MAUPIN, OR -- After nearly two decades of planning and work, the BLM Prineville District has rebuilt its Bakeoven facilities near Maupin. 

"You know, it takes a village. And, in this, it took like 10 villages," says Assistant District Manager Jeff Kitchens. He tells KBND News the $5 million project involved federal lawmakers, state officials and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. "This project was originally proposed back in the early 2000s. And when I came on as Field Manager of the Deschutes Field Office in 2015, I picked it up and said, ‘this needs to happen. We don’t have good facilities for our staff; our office building is falling apart’." Kitchens says the Bakeoven facilities also provide critical housing for seasonal workers in a remote area of Central Oregon, "What we had was falling apart: dilapidated, old trailers and such. It’s just not a good environment. And so, what we have now is going to be something that is solid, long term, accessible, safe; all the things."

Assistant Field Manager Kyle Hensley says Bakeoven staff do important work along the Lower Deschutes and John Day Rivers, "On what is called Segment One [of the Deschutes] - it’s a very remote, backcountry segment - we have toilet facilities in that segment, which is very different than most backcountry rivers across the country. So, we spend a lot of time and effort servicing those facilities. We have numerous campgrounds - drive in campgrounds; [we] try to keep the rocks off the access roads [and] we provide law enforcement presence, when we can down there." They also are responsible for collecting fees . 

The project was paid for with a grant from the Great American Outdoors Act and BLM maintenance and service fees. A grand opening celebration is planned for Friday, with representatives from federal, state and local governments, and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. 

You'll hear more about the project and the BLM's work done through the Bakeoven facility, just after 8:30 Thursday morning on KBND News. 

 

Photo courtesy of the BLM: The Lower Deschutes River Back Country Byway is managed by the Prineville District of the BLM, out of the Bakeoven office.