Outdoors & Recreation

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – A walking history tour of Pine Street in Klamath Falls will be offered at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, by the Klamath County Museum.

The tour is free and open to anyone interested. It will begin at the corner of 11th and Pine streets, and cover about five blocks over the course of an hour.

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – The Bureau of Reclamation has released a draft Environmental Assessment to disclose potential environmental effects and solicit public comments associated with the Siskiyou County project.

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore—The first of up to seven electric car fast-charging stations to be developed by Pacific Power in Oregon communities is set for Klamath Commons Park in Klamath Falls.

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – September is National Preparedness Month and Klamath County Public Health (KCPH) officials want residents to know that it takes well-coordinated partnerships to provide accurate air quality information during wildfires.

SALEM, Ore.—The parties to the Pacific Salmon Treaty have agreed on new coast-wide salmon fishing agreements under the Treaty. The Pacific Salmon Commission is comprised of representatives from Canada, the states of Oregon, Washington, and Alaska, and Northwest and Columbia River Treaty Tribes. Commissioners from the United States and Canada will now forward the agreements to their respective governments for approval.

Highlights from this week’s Recreation Report include: Fee pheasant hunts; Take a friend hunting, win a prize; Finally, time to enjoy some cool season trout fishing; and Coastal fall Chinook - just add water.

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Airtanker 06 will fly for the last time this Sunday to the Klamath Falls Airtanker Base where it will be retired to become a display for the public to enjoy along with the Airtanker 61 Memorial.

South Central Oregon Interagency Fire Incident Management Team 3 expects to have fulfilled its objectives early next week and restore management of the Watson Creek Fire to the Fremont-Winema National Forest and Paisley Ranger District.

Fire crews continue to mop-up and perform suppression repair along the fire boundary and within the interior.

The Level 1 – Be Ready – evacuation status for Lakeview Estates will be lifted at noon today. Fire managers ask that only residents and property owners use the roads, as there is significant traffic from fire crews, heavy equipment, ranchers and logging trucks.

Final preparations are underway for the 67th Annual Tulelake Butte Valley Fair. Vendors are setting up, the carnival is under construction, animals are arriving, and judging inside the Home Economics building is underway.

There will be a community meeting at 7 p.m. tonight at the Paisley Community Center to update the public on the Watson Creek Fire. The most current information available will be shared, as well as next steps, followed by questions and answers.

A special group of Klamath County Sheriff’s Office volunteers, known as MVPs, have taken on reducing speeding throughout Klamath County by stationing radar trailers in known speeding hot-spots. Radar trailers alert approaching drivers of their speed of travel and flash when it’s over the posted limit for that particular roadway.

The Klamath Blues Society will host the 11th Annual Klamath Blues Festival on September 8th from 12-6:30 PM at Mia and Pia's Brewery, 13788 Matney Road, which is located approximately halfway between Klamath Falls and the Tulelake-Butte Valley Fair. Entry is $9 at the gate.

Friday’s early morning infrared imagery showed a hot spot outside of fire lines near Mill Creek. “There was heat in the ground that hadn’t shown up yet as smoke or flame,” said Vince Grace, field operations chief for Team 6. “Our day crew was able to find it and dig it out. It was a good catch.”

The Oregon Health Authority issued a recreational use health advisory today for Keno Dam Reservoir due to the presence of a cyanobacteria (harmful algae) bloom and the toxins they produce. Keno Dam Reservoir is located approximately 12 miles southwest of Klamath Falls on Oregon Highway 66W in Klamath County.

Water monitoring has confirmed the presence of cyanobacteria and the toxins they produce in Keno Dam Reservoir. The cyanotoxin concentrations found can be harmful to humans and animals.

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – The containment of regional wildfires finds the local forecast for air quality to be positive. Klamath County Public Health officials are optimistic that Labor Day Weekend will find the air quality index in the moderate range.

