Category: ktvz-local-news

Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Governor Tina Kotek convened a roundtable in Bend on Wednesday afternoon to hear from rural Oregon health care experts, providers and food system specialists about what she fears will be the severe, widespread impacts of proposed cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (known as SNAP).

“The proposed bill, sponsored by Republican lawmakers in Washington, D.C., will cut vital health care and food services for Oregonians in order to fund tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans,” Kotek’s office said in a news release after the event, which was followed by a news conference on the same issues.

KTVZ+ provided livestream coverage of both events, which you can view above.

During the news conference, Kotek said, “This isn’t about tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy. It’s about what we do for our state.”

The event was held at Mosaic Community Health, whose CEO, Family Nurse Practitioner Megan Haase, told reporters she is “deeply concerned about the potential impacts” of cuts to Medicaid, a program that more than half of Mosaic’s 34,000 clients depend upon.

“Without Medicaid, many people we be forced to avoid or delay seeking care,” which Haase said will “actually cost more in the long run.”

Kotek said, “This is not the time to cut. This is the time to invest.” And she added that the impacts of SNAP benefit cuts for those in need could be far-reaching, to the point of some grocery stores closing.

“It’s a big deal,” she said. “And frankly, it’s not smart economic policy.”

Here’s the rest of a news release from the governor’s office about the roundtable event:

Governor Kotek said: 

“More often than not, if you live in rural Oregon, it means traveling 30 miles or more to get your health care needs met. Cuts to Medicaid and SNAP threaten hospitals, clinics, medical offices, and services Oregonians depend on. These proposed cuts by Congressional Republicans put families who are planning to have children at risk, jeopardize health care access for kids, and could strip health insurance coverage from over 200,000 Oregonians.

“Today, I heard from caregivers of children who rely on the Oregon Health Plan. I wish every single member of Congress considering supporting the bill could have sat across from these folks today, because that’s who they were elected to answer to, not the ultra-wealthy who are getting tax breaks at the expense of children and families’ health care – especially in rural communities. To the 1 in 3 Oregonians who rely on Medicaid and SNAP:  I will continue to fight against this proposal and uplift your voices at every turn.”

If the current proposal was signed into law, 100,000 to 200,000 Oregonians will likely lose coverage, resulting in $718 million to $1.4 billion in reduced federal funding coming to Oregon per year, or $8 billion to $16 billion over the next 10 years. New red tape that will burden nearly 500,000 Oregonians and require significant taxpayer dollars and new positions could cost more than $100 million to implement. Overall, Congress is poised to make accessing health care more difficult, more costly, and available to fewer Oregonians.

The proposed cuts threaten to take food off the table for Oregonians, place unsustainable financial burdens on the State, and risk the well-being of families and local economies. If passed, the legislation would dismantle SNAP’s federal-state structure, forcing Oregon to absorb $850 million in new costs per biennium and slashing food aid for families, children, seniors, and immigrants. 

The Governor convened the following people Wednesday:

Andrea Carr, Medicaid and SNAP recipient

Dr. Logan Clausen, Chief Medical Officer, Central Oregon Pediatric Associates

Jeremy Davis, CEO, Grande Ronde Hospital 

Kellie Frank, Harney Food Systems Coordinator

Sean Jessup, CEO, Eastern Oregon Coordinated Care Organization 

Dr. Jinnell Lewis, MD, (multiple employment), Presenting as a Full Spectrum Family Medicine Physician and Residency Leader 

Megan Haase, CEO, Mosaic Community Health

Olivia Quiroz, Executive Director, Oregon Latino Health Coalition

Dr. Linda Selby, Chief Medical Officer, Harney District Hospital Family Care

Jenny Widder, Medicaid and SNAP recipient 

“I appreciate Governor Kotek coming to Central Oregon to learn more about the impacts that loss of Medicaid and SNAP benefits would have on rural Oregonians,” Megan Haase, FNP and CEO of Mosaic Community Health, said. “I am deeply concerned about the potential impacts that proposed cuts to Medicaid would have on our patients and our entire Central Oregon community. More than half of our 34,000 patients rely on Medicaid for health coverage, including low-income families, children, people with disabilities, seniors, and pregnant women. Cuts to Medicaid will leave even more Central Oregonians without health insurance, moving us further away from our goal of a healthy community.”

