A logging project designed to thin overcrowded forests and spur the growth of forage for deer and elk at a state-owned wildlife area west of North Powder required the state to buy two portable bridges that are now available to local landowners for use for no cost.

The Oregon Department of Forestry and Baker Valley Soil and Water Conservation District worked together on the project at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Elkhorn Wildlife Area.

ODFW feeds hay to elk there every winter to try to prevent the animals from marauding ranchers’ haystacks in the Baker and North Powder valleys.

According to a press release from the Baker Valley Soil and Water Conservation District, logging in the wildlife area reduced the amount of wildfire fuel.

With money from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, crews thinned 400 acres of forest.

The logging yielded about 2 million board-feet of timber from 414 acres in the Rogers Creek watershed and north of the wildlife area headquarters about nine miles west of North Powder.

The logging area, which includes ponderosa pine and mixed conifer forests, is between the Anthony Lakes Highway and Tucker Flat Road, which passes Pilcher Creek Reservoir.

After logging, workers also lit prescribed fires to further reduce the amount of combustible material on the ground.

Logging on the wildlife area is part of the wider, long-term East Face project, a campaign that involves the U.S. Forest Service, Oregon Department of Forestry and Natural Resources Conservation Service.

The East Face project, which includes commercial logging, precommercial thinning and prescribed burning on both public and private land, is designed to reduce the risk of wildfire.

The project also necessitated the purchase of the two bridges, which Tara Phillips, who works with the district, hopes local residents can put to use.

“We’d love to get the word out to folks about the two movable bridges that were part of the project and are now available for use by private landowners,” Phillips said.

One bridge, with a rail car frame, is 50 feet by 13 feet and was installed at Anthony Creek.

The other, a cattle guard bridge on concrete abutments, was used by vehicles crossing the Coughenour Ditch.

“ODF now has ownership of both bridges, and they are available for use on private forest operations,” according to the press release. “Loggers, private landowners or consultants can contact their local ODF forester to check on bridge availability.”

More information is available by calling Travis Lowe at 541-963-3168.

More information about the Elkhorn Wildlife Area is available at https://myodfw.com/elkhorn-wildlife-area-visitors-guide.