The BLM is currently planning to formally close a backcountry airstrip on the Lower Deschutes River in Oregon. This airstrip has been in continual public use since at least the early 1980's and predates both the Wild and Scenic designation of the river (1988) and the Management Plan finalized in 1993 (17 years ago). They specify language in the 1993 RMP for the legal authorization and requirement that all backcountry airstrips be closed (specifically language on page 71 of the 1993 RMP):

The managing agencies will take action to prohibit the landing of aircraft on existing primitive strips on public lands or on the
river within the Lower Deschutes River Canyon except for emergency and administrative purposes. Airstrip development or
the landing of aircraft on private land will be discouraged.

At this point the Oregon Pilots Association is gathering information about this airstrip and the process used to determine that airstrips be closed. Unfortunately, this public process occurred close to 20 years ago, before the pilot community got their act together politically and started to fight back against backcountry airstrip closures. There has been no recent effort by the BLM to gather public input about the closure of this airstrip.

We'd appreciate any information you have about your use of this airstrip. How long you've been using it, emergency landings, rescues, etc.

We're trying to determine what is our best next step to try to prevent the closing of this airstrip and would appreciate any help you may be able to give. The OPA is having a board meeting this weekend and hopefully after that meeting I will have some concrete suggestions on how you might be able to help.

Alan Cossitt, Chair, Oregon Pilots Association Backcountry Aviation Committee

I know i've used Bull run airstrip before and I think its a great backcountry desintation not far from the big city. unlike most of them that are all the way up in Idaho. I have yet to go camping and fishing there but have/had plans to go several times this summer when things are much nicer. It has an area for camping and is a great strip for someone experienced or getting experience on shorts trips at low altitude before moving to more difficult strips in the Idaho Mountains. I really hope this strip stays open. I think it has alot of potential, and if we were able to do a little work there it could be even better. Hope this helps.

Though I have never used the strip with I plane, I have camped there while floating the river and fishing. Awesome place, and it was always fun to talk with folks who landed, and I know my non-pilot friend enjoyed seeing the planes too. Somewhere out there is a flight of two super cubs that mooched some burgers off me..... Hopefully this closure can be fought successfully as I have always hoped to have a fly-in fishing trip when I build up some more flight hours....

If the BLM is trying to improve the "wild and scenic" feel of the river and improve everyone recreational expierences I find it humorous that the strip sits next to a busy railroad on one side, with jet boats going by on the other. Maybe I am biased, but it always makes my float trip when I get to see some cool aircraft pass overhead.

Keep us posted on the OPA fight.

-Matt

Some information which may lend additional argument to keeping Bull Run open:

The Oregon State Parks and Recreation Division maintains a website for the Lower Deschutes River Management Agencies at http://www.boaterpass.com/. The Managing agencies include the U.S. Department of the Interior, the State of Oregon, and the Confederated Tribes. If you look at 'their' River map on this website 'they' identify an airstrip at river mile 17.7 (Bull Run). I think it would be hard for 'them' to argue they had no intent to allow aircraft to land here since it is identified as an airstrip on 'their' maps. I would argue it shows 'they' DID intend for aircraft to land there, which should mean 'they' would have to provide a compelling reason(s) for closing it. And as someone already pointed out, with jet boats on the river and diesel locomotives adjacent the river, it would be hard to justify closing it because airplanes are noisey (IMO).

Last Summer I asked the BLM the following question via email:

Question: are there any current BLM prohibitions on the landing of aircraft
at this airstrip?

This was the response I received back:

"Thank you for your inquiry regarding the "airstrip" that is identified on
Map 8 of the Deschutes River Boater's Guide. While there is a clearing
where aircraft can land, it is not considered an airstrip and we would like
to discourage it's use due to federal designation of the river as Wild and
Scenic. Our goal in managing the river is to provide recreational uses
that do not impair the natural beauty of the river canyon, or diminish its
esthetic, fish and wildlife values. Landing aircraft in the canyon does
not contribute to obtaining these goals.

Please feel free to call or reply if you have further questions.

Thanks, Michelle
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Michelle McSwain
Asst. Field Manager, Deschutes Resource Area
Bureau of Land Management, Prineville, OR
(541) 416-6877; [email protected]"


I guess pilots cannot be recreational users. And how an aircraft diminishes the 'natural beauty of the river canyon any more that the jet boats or diesel trains do is beyond me. This is the only airstrip on the river to my knowledge. Let's keep it open.

Did anything come out of the OPA board meeting on Sat on this?

I am on outfitter on the Lower Deschutes, and a private pilot. I have flown over the strip at Bull Run, but have not landed on it. I have it on my to-do list. As an outfitter it is always a consolation that the strip is there in case of an emergency in the lower river. I have never experienced any negative interaction at that area in the ten years of guiding whitewater trips on the Lower Deschutes. I am certainly behind the continued use of this great little strip between the river and the railroad tracks.

Rob Miles

Owner/Manager, Imperial River Company

Anyone have any updates or new information on the the possible "Bull Run" closure?

I flew in there yesterday and there were no signs of it being closed. No X's on the runway, no signs, nothing. The grass is a little tall right now, and the river is still running a bit high, but I'm sure it will come down over the next few days. I sent a letter to the Prineville BLM back in February and I know alot of local pilots here in Hood River did the same. I'm hoping it stays open, there just aren't enough places here in Oregon to do that much back country flying (although the Owyhee is awesome).

I stopped in at the BLM office in Maupin coming back from a camping trip this weekend and asked about the status of the Bull Run Airstrip. The BLM folks said it had been closed, posted with signs and the strip will be removed from the next verstion of the maps they print. However she did say that they are not putting a lot of effort into enforcement.

I assume the OPA was unsuccessful in stopping the closure? Anyone know anything to the contrary or been in there recently?

I was in there 2 days ago and there were no signs of a closure. Someone else made the point of trains on one side and jet boats on the other and I couldn't agree more. It'll be ridiculous if they close it. I'll stop flying in there when they shut down the railroad track and ban jetboats from the river. If they close this strip I'll be really PO'ed. I fly in there alot, especially this time of year when the Steelhead are running.