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Barney Lerten

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Deschutes County Public Safety Campus soon will become a temporary home for people with nowhere else to go. 

Nonprofit Mountain View Community Development, which operates eight Safe Parking & Microshelter sites in Redmond, is expanding into Bend and has been working with staff at the Deschutes County-owned property to add a site on the southeast corner of the campus, just north of Bend Animal Hospital. 

Deschutes County commissioners Patti Adair and Phil Chang voted to approve the lease at the board’s meeting Wednesday, a week after an initial discussion of the project brought another 2-1 vote, with Commissioner Tony DeBone opposed. 

Here’s the rest of the Mountain View Community Development news release on the program:

The property is home to the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, as well as 911, Community Justice, Health Services and Oregon State Police. 

“I’m very familiar with this program,” said Undersheriff Aaron Wells, “and it has always been a helpful tool for law enforcement, so we’re happy to see it expand. Wherever Safe Parking sites have been hosted, we have not seen an increase in law enforcement calls. The Sheriff’s Office is committed to being part of the solution to homelessness in the county, and this is one more way we can provide support.” 

The Safety Campus will host up to six vehicles, RVs or microshelters — garden-shed-sized structures with electricity, heating and cooling. 

“The site was first brought to our attention by Commissioner Adair,” said Rick Russell, executive director of the nonprofit. “We look for any property that’s available. Law enforcement has always been a strong partner for us and has seen the benefit of this program. And we asked the Sheriff’s Department to be a partner on this with us.” 

Bend currently has six Safe Parking sites run by other organizations, but this would be the first on public property. Mountain View Community Development operates three sites on publicly-owned land in Redmond. Participants in the program are required to meet regularly with case managers, and there are security cameras on each site. 

Russell said Safe Parking is an important option for many unhoused people, particularly those with children and pets, as well as survivors of assault. 

“We provide a safe, legal, sanitary place for people to park,” Russell said. “Being homeless often leads to feelings of hopelessness, and our case managers help our participants believe that stable housing is possible for them. It’s not an easy road. We’ve all seen the effects of the increase in housing costs and the lack of affordable housing. This is one way to bridge the gap between unauthorized camping and getting back to stability.” 

The Safety Campus is the first site the nonprofit is seeking to develop, but it won’t be the last. Russell said Mountain View Community Development has a contract with the city of Bend to operate 20 spaces, and it is in talks with property owners at three other sites. 

“The City of Bend is addressing houselessness across the community, and Safe Parking is a valuable tool,” said Mayor Melanie Kebler, adding that there are currently six sites throughout the city. “The City works closely with Safe Parking operators and property owners. These sites have proven to be cost-effective and have integrated into their neighborhoods. Households accessing Safe Parking are often the most vulnerable, and we are committed to transitioning people into safe settings and on to permanent housing.” 

“We know this program works,” Russell added, “and there is significant need in Bend to provide a place for people to get the services they need while living in vehicles. The best way to move people out of homelessness and into housing is to get them stabilized in a Safe Parking environment. We’re grateful to the commissioners and to the City of Bend for their commitment to helping unhoused people.” 

For more information, visit www.mvcdoregon.org. 

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Tyson Beauchemin

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — One of Central Oregon’s largest facilities for finding help getting off the streets, now has a new face leading the high-barrier emergency shelter. Michael Hancock spoke exclusively with KTVZ News on what he plans to change, and what he wants to keep the same.

The shelter’s been operating in Bend for 25 years and for 15 of those years, it’s been led by longtime director Gwen Wysling.

Michael Hancock is now stepping into the position. Hancock joined the organization in 2019 and was being trained to take over for a while.

He plans to keep the organization on the same course but adapt to the changing landscape of homelessness in Central Oregon, “Our mission is to transform lives together through shelter, help and hope, and that means with our community members, donors, community partners. So what direction this organization is going to go in really depends on where there’s a need. We’re constantly evaluating our services, the services of our partners, and seeing where people falling through the cracks, and that’s where we’re gonna adjust and move”.

Hancock extended an invitation to anyone watching this. He wants you to come and see the Bethlehem Inn. He’s eager to show people exactly what services are provided for the community and explain how they operate.

