The BLM just spent over $200K to clear out, clean up local homeless camps – here’s what else they did to avoid a repeat
Barney Lerten
(Update: Adding video)
La PINE, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Bureau of Land Management has spent about $200,000 to remove five long-term homeless camps from BLM land near La Pine, a nearly month-long effort that also included using boulders and soft soils to block illegal access roads, in an effort to keep it from happening again.
The BLM’s Prineville District led a coordinated response with Deschutes County officials before the cleanup took place, which the agency said in a news release Tuesday “was necessary to address hazardous materials, trash and abandoned vehicles remaining in the area.”
The BLM said it worked closely with the City of La Pine and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office to carry out the cleanup of the eight-acre parcel, with direct involvement from the La Pine City Manager and Mayor.
“Partnering with the City provided the BLM with important local insight, helping ensure the response reflected the specific needs and priorities of the community and connected individuals in the camps with appropriate social services,” the agency said.
BLM Public Affairs Specialist Suzanna Burke told KTVZ News the project began August 29 and ended last Thursday.
“We normally don’t have access to funds like this,” she said, “but because it was the end of the (fiscal) year, we had the funding available.”
The area of the cleanup is about a half-mile southeast of Gordy’s Truck Stop in La Pine, east of Darlene Way and south of Rosland Road.
Five camps were located on the eight acres, the largest covering about a quarter-acre, Burke said. Three apparently had been abandoned for some time, while the other two appeared to be recently occupied.
The cleanup effort removed “probably about 300 cubic yards” of trash, she said, similar to what was removed during another camp clearing by the Newberry Regional Partnership last May of an area known for years as “Camp Covid.”
While there were not a lot of people who had to leave when the recent cleanup began, Burke said, “We did have communication with a couple people out there and led them know we were going to do a cleanup of the area, gave them time to gather the items they wanted.”
The total cost of the cleanup is expected to exceed $200,000, including staff time and materials from the BLM, Deschutes County and the City of La Pine.
The contracted cleanup itself was $165,000, she said, and part of the reason was “the sheer size of this area, the potential for hazardous materials, excess trash, drug debris and human waste.”
Mayor Jeannine Earls said, “As the Mayor of La Pine, I have listened to my community, both within city limits and outside. I want our residents of South Deschutes County to know that we hear you, we are responsive, and we live here too. I am proud of the measurable progress that has been made, and I am committed to our regional needs going forward.”
As the final piece of the effort, BLM staff decommissioned and barricaded illegal routes leading into the sites to help prevent future long-term use, using boulders and soft subsoil difficult or drive on..
“This kind of response requires participation from many agencies,” said Lisa Clark, BLM Deschutes Field Manager. “The BLM is tasked with managing public lands but has no resources to address the human component of the houseless issue. With support from the City of La Pine and Deschutes County, we’ve been able to develop a partnership that can take action to protect both the citizens and the environment.”
The BLM and Deschutes County have identified public safety concerns in several camp areas, including incidents that required coordination with local law enforcement.
The agency said, “These efforts align with the President’s Executive Order on reducing crime and reflect the BLM’s commitment to maintaining safe, accessible public lands through responsible stewardship and collaboration with community partners.”
La Pine City Manager Geoff Wullschlager said, “Collaborative efforts like this do not happen in a vacuum, and this project represents a clear commitment from all parties involved in responding to public health and safety concerns of the larger La Pine area.”
He added, “We could not be more pleased with the relationships and the subsequent outcomes of this initiative. Hopefully, we have collectively provided a baseline for other communities and districts to tackle similar challenges.”
“The BLM, the City of La Pine, and Deschutes County remain committed to ongoing collaboration to address public safety and community needs,” the release concluded. “All three partners look forward to continuing their work together to support the region and its residents.”