Fishermen's Bend Recreation Site to Temporarily Close

Mill City, Ore. — The Bureau of Land Management will temporarily close Fishermen's Bend Recreation Site, located in Mill City, Oregon, for hazard tree removal from July 8–10, 2024.

The entirety of the popular recreation site will be closed. The work will pave the way for the Bureau of Land Management to rebuild the site, which was affected by wildfire in 2020.

“We are removing dead and dying trees that the shallow soils in Fishermen’s Bend can no longer support,” said Lauren Woras, BLM Outdoor Recreation Planner. “It is essential to remove all hazards, including trees, prior to the major construction we are planning for site rebuild. Leaving trees that have more potential to fail is unsafe for the public and could be damaging to the new construction.”

According to Woras, new construction is not the only goal of the hazard tree removal.

“Recently, drier soils have made it more difficult for the trees to survive and more are dying each year,” she said. “The trees have become more susceptible to weather conditions such as freezing or wind break.”

Hazard tree removal will make way for new species more suited for the environment to regenerate within the area.

The Bureau of Land Management asks the public to stay away from the area while crews perform their work due to the danger posed by falling trees. The site will reopen during clean-up. During this time, Woras asks the public to be mindful and stay away from heavy machinery while recreating in the park.

Surrounded by the tranquility of the North Santiam River, Fishermen’s Bend is a family-friendly park. Please remember to follow BLM Oregon/Washington fire restrictions, particularly during the summer months. To learn more about the recreation site, visit the Bureau of Land Management’s website.