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Matthew Draxton

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Sledgehammers were the tool of the day Wednesday as the Redmond Municipal Airport officially broke ground, demolition-style, on its $180 million terminal expansion project.

 There were about 20 people in attendance, including Mayor Ed Fitch and the granddaughter of J.R. Roberts, a former Redmond mayor and namesake of the airport, also known as Roberts Field.

Redmond’s airport has seen passengers traveling through the greater Central Oregon region double in number over recent years. In response to this growing tourism, Redmond Airport developed the 2021 Terminal Area Concept Plan to address the increased demand. The main focus to improve ADA accessibility, operational efficiency, and terminal capacity while bringing economic benefits to the region.

“In general, the airport is a huge economic driver,” said Airport Director Zachary Bass.

He said almost 70% of the construction work will stay local, through a local subcontractor, “so we’re going to see a boom just for the construction.

“But with the growth, we’re also expecting another 107 full-time jobs as we kind of grow out to the building and its size,” he said. “And then of course, hopefully more airlines, more aircraft, larger aircraft, more destinations, more frequencies to allow for that ease of travel for our customers.”

The project will add more than 80,000 square feet of new space, including seven new jet bridges and expanded waiting areas, plus more than 6,000 square feet of new concessions and double the amount of terminal seating. The project is expected to last about two years.

Our new KTVZ.COM Poll asks if you’re excited to see the airport terminal expansion.

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Tracee Tuesday

TERREBONNE, Ore. [KTVZ] — Wildfires continue to challenge communities in central Oregon as the Alder Springs Fire approached Crooked River Ranch on June 16th.  

Residents who were forced from their homes during Level 3 – Go Now evacuations, had so much on their minds like:  

Is their home destroyed 

Will their home be burglarized 

Did they bring all of their important documents and family photos, etc.  

The Oregon State Fire Marshal hosted a community meeting at Terrebonne Community School Gymnasium, Wednesday evening. Residents were able to receive first-hand updates on the Alder Springs Fire and ask questions. 

A few takeaways from Wednesday’s meeting: 

The Oregon State Fire Marshal said law enforcement agencies are brought in to specifically curtail neighborhoods to discourage theft  

Right before the meeting began at 7PM, the County Sheriff Offices along with local fire agencies, canceled Level 3 – Go Now evacuations for all areas related to the Alder Springs Fire 

Law enforcement reiterated that the fire was human-caused and said that formal charges have been filed against the perpetrator  

Crook County resident Sandy said she is exhausted.  

“I’m tired. I want my house back. I hope it’s still there.” 

“We haven’t had an evacuation before, and so it was new,” said Walt.  

Other residents said they were “frazzled,” but threw what they could into their car and left. 

Some residents say securing their belongings before evacuating was essential. 

“Like I took a virtual my whole home and took the phone and just took a picture of everything in my home.  And then I took out the safe. I took out the passports and all my belongings and all my insurance information, everything that I needed for the house 

Public Information Officer, Gert Zoutendijk, of the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s office, said one of the toughest jobs they have is at the beginning of a fire because they must survey the area and make unpopular decisions, fast.  

“We don’t have all the resources either, When a big fire happens, we have to pick and choose, and we  have to do it fast, and that survey really helps us to pick and choose and see if we have to spend a lot of time on somebody’s home, which we probably don’t want to do that, because we want to do the most amount of good for the most amount of homes.” 

Still, residents remain grateful to all fire and law enforcement agencies for protecting their homes while those responsible are held accountable. 

The Oregon State Fire Marshal said one of the most specific guidelines, particularly with residents whose properties are in areas where it’s prone to fire: 

Make sure you have defensible space around your property 

Have an overnight bag at the ready, filled with your personal belongings and things you don’t want to part with in case you’re issued a Level 3 – Go Now alert . 

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Barney Lerten

(Update: More details on outage cause)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The second power outage in a week caused by “enhanced safety settings” hit nearly 2,000 Pacific Power customers on the north end of Bend for more than an hour Wednesday afternoon.

The utility’s outage map said crews were monitoring conditions after the outage, which occurred around 12:35 p.m. and affected 1,976 customers. Pacific Power estimated it could take until 4 p.m. to restore power, but it came back online around 1:40 p.m.

