CENTRAL OREGON RESTORATION
PROJECT ON "GOLDEN TRIANGLE"

A local invasive weed pull partially sponsored by the Native Restoration Fund

Near the Vulcan headquarters in Bend, Oregon, the Native Restoration Fund has committed to support one of the largest rangeland native bunchgrass restoration projects in the United States.  In the Tumalo area between Bend, Sisters and Redmond, 30,000 acres of USBLM lands are in degraded condition due to failed pioneer farmsteads which left invasive cheat grass in numerous locations, some overgrazing on cattle allotments and in some cases infestation of invasive young juniper into former ancient juniper forest habitat.

These public lands border a dramatic deep canyon of the Deschutes River and are viewed by many locals as the logical future park-like open lands outlet for the exceptionally fast growing central Oregon area.  Cutbacks in Federal agency funding and unfunded growth impacts on local services has left a lack of funds to protect or restore these massive open lands which belong to the public.

Vulcan board member Sandy Lonsdale led the preservation of one 3,500 acre section the Triangle lands which reduced overgrazing and thereby allowed the native plants to comeback in profusion providing an inspiring setting of spring wildflowers and large native bunchgrass, literally “stirrup high on a stud horse” as pioneer ranchers formerly described most of the verdant grasslands of the high desert.  It is a pleasure and an act of giving back to the land that nurtures our company and its people that is the essence of this commitment to our place.