LA PINE, OR -- The Deschutes National Forest is joining forces with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to create a plan for responding to wildfires across jurisdictional boundaries. Jean Nelson Dean with the Forest Service says the new Greater La Pine Cohesive Strategy Project means “all hands, all lands.”
"That applies both to wildfire fighting and treating areas. And, one great thing is the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Forest Service have received funding to do cohesive strategy work down in the La Pine area," Nelson Dean tells KBND. "The idea is that treating both federal lands – BLM, forest service - treating state lands. And, also through the NRCS, being able to treat private lands. So, private landowners being able to apply for grant dollars that they can then do work on their own lands if they’re interested."
She says it's a long-term plan that includes guidelines for how to treat 300,000 acres of designated land. Agencies involved in the Cohesive Strategy Plan will kick off the multi-year project in La Pine, Friday morning.