Pacific Power spokesman Simon Gutierrez confirmed to KTVZ News that like last week’s outage, the circuit serving the area is on the recently announced enhanced safety settings, put into place for some areas during fire season to reduce the risk of wildfire – but also increase the chances of more and longer power outages.

Gutierrez said Thursday he’d learned from operations representatives that “yesterday’s outage was caused by a problem with a section of underground line. The outage impacted more customers because our system there is on Enhanced Safety Settings.”

He also told us that as for last week’s outage, “These were different issues, unrelated to each other.”

It’s not the only Pacific Power outage in the region. More than 700 customers in the area of the Alder Springs Fire lost power in a “wildfire emergency de-energization.”

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KTVZ – News Team

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Alder Springs Fire is now 68% contained with LEVEL 1 evacuation notices in place. Below is the latest from Central Oregon Fire.

Yesterday, wildland firefighters continued to mop up and secure fire lines around the Alder Springs Fire burning on lands managed by the US Forest Service and BLM and protected by Crooked River Ranch Fire and Rescue and the Lower Bridge Rangeland Fire Protection Association. The fire remains within its 3,278 acre footprint and is now 68% contained.

Rain is forecast for the fire area today and mobile weather stations will be measuring and recording precipitation in several locations. Due to increased containment and cooler weekend temperatures, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office has made changes to evacuation levels. There are no longer Level 2 and Level 3 evacuation orders in place. Now only Level 1 evacuation notices are in place in Jefferson County for the Alder Springs Fire in the following zones: CRR11, CRR10N, CRR10S, CRR12, CRR8, CRR7, CRR6. For a map of the evacuation zones, visit: https://tinyurl.com/JeffersonCountyEmergencyMap

The Prineville BLM has lifted the closure that was put in place as a result of the Alder Springs Fire as of 6:00 a.m. today, June 21, 2025. The public can now access trailhead and trails for Steelhead Falls, Otter Bench and Scout Camp; however, there is still fire traffic in the area so visitors to these sites are encouraged to use caution while driving and recreating.

While crews will continue to mop up and secure the fire perimeter in the northeast portion of the fire, Resource Advisors (READs) continue to make their assessments and resources have been brought in to assist with suppression repair in the areas along the perimeter that have been contained. READs help advise fire staff on how to protect or mitigate negative impacts to natural and cultural resources. Where firefighters have put in control lines with dozers, skidgens or hand tools, those fire lines will need to be repaired and naturalized so they do not become new roads, trails or paths for increased erosion.

This will be the final fire update for the Alder Springs Fire. The fire will transition to a local Type 4 incident management team on Sunday afternoon. Any updates for the Alder Springs Fire will be posted on the official source for wildfire information in Central Oregon at centraloregonfire.org or on X/Twitter @CentralORfire.

Call 9-1-1 to report a wildfire. For smoke and air quality information visit fire.airnow.gov.

Remember it only takes one spark to cause an accidental wildfire. Know your local fire restrictions, take care with all ignition sources, secure trailer chains and do not drive through or park in dry grass. Preventing wildfires doesn’t just protect public lands, it protects communities so do your part to prevent one more spark.

CROOKED RIVER RANCH, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Alder Springs Fire burned across 3,400 acres but reached 40% containment as of Friday as officials report more progress on extinguishing the wildfire while securing lines and sparing hundreds of homes protected by crews from around the state.

The announcement comes after the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office dropped all Level 3 GO NOW evacuation orders as seen on this interactive map.

Level 3 GO NOW (red) evacuation orders have been dropped to Level 2 (BE SET – yellow), others reduced to Level 1 (BE SET – green) in revised Jefferson County map Wednesday evening

“Watch out for fire personnel for the next several days,” the sheriff’s Office advised in a Facebook post Wednesday evening. “Even if you return in a Level 2 (BE SET zone), be cautious of smoke and aware fire personnel could be on your property if a flare-up happens near your land.

“Still remain vigilant and be ready to go if anything changes. We appreciate the patience during this fire. Fire personnel have been working diligently day and night to contain this fire which is currently at 21% containment. Thank you to everyone who has assisted in the Alder Springs Fire so far and will continue to do so through the week,” the Facebook post said.

