October 1, 1996
SMOKE SIGNALS
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Forestry crew busy;
thinning trees and fighting fires
The tribal silvicullural crew
is preparing for the fall and
winter months, which
means things will be slowing
down pretty soon. And that's just
fine. The summer has been very
hectic for the four-member crew
and their supervisor, Jeff Ncpstad.
Although most of the major
work is done in the spring and
summer, the crew will work all
vear round on various iohs nn the
reservation. Jeff Nepstad
They do all pre-commcrcial thinning of trees, release of vegetation,
prescribed burning, and anything else that might improve the growth of
timber on the reservation. Thinning usually begins in May, and is de
signed to keep the Douglas Fir trees thriving until they need another
thinning, which would be of commercial value. After an area has been
logged, the crew prepares the site to be burned by cutting away un
wanted vegetation and debris so the area can be replanted. The crew
members are: Michael Reibach, Lynn Robertson, Randy Butler, Jr.,
and Butch LaBonte, the crew leader. They also employ seasonal crew
members during the summer.
"It's really hard work," said Michael Reibach. "But we do it for our
land, because we care about the reservation."
Jeff Nepstad said that all the crew members are trained in firefighting,
in case a wildland fire should occur on the reservation. But some crew
members use their training to help out other places. Several large fires '
broke out this summer in parts of Oregon, most significantly, central
and eastern Oregon, where thousands of acres were lost. Jeff, along
with members of the Natural Resources staff, spent three weeks helping
out over there.
"We were working the Bull Complex fire," said Jeff. "That was prob
ably the hardest I had ever worked on a fire before. They had to evacu
ate our base camp because of the thunderstorms, which caused fires to
blow up."
Jeff said that fire destroyed between 30,000-50,000 acres of wilder
ness, and the Marines and Army were even called in to help.
The Tribe has an agreement with the BIA to serve on an on-call basis
for fires that brake out, but the crew doesn't have to go. "Most of the
crew does choose to go," said Jeff, "because the money is so good. You
get a good wage, plus hazard pay. But it's hard work." In September,
some crew members went to Nevada, and have gotten calls from as far
away as Arizona. "We could get calls to go to fires in any one of the
fifty states or Canada," said Jeff.
Right now the Running Bear unit is being logged, and when that job
is complete, the crew will prepare the area for a slash burn. After that,
Jeff said, they will have some pruning to do on the trees which will
probably start in October.
If anyone is interested
in on-call firefighting,
call Jeff Nepstad at
879-2377 or 1-800-422-0232.
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Li J (
ABOVE: Lynn Robertson
and Michael Reibach.
AT RIGHT: Butch LaBonte
and Randy Butler, Jr.
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Remix salvage timber for sale
The Confederated Tribes of Grand Rondc is offer
ing for sale approximately 71 .003 MBF of Douglas
fir salvage timber. Salvage timber is being offered
at a rate of S422.92MBF. Total price is $30,028.30.
For more information contact the Confederated
Tribes of Grand Rondc, Natural Resources Division
at (503) 879-5522 or 1-800-422-0232.
Notice of availability
The Environmental Assessment for the proposed
Remix Salvage Sale has been completed and is avail
able for review by interested parties. Copies of the
document can be obtained by contacting the Con
federated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Natural Resources
Division at (503) 879-2378.
Subsistence Salmon Distribution
Saturday, October 12
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Natural Resources Office
47010 SW Hebo Road
Grand Ronde
Distribution will be for tribal members who
HAVE NOT received their salmon this year.
No one will be allowed to pick up another
member's salmon without that person's
Tribal ID card and a note giving permission.
Note must include name and roll number of
any small children living in the home.
Questions regarding distribution,
please call Karen Larsen at
(503) 879-2376 or 1 -800-422-0232.
Flood damage fixed
Last February, the Great Flood of '96 washed out a good portion (600 feet) of Agency Creek Road, which
was recently repaired through a grant from the Federal Highway Administration. These before and after
photos depict what the road looked like after the flood, and how it looks today. The wash out was the only
significant damage that occurred on the reservation as a result of the flood.
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