10-08-2011, 11:10 AM
DAYVILLE, Ore.-Flat Creek Road on Phillip W. Schneider Wildlife Area will be closed to all motorized vehicles Monday through Friday, 5 a.m. - 3 p.m., from Sept.12 through Oct. 31. The road will remain open for public use on weekdays after 3 pm and on weekends (from 3 p.m. Friday evenings to 5 a.m. Monday mornings).
A private contractor will be reducing fuels and thinning the forest in the Bridge Creek/Aldrich Pond portion of the wildlife area. The work will improve forest conditions and habitat for deer, elk and other wildlife.<br />
The closure is for public safety reasons, meant to limit additional traffic while logging trucks are on the road. Flat Creek is a single lane road with grades up to 20 percent and few pullouts.<br />
Hunters will be affected by the closure. Deer and elk archery hunting runs through Sept. 25. Deer rifle season is Oct. 1-12, and there are a few rifle elk hunts open, too. Upland bird hunting is also open in September and October.<br />
"We hate to cause any inconvenience to hunters but this work has to be done at the driest time of the year," said Steve Allen, Phillip W. Schneider Wildlife Area manager. "We need to minimize any sediment flow into two fish-bearing creeks." (The creeks are Flat Creek, with redband trout and steelhead, and Bridge Creek, with redband trout.)<br />
"The opening after 3 p.m. weekdays and on the weekends is meant to lessen the impact to hunters," Allen added.<br />
During the closure, the north end of the wildlife area can be accessed by foot. Camps and vehicles are allowed to stay behind the closure area but vehicle traffic is prohibited during the closure times. The road closure may be lifted if work ends earlier than expected.<br />
###<br />
Contact:<br />
Steve Allen (541) 987-2171 or<br />
Michelle Dennehy (503) 947 6022
A private contractor will be reducing fuels and thinning the forest in the Bridge Creek/Aldrich Pond portion of the wildlife area. The work will improve forest conditions and habitat for deer, elk and other wildlife.<br />
The closure is for public safety reasons, meant to limit additional traffic while logging trucks are on the road. Flat Creek is a single lane road with grades up to 20 percent and few pullouts.<br />
Hunters will be affected by the closure. Deer and elk archery hunting runs through Sept. 25. Deer rifle season is Oct. 1-12, and there are a few rifle elk hunts open, too. Upland bird hunting is also open in September and October.<br />
"We hate to cause any inconvenience to hunters but this work has to be done at the driest time of the year," said Steve Allen, Phillip W. Schneider Wildlife Area manager. "We need to minimize any sediment flow into two fish-bearing creeks." (The creeks are Flat Creek, with redband trout and steelhead, and Bridge Creek, with redband trout.)<br />
"The opening after 3 p.m. weekdays and on the weekends is meant to lessen the impact to hunters," Allen added.<br />
During the closure, the north end of the wildlife area can be accessed by foot. Camps and vehicles are allowed to stay behind the closure area but vehicle traffic is prohibited during the closure times. The road closure may be lifted if work ends earlier than expected.<br />
###<br />
Contact:<br />
Steve Allen (541) 987-2171 or<br />
Michelle Dennehy (503) 947 6022