Earlier in an update on the Alder Springs Fire Facebook page, officials said, “Firefighters continue to look for and mop up hotspots along the fire’s edge. As the fire’s edge is proved to be free of all burn potential, the containment percentage will continue to increase.”

The Northwest Coordination Center reported earlier Wednesday that 2,052 homes were threatened by the blaze and 1,279 other “minor structures.”

Friday Update:

Containment levels have increased. The Alder Springs Fire is now 40% contained with no new growth.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as firefighters remain in the area to ensure the community stays protected. Please stay alert for any changes.

Wednesday Update:

Alder Springs Fire Information: 503-383-9647Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Evacuation Information: 541-420-9652Alder Springs Fire Facebook Page: Facebook.com/AlderSpringsFire

Central Oregon —Yesterday, wildland firefighters were successful in increasing containment on the Alder Springs Fire burning on lands managed by the US Forest Service and BLM and protected by Crooked River Ranch Fire and Rescue and the Lower Bridge Rangeland Fire Protection Association. The Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) task forces completed their structure protection and mop up work in and around Crooked River Ranch. The Alder Springs Fire footprint remains 3,278 acres and is now 40% contained.

“On behalf of the Forest Service and BLM, we would like to thank the Central Oregon Interagency Management Type 3 Team, the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Red Team, and all our cooperators and partners for coming together as one team with one mission,” said Crooked River National Grassland District Ranger, Slater Turner.

“We are very proud of our firefighters whose aggressive attack of this fire helped return our community back into their homes,” said Lisa Clark, Field Manager with the Prineville BLM Deschutes Field Office. “The OSFM and Central Oregon teams showed a high level of professionalism and provided the public with helpful, up-to-date information that was critical to the success of this incident. We are grateful for all the hard work and planning that helped keep firefighters and the public safe during this early season fire.”

All OSFM structural task forces are demobilizing today. The last two task forces will finish their work this morning before heading to their home department.

“The Red Team is deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve the Crooked River Ranch community — your support means everything,” said Incident Commander Ian Yocum.

Wildland firefighters are back on the fire this morning, continuing to mop up to reach the goal of 100 ft of cold ground all the way around the fire perimeter. Crews will continue to use Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) also known as “drones” equipped with infrared (IR) technology to identify areas of heat both on the perimeter, as well as areas of more dense heat on the fire interior. Fire Managers are also working with Resource Advisors (READs) to begin to assess the needs for suppression repair. Where firefighters have put in control lines with dozers, skidgens or hand tools, those fire lines will need to be repaired and naturalized so they do not become new roads, trails or paths for increased erosion. READs help advise fire staff on how to complete to protect or mitigate negative impacts to natural and cultural resources.

With cooler temperatures and moisture forecast for today and this weekend, some wildland resources are being released from the fire to return to their homes and families so they can rest and be available for future fires.

The Alder Springs Fire was human-caused and the investigation is on-going. More information will be released when the investigation is complete.

Evacuations: The Jefferson and Deschutes County Sheriff’s Offices have issued evacuation notices for the Alder Springs Fire.  Level 2-Set: CR06, CR07, CR08, CR10N, CR10S, CR11, CR12Level 1-Ready: CR02M, CR02N, CRPL2

For more information on evacuation notices, visit:Deschutes County Evacuation Map: https://tinyurl.com/DeschutesCountyEmergencyJefferson County Evacuation Map: https://tinyurl.com/JeffersonCountyEmergencyMap

A temporary evacuation point has been established at Highland Baptist Church: 3100 SW Highland Avenue, Redmond. A large animal shelter has been established at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds at 3800 SW Airport Way, Redmond.

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Barney Lerten

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) – In an effort to preserve and protect the structural integrity of the historic Crook County Courthouse, six cedar trees surrounding the building will be removed this Friday, officials announced.

The trees — four located on the front of the Courthouse and two on the west side — are large, mature cedars that were not part of the original landscape design, county officials said in a news release.

“While their presence may seem picturesque, their size and placement now pose a serious threat to the foundation of this iconic structure,” the county said.

“The trees are leaning outward in search of sun, and their roots are placing significant stress on the Courthouse’s historic rock foundation. In the event of severe weather or saturated soil conditions, these trees could fall, potentially pulling on and damaging the Courthouse’s foundation.”

