Deschutes & Ochoco National Forests
Crooked River National Grassland

Central Oregon Heritage Group

The Deschutes and Ochoco National Forest, Prineville Bureau ofLand Management, and The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation cultural Resource specialists and archaeologists make up the Central Oregon Heritage Group, now known as COHG. COHG has been in existence since 1995 and operates using an informal team structure joined together with a common mission and operating principals. While the various specialists in COHG still report to the various units and teams between the three agencies. COHG is unique in many ways and is an innovative approach to resource management being developed as part of the many efforts to reinvent government and the services it provides. 

Federal Law and policy require that land and resource management agencies, such as the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service, identify, evaluate, manage and interpret cultural resources for the public benefit. Cultural resources are the many and varied historic and prehistoric archaeological sites, historic trails, cabins, railroads, and camps located on public lands in Central Oregon. We manage over 8000 known cultural resource sites which range:

• from 9,500 year old Native American camp lodges to 3,000 year old winter villages;
• from large and complex obsidian quarry sites to dispersed and ephemeral scatters of stone tool debris and waste flakes;
• from traces of early pioneer trails such as the Meek Wagon trail to historic wagon roads such as the Huntington Road that traversed the High Desert between The Dalles and Klamath Marsh;
• from small trappers cabins to extensive historic Forest Service administrative sites, such as Allison Guard Station.

Some cultural resource sites also have significant values to area Indian Tribes, this requires that we work with Tribal staffs and elders to help identify, evaluate and manage such sites. We provide interpretive programs and materials at our many recreation sites, visitor centers, and at some special sites. Through our many partnerships with other organizations we offer opportunities for the public to volunteer and get involved in all aspects of what we do to protect and manage the public's historic and cultural legacy.

Want to Learn More?

Check out the presentations page for articles and powerpoints (now in a PDF)