Chipping operations continue in the northern portion of the Watson Creek Fire to reduce the concentration of roadside slash left over from suppression operations. Crews are watching for hot spots outside the lines while working to mop up 100 feet or more in from the perimeter in all areas.  Some stumps are still burning and isolated tree torching is visible in the interior portion of the fire.

Highlights from this week’s Recreation Report include: Free fishing Labor Day Weeekend, Hunting, fishing and fire season, Morning dove and fores grouse open Sept 1, Best bets for holiday weekend fishing.

Labor Day Weekend is one of the top three boating weekends of the year on many Oregon lakes and rivers, attracting thousands to the alluring banks and warmest water of the season.  To keep things fun and safe, the Oregon State Marine Board suggests taking the time to plan your water getaway and stay safe with…

A helicopter and ground crews quickly extinguished a small spot fire caused by interior torching yesterday near the Sycan River. Burning of interior islands may create smoke visible in the Paisley area today.  Crews will continue to hold and improve fire lines while mopping up and remaining vigilant for new spot fires.  Rehabilitation needs are being assessed and addressed.

It’s free to fish, crab or clam in Oregon on Saturday, Sept. 1 and Sunday, Sept. 2.

During these two days, no fishing licenses or tags (including a Combined Angling Tag or Columbia River Basin Endorsement) are required to fish, crab or clam anywhere in Oregon for both residents and non-residents.

NorCal Team 2 will transfer command of the Stone Fire to a Type 3 Modoc National Forest organization at 6:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 30, 2018.

The Stone Fire remains at 39,387 acres and is 100% contained. 696 resources are assigned to the fire, including three helicopters.

Crews working on the Watson Creek Fire connected fire lines yesterday around the entire perimeter of the fire and are strengthening the lines to achieve full containment as soon as possible.  There will be continued work in and around the fire holding the lines, mopping up and patrolling.

The Stone Fire remains at 39,387 acres and is 95% contained. 696 resources are assigned to the fire, including three helicopters.

The Stone Fire remains at 39,387 acres and is 72% contained. 845 resources are assigned to the fire, including six helicopters and fixed wing aircraft as needed.

Incident Meteorologist Matt Mehle accurately forecast the windy conditions experienced over the fire area on Sunday. In the northwest corner of the fire, crews were able to take advantage of favorable wind directions by utilizing controlled burning to strengthen the lines. Some spot fires were detected in the morning but contained by end of shift. All aircraft were able to fly the entire day and containment lines held.

Fire activity will moderate as the fire transitions from large patches of beetle-killed lodgepole to open-understory canopy with grasses, sage, and ceanothus. Group and isolated torching with lower surface spread rates are expected.

The Watson Creek Fire was subdued overnight, according to night operations chief Vince Grace.  However, light winds from the southwest this morning are expected to increase in velocity and vary in direction throughout the day.  Fire lines on the east side may be tested by the wind and engines will patrol as a precaution.

ALTURAS, Calif.— The Stone Fire remains at 39,386 acres and is 63% contained. 936 resources are assigned to the fire, including eight helicopters and fixed wing aircraft as needed. There is line around the entire fire perimeter.

Firefighters constructed more than a mile of dozer line on Friday to connect with Forest Road 3372-022 and cut off spread of the fire to the northwest, reducing the expected footprint of the Watson Creek Fire by 5 to 6 square miles if the line continues to hold.

Doug McKay, Silver Lake and Paisley District Ranger, said, “Thursday’s defensive holding action during the wind event allowed the team to return to the offensive on Friday, and they are making safe and significant strides toward stopping the fire.” Containment of the fire increased to 15%.

The Watson Creek Fire is holding at approximately 5.5 to 6 air miles from the town of Paisley.  Fire crews prepared for firing operations last night along Forest Road 28 to the 3315 and 3411.  On the Forest Road 33-014, firefighters will work today to continue holding that area.  Spot fires yesterday were managed on the ground quickly.  The total acreage is now at 46,525.