trend and increase ecosystem resiliency.  Based on similar efforts in Lake County, the SWFHP uses an 8 step model founded on personal connections with informed and engaged private landowners. A comprehensive outreach, mapping, and inventory effort will inform and facilitate cross-boundary planning and implementation of forest health practices.  

OUTREACH

In 2022-2023 an Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board grant will be used to conduct targeted outreach to private landowners, including phone calls, mailings, site visits, forest management planning sessions, and educational workshops. Landowner education efforts will include two OSU Extension workshops for forest ecology/management, fire science and prioritization planning.

MAPPING

In 2022 the Lake County Umbrella Watershed Council will be working with a GIS Specialist and a field forestry crew to conduct mapping of private land forest and understory conditions across the project area. This effort is funded by a grant from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board. Once completed, this information will be used to evaluate treatment needs across the landscape and to pursue funding for treatments.

If you would like to find out more about this effort or determine if you are in the project area and eligible for mapping done for your property, please contact Autumn Muir at lakecountywsc@gmail.com.

If you would like to grant permission for mapping on your property, please complete this form.

PROJECTS 

Partners will be working with engaged landowners in the near future to identify project needs, pursue funding, and implement forestry treatments.