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Firewood Cutting Season Opens
The Mt. Hood National Forest personal use firewood-cutting season opened Monday, April 27, 2009.
Initially there will be limited areas open with limited supply and, due to snow levels, there could be weeks with no areas available.
Personal use firewood permits sell for $10.00 per cord; minimum charge per permit is $20. The limit per household per year is 5 cords.
Link to more information |
Avalanche Awareness
Even though we're
experiencing spring conditions at lower elevations, one can
still encounter winter conditions at higher elevations on
the national forest so please be prepared. Also at this
time of year, people should be aware of possible spring avalanche
danger and consult avalanche and weather forecasts before
venturing out. Links to web sites are provided below.
Throughout this
past winter, several free avalanche safety programs were offered.
Roland
Emetaz of the Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center and Jim
Thornton of the Barlow Ranger District of Mt. Hood National
Forest were the program presenters. Avalanche awareness,
field indicators of avalanche danger, and tips on how to travel
more safely were just a few of the topics discussed.
Depending on conditions and avalanche danger, often postponing
a trip to the back country can also be the best option.
As next winter approaches, think about attending one of these
sessions which are again planned for next winter season.
In the mean time,
be sure to check the avalanche forecast before going out into
backcountry areas for the duration of spring. Here are a few
links to web sites which may prove useful to you.
Northern
Oregon Avalanche Forecast Summary
Hourly
Mountain Weather Map
Detailed
Mountain Weather Forecast
Forecast:
Northern
Oregon Cascades
Avalanche Control at Mt. Hood Meadows
Mt. Hood Meadows
uses remote delivery systems including artillery for avalanche
reduction.
Avalanche control
work may occur at anytime within the Mt. Hood Meadows Ski
Area Boundary.
more
information
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Advisory:
Parking Adjacent to Mirror Lake Trail Now Inaccessible.
Due to safety issues
related to traffic on Highway 26, Oregon Department of Transportation
recently closed the area between Highway 26 and the Mirror
Lake Trail to vehicle parking.
Although the Mirror
Lake Trail is one of the most popular summer trails on Mt.
Hood National Forest, the trail was never signed or managed
as a winter trail. People have begun parking vehicles
during the winter and early spring in recent years in the
area adjacent to the Mirror Lake Trailhead even though the
location is not designated as a winter Sno*Park. Please
be aware that violators will be ticketed by the Oregon State
Police and towed. People are also cautioned not to park
on highway shoulders.
Informal winter
use of the Mirror Lake has increased during the last few winters.
Mt. Hood National Forest plans to explore ways to manage increased
winter use. The public is encouraged to use nordic ski trails
and snow shoe trails in the Government Camp area. |
Good Things Happening
in the Sandy River Basin
Many opportunities
to become involved in habitat restoration projects exit.
Click on the link below for more information.
On October 19, 2007,
Marmot Dam, the largest dam ever to be removed in Oregon,
was dismantled allowing the Sandy River to be free flowing
for the first time in nearly 100 years.
In 2008, the Little
Sandy Dam will also be removed, improving access to over 100
miles of salmon and steelhead habitat on the Mt. Hood National
Forest.
On December 17,
2007, the City of Portland and the Mt. Hood National Forest
signed the new Bull Run Watershed Management Unit Agreement.
This Agreement now serves as a partnership guide for the long
term stewardship of the Bull Run, the source of Portland's
drinking water.
Link to more
information |
Watershed Education
Program
The
goal of the Mt. Hood National Forest Watershed Education Program
is to provide rural schools with a unique resource that brings
a locally significant view of watersheds and gives students
a view of aquatics based science in the areas of fisheries,
hydrology and soils. Our hope is to give students an understanding
of the importance of their own local watershed.
Link
to Watershed Education
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