Thanks to some intricate maneuvering by Western Oregon Zone Fire Management Officer (FMO) Brian Gales and RO Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Coordinator Rico George, the Oregon Coast NWR Complex received some much-needed help with their WUI program in late March. The two fire officers were able to secure three days? work by the Washington Conservation Corps? (WCC) WUI-funded crew to tackle two projects on Oregon Islands NWR in areas adjacent to private homes.

The crew arrived at the Bandon Marsh NWR bunkhouse on Easter Sunday night, the 27th of March, and drove down to the Crook Point Unit 12 miles south of Gold Beach the following two mornings to remove trees and brush. Along with the Oregon Coast NWR Complex's South Coast manager Dave Ledig, the six person WCC crew cleared spruce, shore pine and coyote brush from a portion of the western edge of the Crook Point Unit. The crew used chainsaws and hand loppers for the clearing, and disposed of the cut materials in strategic locations to reduce the fuel load and protect the fragile coastal grasslands. Despite weather conditions alternating between hail, high winds, pounding rain and occasional patches of sun, the crew was able to clear approximately 5 acres of small stature trees and chest high brush.

On the morning of March 30th the crew assisted with the Oregon Islands NWR Coquille Point Unit WUI project scheduled for the week of April 4. This WUI project within the city limits of Bandon will remove 2-3 acres of highly flammable gorse along the northern edge of the refuge boundary. The WCC crew removed large drift logs and debris that were stacked up along the southern stairs of Coquille Point, blocking public access to the stairs near the beach. This set of stairs will be the primary access point to the area for the public during the closure of the northern end of the refuge during the gorse mowing operation. The logs that the crew removed varied in diameter from 24" up to 48". The crew spent four hours cutting and removing these large drift logs.

The strong work ethic, determination and high spirits of the Washington Conservation Crew helped accomplish work that is extremely important to the conservation of Oregon Islands NWR's natural resources. This crew accomplished more WUI-related work on Oregon Islands NWR than could ever have been funded through the standard competitive funding process. It is also an excellent example of a federal-state partnership in the area of hazardous fuels reduction and wildfire prevention.