From The FS on 12/11:
Sandy, OR – The Clackamas River Ranger District has awarded a contract for the removal of up to 300 hazard trees along Highway 224. The hazard tree project, which began this week, will help improve the safety of the highway. The 36 Pit Fire and subsequent rain and snow have caused the slopes above the highway to be more susceptible to slides and falling rock and trees. Highway 224 remains closed to the general public due to these hazards. It is not known at this time when Highway 224 will re-open to the general public. The Forest Service, the contractor, and ODOT will be working together throughout the winter and beyond to coordinate their operations.
Government Camp Snow Removal, a local contractor, was awarded the contract to do this work. Most of the tree felling will be completed in the next two weeks, but tree removal will be on-going for the next couple of years as additional trees are identified. It’s unclear how many trees may need to be removed in the future, but the contractor will be working closely with ODOT and District staff to determine when and how many trees need to be removed to ensure public safety.
Safety will be a top focus of the tree felling operation as rock and tree material can come down at any moment given the steep, unstable terrain. Government Camp Snow Removal will be working in coordination with ODOT to provide spotters along the route who will watch for potential risks.
This is good news to hear, it sounds like finally some progress is starting to be made towards reopening the highway. http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/mthood/news-events/?cid=STELPRD3824761
UnderwaterArsonist said
From The FS on 12/11:
This is good news to hear, it sounds like finally some progress is starting to be made towards reopening the highway. http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/mthood/news-events/?cid=STELPRD3824761
Good news, indeed!
It is lucky this is a lower precipitation year - though it will only take a single large wet storm to move more stuff. At least this isn't one of those years with multiple large rainfall events one after another. The Clackamas is running low this winter.
The last time I looked at a calendar winter doesn't even start for almost another week, so we are still experiencing fall weather at this time, or am I wrong? Low stream flows are normal in the fall until the rains and snow come, which they have been increasing recently. I think we are about an inch above on rainfall so far this water year.
This road closure is totally BS. It's like we have never seen trees and rocks on a road before. Come on give us a break! Now they have to remove "hazard trees" or they need to get those trees to the sawmill before the bugs get 'em is my guess. Changes are in the wind.
I don't know if others have noticed, but the powerline clearings were originally much wider than we know them. They were cleared in my presumption of anything tall enough to fall on the lines. They grew in to the second growth we walk through on either side of the open clearings. I believe we need to be prepared for these old widths to be re-established to prevent the fire damaged timber from downing the lines.
I am glad I was able to spend time up there when I did. It will not be recovered in my lifetime. The Bowl fire ten years later is still a long way from being as pretty as it was before.
D 2
Lots of rain coming tonight and into the weekend. 2-5 inches of rain, high snow levels. Possible flood watches.