Open House for Cove II Fuels Reduction Project

Baker City, Ore. — The La Grande Ranger District of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest and Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) will be hosting an open house for people interested in the Cove II Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) fuels reduction project. The open house will be held on Wednesday, July 28, 2010, between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. in the Kimsey Commons at the Cove Ascension School (corner of Church and Foster Streets) in Cove, Oregon.

The purpose of the open house is to discuss the proposed action and gather public comments for use in developing alternative approaches for this project. ODF will be available to discuss fuels reduction grant opportunities with private landowners.

“Anyone who would like to learn more about the project, discuss issues or concerns with Forest Service specialists, or provide comments about the proposal is encouraged to attend the open house,” said Kurt Wiedenmann, District Ranger.

The Cove WUI area was identified in the 2005 Union County Community Wildfire Protection Plan as an urban wildland interface community within the vicinity of Federal lands that is at high risk to impacts and loss from wildfires. The purpose of the project is to reduce natural fuel loadings on public lands, modify fire behavior and reduce resource damage during wildfires, improve firefighting opportunities, and increase firefighter and public safety.

The project area encompasses approximately 20,377 acres in the Mill and Indian Creek drainages. The southern portion of the project begins near Moss Springs and Forest Road 6220, with the eastern edge extending along the Eagle Cap wilderness, to the northern boundary near Camp Creek, and the western side along Forest Service and private land boundary.

For additional information, call Mike Johnson at 541-962-8566 or visit the La Grande Ranger District office at 3502 Highway 30, in La Grande, from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

If a reasonable accommodation such as sign language interpreter or assistive technology is needed, contact Kurt Wiedenmann at 541-962-8582 or kwiedenmann@fs.fed.us. Please request your accommodation by July 27, so we can serve you.