The Ashland Forest Resiliency Stewardship Project

07/08/2026

Just passing this on for anyone who frequents the Ashland Watershed. This work, among many benefits, prepares the White Rabbit area for future prescribed fires to lower wildfire risk to the Ashland community and the City's municipal watershed...two of the main goals of the AFR Project.

Ashland Watershed Update:

Beginning this week, the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest is beginning much needed work at and near White Rabbit trailhead. Work will be in three phases:

Phase 1: Clearing and maintenance work of the helicopter landing just uphill from the parking area and trailhead has begun. (The bulldozer pictured below opened the access to it so that snag cutting and fuels work could be completed.)

Phase 2: Cutting snags at the trailhead and along the 2060 road leading up to the trailhead. This phase will include completing road maintenance and ditch clearing from the bottom of the dirt road up to the trailhead.

Phase 3: Cutting snags above and below the road up to Lamb Saddle.

Some of this work will require the areas near the trailhead and road to be closed from 8:00 am - 12:00 pm Mon-Thurs in order to provide for firefighter safety and the public, and we appreciate your support and patience.

We are hoping to have a lot of this snag cutting and road work done over the next few weeks. Stay tuned for updates!

📸 Forest Service photo by Chamise Kramer

06/16/2026

This video does a great job explaining why the ongoing work in our surrounding forests is so important! Thanks to all the scientists at the U.S. Forest Service for informing our strategies to steward our precious resources.

In western forests, multiple treatments are often needed to return ...

05/01/2026

There will be a controlled burn tomorrow, Saturday May 2nd, in the Ashland Watershed approximately 1 mile SW of Lithia Park. Smoke will be visible and could impact areas below the burn, especially in the evening hours. Please be Smokewise! More information is on the City of Ashland Oregon website:
https://ashlandoregon.gov/m/NewsFlash/home/detail/489

04/14/2026

Today, Tuesday, April 14, there will be two controlled burns to reduce wildfire hazards along upper Granite Street and in Hald-Strawberry Park. Weather conditions have created an opportunity to burn piles of fuel in the lower Ashland Watershed near the Hearts Nature Trail, Granite irrigation canal,....

04/02/2026

Several controlled burns will be managed in Ashland! Please see the details below.

03/31/2026

Lomakatsi Restoration Project is managing a controlled burn south of Ashland today. Thank you for the help!

Lomakatsi Restoration Project is managing a controlled burn near the I-5 interstate south of Ashland. Smoke will be visible from the freeway and could drift into areas around Windemar Drive.

When you see Lomakatsi fire crew members working to reduce fire risk in the forest and around town, please give them a thumbs up from us!

City of Ashland Oregon

03/19/2026

Please take precautions this evening for smoke and see recommendation at SmokewiseAshland.org

A controlled burn managed earlier today is causing some smoke in parts of town.

Understand the air quality index and get resources.

03/19/2026

More on the prescribed burn to maintain work done under AFR and create a healthy and resilient forest! Thank you to all the crews who are working hard on the hill today!

PRESCRIBED FIRE UPDATE - 03.18.2026

🔥Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District is conducting a 20-acre under-burn in the Panther Peak area of the Ashland Watershed today. You may be able to see and smell smoke in the area.

Under-burning is a type of prescribed fire treatment that ignites vegetation under the forest canopy and focuses on the consumption of surface fuels.

Some of the benefits of prescribed fire as a forest management tool include

👍🏼 Protecting communities and infrastructure by reducing hazardous fuels and the risk of future high-intensity wildfires.
👍🏼 Mitigating future wildfire risk and promote resilient fire-adapted landscapes.
👍🏼 Reducing build-up of flammable vegetation, dead and down trees, and overgrowth.
👍🏼 Improving and supporting wildlife habitat for many species on the Forest.
👍🏼 Limiting the spread of invasive plant species and minimizing the spread of pest insects and disease, maintaining native ecosystems.
👍🏼 Recycling nutrients back into the soil.
👍🏼 Promoting the growth of trees, plants, wildflowers, and other flora and fauna.
👍🏼 Continuing the historic, natural fire regime of periodic disturbance by fire in forested ecosystems.

Prescribed fires are planned for various units across the Forest; however, the window of opportunity for prescribed fire implementation is affected by several factors. Safety factors, weather conditions, air quality, personnel availability, and environmental regulations are continually monitored before implementation to determine feasibility of moving forward with the prescribed fire operations, during implementation, and after completion of the unit(s).

All prescribed fires are implemented in compliance with Oregon State air quality standards and coordinated with appropriate county health departments to reduce the impacts of smoke to neighbors, cooperators, and surrounding communities.

Smoke may settle in valley bottoms and drainages overnight, but it is expected to dissipate within a few days. Visit AirNow.gov for current air quality conditions.

For prescribed fire updates on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, visit: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/orrsf-rogue-riversiskiyou-national-forest-prescribed-fire-operations

📸 Crews "fire off" the under-burn with drip torches along a road in the Ashland Watershed area, March 18th, 2026.

03/19/2026

Apologies this didn't get shared earlier. Burning will continue through the end of the week as conditions allow. Thanks for your patience!

Tomorrow, U.S. Forest Service- Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest is managing a controlled burn at high elevation near Weasel Creek off the USFS 2060 Road. Smoke will be visible from around town and across the valley. There may be some smoke impact starting tomorrow and through Saturday, March 21st close to the burn on Wagner Glade, Potlicker, Horn Gap and No Candies Trails.

City of Ashland Oregon thanks our forest partners and community for the help in reducing wildfire risk. Southern Oregon Forest Restoration Collaborative Lomakatsi Restoration Project Rogue Forest Partners

Ashland Woodlands & Trails Association Ashland Mountain Bike Trails RVMBA - Rogue Valley Mountain Bike Association Ashland Mountain Adventures

03/09/2026

Prescribed burn season is in full swing now. You may see burning on privates lands and few test piles happening on City of Ashland Oregon forest lands. None of the burning is expected to impact air quality.

To plan for summer smoke, and take action this spring when prescribed fire smoke enters town, check out smokewiseashland.org and, see the watershed camera here: https://youtu.be/LN_PMxrILK0

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