Our Work

Our Work

Restoring Our Forests

The DCFP is dedicated to restoring our forests, making them more resilient to fire, insects and disease, and even climate change. At the same time, we are creating better wildlife habitat, space for trees to grow and thrive, and safer and healthier communities.
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A Forest that Needs Fire

Fire were historically a healthy and regular occurrence in Central Oregon forests. Our trees, plants and wildlife are all adapted to forests that received regular fire. A century of fire suppression has resulted in overly dense forests, and thus very hot and devastating fires.
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The West Bend Project

Some of the most beloved places in the Deschutes National Forest are restoration priorities. Our goals for the West Bend Project: restore forest ecosystems, reduce the potential of high-severity wildfire, and provide socioeconomic benefits to local communities.
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2015-CFLRP-Overview-MapRestoring Balance in our Forests

Since 2010, we’ve been working as partners alongside the Deschutes National Forest on a $10.1 million effort to restore 250,000+ acres of forest in Deschutes County, focusing on the unhealthiest places that are putting our forests and communities at risk, including the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) areas west of Bend, Sisters, Tumalo and Sunriver.

Before and after restoration efforts at the SAFR project outside Sisters.

Recent News

  • Temporary Trail Closures Deschutes National Forest
    Temporary Trail Closures Deschutes National Forest

    Temporary Trail Closures Deschutes National Forest Posted May 7, 2020: The Deschutes National Forest will be temporarily closing a section of the Dinah-Moe-Humm Trail from Forest Road 4180 west to the junction of Forest Road 500, north of Edison Butte…

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  • What is up with the Mulch Piles near Phil’s Trailhead?
    What is up with the Mulch Piles near Phil’s Trailhead?

    What's up with the Mulch Piles around Phil's Trailhead? Beginning Wednesday, April 15, 2020, the Deschutes National Forest will temporarily close the gate on Forest Road 4604 near the Phil's Trailhead in Bend, Oregon to accomplish restoration work in two…

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  • Prescribed Burning in Progress
    Prescribed Burning in Progress

    Prescribed Burning locations across Central Oregon With the arrival of favorable weather conditions, fire managers on the Deschutes National Forest will begin igniting prescribed burns and handpiles across our area over the next few weeks. This will include several high…

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  • Pandora Moth Returns on the Wing to Central Oregon
    Pandora Moth Returns on the Wing to Central Oregon

    Pandora Moth Returns on the Wing to Central Oregon Contributed by Robbie Flowers, PhD. Forest Entomologist for the USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Protection. Central Oregon Forest Insect and Disease Service Center. With paddleboard and mountain biking season in full…

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  • Video: Prescribed Fire Planning
    Video: Prescribed Fire Planning

    Restoring our dry, fire-adapted forests in Central Oregon is a multi-step process carried out over many years and requiring collaboration among a diverse team of forest scientists, fire experts, loggers, community leaders, and volunteers. Before every Prescribed Fire, we do…

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  • Video: Meet the Crew
    Video: Meet the Crew

    Once the initial forest restoration steps have been completed, and the forest is ready for prescribed fire, now it’s time to organize the many fire professionals and equipment needed to safely conduct a prescribed burn. The Burn Boss oversees all…

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