Features
In August 2011, the Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests and Crooked River National Grassland issued new rules for motorized travel. The changes came from the Forest Service's 2005 Travel Management Rule.
The Forest Service publishes FREE Motor Vehicle Use Maps to help you understand all the roads, trails, and areas that are OPEN to motorized travel. Under the plan for the Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests and Crooked River Grassland there are 8,000 miles of designated OPEN roads and no authorized open roads were closed under the plan. The main effort of the plan was to elimnate cross-country travel except within 45 areas designated OPEN to cross-country travel under the plan. The goal of the Forest Service is to help the public understand these new rules and provide them the information they need.
It is a Tent Caterpillar!
What in the World is a Tent Caterpillar?
People are starting to notice some small visitors pitching their tents on bitterbrush and other local central Oregon shrubs. These tents are made by the western tent caterpillar, Malacosoma californicum, an insect that is native to our area. Populations of the tent caterpillar build up periodically, typically every ten years or so, and begin to defoliate bitterbrush and sometimes snowbrush (Ceanothus).
'The Island', located at Lake Billy Chinook was designated as Oregon's 9th National Natural Landmark in 2011. A dedication ceremony was held on May 10, 2011.
Annually hundreds of volunteers and partner organizations, including non-profit,local and state government agencies, and federal agencies contribute to accomplishing critical work on the Deschutes and Ochoco national forests. This work by volunteers and partners benefits not only the national forests, but also the local communities by providing recreation and tourism opportunities, job training, and restoration of wildlife habitats and watersheds. The Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests are grateful for our volunteers and partners.
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