The Land Trust plans to conduct a prescribed burn in early May at our Metolius Preserve. Prescribed burning is the next step in our 2023 forest restoration effort to help reduce wildfire danger at our Preserve and for our neighbors, while also helping mimic historic forest conditions and improving habitat for wildlife.

The prescribed burn will be completed in conjunction with our partners at the Deschutes National Forest/Sisters Ranger District and The Nature Conservancy. The burn will occur in the northern section of the Preserve where we completed a mowing operation last spring. The Preserve will remain open during the burn period, but we recommend staying off the Lake Creek Trail and other trails in the northern section of the Preserve due to smoke and burn impacts. See a map of the burn area.

The prescribed burn is currently planned for the first week of May as conditions permit. The burn is weather dependent and will be completed in consultation with the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) and in compliance with ODF’s smoke management plan. We will postpone burning if weather conditions are unfavorable. To learn more:

• Watch the Land Trust’s Instagram and Facebook pages for updates as we get closer to the burn window, and for burn day updates.
• Join us in Camp Sherman for a community gathering to learn about the prescribed burn at the Metolius Preserve: April 25, 2024, 4-5pm, at the Camp Sherman Community Hall.
• Save the date for the Post-Burn Tour: June 6, 2024 from 2:30-4:30pm. More details as we get closer.

Dig deeper:

• About our Prescribed Burning Goals
• Metolius Preserve Forest Restoration
• East Cascade Dry Forests and their historic conditions