Fall Viewing 2019 - Green Mountain Whitebark Pine

The contract involves stand thinning and fuel reduction treatments within whitebark pine stands affected by the mountain pine beetle epidemic in the Green Mountain area of the Fremont Winema National Forest’s Paisley Ranger District in Oregon. The project targets areas identified as Conservation Area 802, specifically in Township 34 South, Range 15 East, and is accessible via the 3323019 road system. Proposed work includes mechanical thinning, pruning, fuel treatments, and potentially some hand thinning to address danger trees with imminent failure potential due to the severity of beetle infestation. The objective is to enhance the health and vigor of existing whitebark pine stands while mitigating wildfire risks in this sensitive habitat. Because whitebark pine is a candidate for threatened or endangered status, protective measures are incorporated, and treatment units are marked on the ground with orange flagging and white tags. Additional areas may be added depending on funding and project progression. This project is expected to be executed under a Blanket Purchase Agreement that may be posted in the upcoming winter, and relevant updates will be provided accordingly. The contract solicitation was issued by the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, part of the Department of Agriculture, and the primary contact for this effort is Contract Specialist Lorenzo R. Montoya based in Medford, Oregon. The NAICS code for this solicitation is 115310, indicating its focus on support activities for forestry. The work location is Paisley, Oregon, with an emphasis on maintaining ecological balance while managing the diseased whitebark pine stands.