Seven Basins
Neighborhood Fire Planning Project

Jackson County, Oregon, is one of the state’s most fire-prone areas, and the Seven Basins watershed has had the most large acreage fires of any watershed in the county.  This watershed has experienced more than 1,400 fires since 1970, including three from 5,000- 10,000 acres in size.  This makes the threat of wildfire not only of paramount concern to rural residents but also a major factor in the health of the  watershed. Fuels reduction not only protects homes and communities, but also the natural resources around them. 

The Seven Basins Neighborhood Fire Planning Project was started by the Jackson County OSU Extension Forestry Dept. in the fall of 2002.  At that time they recruited the other partners and the  Steering committee that guides the implementation of the project was born. The Extension  Service was the lead partner until the fall of 2005 when funding for the project ended.  At that time the Seven Basins Watershed Council became the lead partner, and the project is now coordinated by the council.

 Goals of the Program
    ·  Educate rural homeowners in the watershed about fire safe practices
    ·  Improve wildfire preparedness and emergency communications within  
        neighborhoods
    ·  Promote fuels reduction, and coordinate projects on both tactical and
        strategic levels
    ·  Improve interagency coordination
    ·  Improve watershed health

 Program Partners
     ·  The Seven Basins Watershed Council   ·  Jackson County OSU Extension
     ·  Oregon Dept. of Forestry   ·  BLM  ·  Southwest Oregon RC&D Council
     ·  With support from three local fire districts, local residents & the Jackson
         County Fire Plan

Project Accomplishments from  October 2002- present
    ·  3 large community meetings, 90 neighborhood meetings, 5 classes &
       workshops, 2 leadership trainings, 6 tabloid  newspapers;
    ·  Creation of the Seven Basins Community Wildfire Protection Plan and the
       Upper Meadows Fuels Plan
    ·  21 neighborhoods involved in planning representing over 400 residents
        owning more than 6,000 acres.
    ·  Almost 1,300 acres of fuels reduction funded on private land and 4,100
        acres of coordinated fuels reduction  completed on public land. (See Map)

For information on the availability of cost share grants for fuels reduction on private property contact:

| PRIVACY |

©2003-2009 Seven Basins Watershed Council, Inc.
P.O. Box 909, Gold Hill, OR 97525
Phone (541) 261-7796
contact@sevenbasins.org
Site hosted by HostingDNA, Rogue River, OR
Funded by Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board