Trout mountain forestry TMF on behalf of the cerro gordo land conservancy cglc requests assistance in building fire resiliency and mitigating adapting to climate change on their lands

The project area is located 5 miles east of cottage grove in lane county oregon. IT is situated on 532 acres protected by a wwmp easement held by mckenzie river trust MRT and owned by cglc. The matrix of prairies OAK savanna and OAK woodlands are rocky southfacing and overtopped with droughtstressed conifer. Significant invasive blackberry populations exist in the under story and serve as potential ladder fuels. The property is susceptible to burning as evidenced by a 24ACRE wildfire in 2023 which was started by a utility crew in an adjacent powerline corridor. The fire threatened multiple homes as well as unique plant communities including several species of rare plants and two federal species of concern. Funding will be used to thin competing conifer from OAK stands reverse conifer encroachment at prairie edges by masticating or cutting and piling conifer seedlings and saplings treat invasive species through mastication or herbicide applications and plant reseed treated sites with climate appropriate seed mixes and tree species. Stumps and slash will be either masticated or burned to prepare the site for future management with prescribed fire. A portion of the funding will also be used to stabilize the area impacted by wildfire to reduce erosion potential into adjacent streams and prevent the site from being colonized by noxious weeds. Actions taken will help to reduce the risk of wildfire to cerro gordo residents as well as to better buffer the exceptional natural features of the property that were the impetus for its protection under a conservation easement in the first place.