Anybody know the status of the airstrip near Fall River Fish hatchery? Flew over it today, East end was overgrown and closed markings. West end looked usable and outside the marked closed area.

Steve
Bearhawk 4PL
RV-4

I flew in and out of there regularly from 2005 through 2008. It was one way, plenty long and a fun approach along Pistol Butte. Great spot for a little airplane trout fishing.

There was a thread a few years ago where we discussed the status, some correspondence that was made with the Forest Service regarding the strip and a work party that never quite came to fruition. What I recall is that the folks at the Fort Rock Ranger District had no awareness that the strip ever existed.

I would likely be interested in meeting out there some Saturday morning to evaluate it for some improvements. I'm not sure what the legal issues are with taking out little trees to return it to a useful state.

It is a great spot and deserves some attention. The saplings are getting quite large and the north end has a pretty good center berm.

I found the old thread. It Drifted out from a thread that 8GCBC started about Beaver Marsh.

https://www.backcountrypilot.org/forum/cascade-mnts-oregon-12008?start=20

This would be a great project. Count me in. I'm about ready to retire and still have equipment. Heck, I might drive down this afternoon and snoop around. (sounds better than raking leaves)
I'll share what I find.

Jim

Jim 541 wrote:This would be a great project. Count me in. I'm about ready to retire and still have equipment. Heck, I might drive down this afternoon and snoop around. (sounds better than raking leaves)
I'll share what I find.

Jim

Jim,

You're the man! Scolopax and I talked about going down there to scope it out the last time this topic came up but we never got around to doing it. I'm not near retirement . That's what this project needs is someone with a little time. Please do share what you come up with.

Thanks,

CW

After flying over Saturday and posting the question, decided to jump in the car and drive over and check it out.

The portion marked with X's is unusable with saplings 4-15' high. Need a bulldozer or something pretty hefty to restore it. My Kubota / brush hog wouldn't work!

The western most end is about 900' usable between the saplings and an area of darker lava rock that is pretty rough. I picked some of the bigger stones out on the 900' section. Weather permitting I will probably take the Bearhawk over there next weekend and land. I would recommend staying between the saplings and the darker rock.

A little bit of work with a blade and more rock picking would make the Western end pretty good even for something with smaller tires.

This is what I found..

There is 1500+ feet of usable strip..a little rough and wouldn't do it with small tires. There is a 100 ' patch of cinders where the access road comes in on the south end that doesn't have much compaction and has holes dug in from 4- wheeler's, etc, screwing around. When landing to the north-east, touch down just missing the cinders and you have 1500' that is quite wide narrowing to no less than 40' wide at the far end.

This section could be easily smoothed out by pulling a drag behind a pickup with rock pickers with shovels finishing up.

The far north end is X'd out for a reason. There is another 1000' with pine trees up to 10' running right down the center of the run way. I'd suggest bringing in a rubber tired back hoe or a mini excavator to dig and toss with a pretty good crew to finish grade.

View looking South-West of usable strip


View of 1000' strip of trees needing removed

N144sh... Make sure you get the Bearhawk in some of those pics

Great to see the land. What is the elevation? Snow in the winter?

8GCBC wrote:Great to see the land. What is the elevation? Snow in the winter?

The strip is at about 4250' msl. There is often snow there in the winter.

Flew over last week to check out if the strip still had any snow on it. (it did) Decided to contact Forest Service here in Bend to find out what it would take to get permission to form a volunteer work party to remove the saplings that have closed the north 1000' of the strip. Received this E-mail back from the District Ranger today. I'm not sure if I have the patience to deal with the bureaucracy. Anyone who knows who might be more experienced dealing with a project like this is welcome to contact me.



Hi Jim,

Thanks for raising the idea of clearing the Fall River airstrip. I’m certainly open to reviewing a proposal to clear the area, but this is a complicated question. I would need to understand quite a few pieces of specific information before I would consider approving such a request. I do need to make clear that current Forest Service needs for aviation facilities can be met by other existing airports and helispots, and thus we do not have an interest in operating or maintaining additional facilities.



With that in mind, my initial questions are as follows:

· What is the established need for the airstrip?

· How could that need not be met by existing airports (especially Sunriver) or established helispots?

· Who would be responsible for maintenance of a cleared airstrip, and at what intervals would it be maintained?

· Who would carry the liability associated with use of the airstrip?



Depending on the answers to these questions and/or the content of a proposal, I would need to consult with our Unit Aviation Officer and several resource specialists (wildlife biologists, botanists, soil scientists, etc.), to understand what concerns they might have with clearing the airstrip.



Sorry to complicate matters so much. If you would like to discuss any or all of what I mentioned above, please let me know.

Forest Service Shield
Kevin Larkin
District Ranger

Forest Service

Deschutes National Forest, Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District

p: 541-383-4760
c: 541-410-0190
[email protected]

63095 Deschutes Market Rd.
Bend, OR 97701
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Caring for the land and serving people

Jim, I think you have done a good thing opening a dialog with the DR and it seems like he is a reasonable guy that is open to the idea. I think the best path forward is to contact the Oregon RAF liaison and let them lead from here. They have the resources and knowledge.

I was thinking the same thing, its a job for the RAF.

It might be worth pointing out that the Forest Service currently holds the liability if someone lands there and balls it up for negligent maintenance of the airstrip, that is unless it is officially closed for use. Just another angle you can try.

It might be worth pointing out that the Forest Service currently holds the liability if someone lands there and balls it up for negligent maintenance of the airstrip, that is unless it is officially closed for use. Just another angle you can try.

If I were the ranger, the above approach would result in ditches being dug across the strip and "X's" placed on it to indicate closure. Would not want the liability from someone balling up their aircraft on a "non-closed" strip.

Kevin raises a number of valid questions for a land manager and the RAF is certainly the folks for the conversation.

I agree, call RAF

I have initiated the conversation with the right folks at the RAF. We should focus all future communication with the FS regarding this matter through the RAF.

I have recently accepted the position as Oregon State Liaison for the RAF. I'm new to the job so, please, be gentle with me.

I agree that the Fall River airstrip would be an excellent issue for the RAF to get involved with. I am encouraged by the interest shown by BCP members and the apparent willingness of folks to get actively involved. I will try to have face to face discussions with the various factions of the USFS as soon as possible to see how we can move a project forward to reopen the Fall River strip.

In dealing with the government patience is required. However, demonstrating our interest, and willingness to invest sweat equity, will be a positive move towards a solution. Give me a chance to work with the District Ranger and please direct your ideas through me so we don't overwhelm him.

I appreciate your support on this issue.

Congrats and thanks Windknot.