Here’s the rest of the county announcement about the trees’ removal:

“This is a proactive measure to safeguard one of Crook County’s most iconic and beloved buildings,” said Facilities Director James Preuss. “These trees, while beautiful, have unfortunately become a risk to the structure we’re working hard to preserve.”

The removal will be conducted by Lindsey Land & Tree LLC, a local tree service company based in Crook County. Work is expected to take place throughout the day on Friday.

In addition to addressing safety and preservation concerns, the removal will also help restore the original character and visibility of the Courthouse, allowing its architectural beauty to once again be fully appreciated. Clearing the overgrowth will allow the community to once again admire the historic details and craftsmanship that have defined the Courthouse since its construction.

“This is part of a larger effort to spruce up the Courthouse and return her to her former glory,” Commissioner Susan Hermreck noted. “These particular trees were not part of the historical landscape, and while the decision to remove them was not made lightly, it is ultimately the most prudent step for the long-term health and safety of the building.”

The County said it “appreciates the community’s understanding as this important preservation work is carried out.”

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Barney Lerten

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The City of Redmond is currently working to update two critical infrastructure master plans, the Wastewater Collection System Master Plan (CSMP) and the Transportation System Plan (TSP). 

These Master Plans help assess how City infrastructure is performing and identify current and future improvements. An integral part of these updates is public involvement and feedback.  Both plans are available for review online at www.redmondoregon.gov/master-plans.

The City’s current CSMP was adopted in 2007.  As part of the proposed CSMP update, growth assumptions and flow monitoring have been updated to plan for the wastewater infrastructure needed to serve the community’s forecasted growth. 

To facilitate ongoing and anticipated levels of significant job growth on the eastside of the city, additional transportation facilities will be needed over the next 20 years to maintain a system that is safe, reliable and that provides access to the Redmond Municipal Airport and other critical service areas that are part of the State’s Resiliency Plan.

The amendments to Redmond’s TSP, adopted in 2020, modifies employment distribution in the designated Large Lot Industrial lands south of the Fairgrounds, updates Alternate Mobility Targets along South Highway 97, and aligns project lists with these new assumptions.  The City is and will continue to partner with Deschutes County and ODOT to evaluate how the transportation capacity needs can be met over the long term.

Public hearings for the CSMP and TSP amendments are tentatively scheduled for July 9 with the Redmond Planning Commission and then the Redmond City Council on July 22. For more information or submit comments, contact Planning Director Kyle Roberts at kyle.roberts@redmondoregon.gov or 541-923-7758.

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Barney Lerten

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Beginning on Friday, June 20, the popular USDA Forest Service Annual Northwest Forest Pass will be available for online purchase at www.recreation.gov.

“In a desire to be responsive to interest and input from the public, an Annual Northwest Forest can now be purchased online as we expand pass options for recreation users. Many users have been requesting digital passes for years, and we are pleased to make it happen,” said Tracy Calizon, Assistant Director of Recreation, Lands, and Minerals.

The Northwest Forest Pass allows visitors to access day-use recreation fee sites and facilities at all Forest Service-operated recreation sites across Oregon and Washington. 

The Annual Northwest Forest Pass costs $30, with no additional fee for purchases made online. The digital pass is available at www.recreation.gov by visiting a specific National Forest’s profile and then selecting “Activities & Experiences.” Like the hard-copy version, a digital pass is valid at all Forest Service-operated sites in Oregon and Washington. The digital pass must be printed, signed, and displayed on the vehicle’s dashboard. Please remember that recreation passes are non-refundable.

Hard-copy passes can still be purchased in person at a Forest Service office or local vendor. You may also order hard-copy passes online at Discover Your Northwest or the US Geological Survey Store. 

Additional information about the Northwest Forest Pass is available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/passes. 

The Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region offers places for hiking, biking, skiing, nature viewing, scenic drives, and for gathering forest products such as mushrooms, firewood, and Christmas trees. Many of the facilities and services associated with these opportunities are free. However, some do require fees or permits to help maintain, manage and improve your national forests and grasslands. Requirements may vary. 

Each year on designated Fee-Free Days the Forest Service waives recreation fees at most day-use sites on lands managed by the agency. Participation by concession-operated sites may vary. Upcoming 2025 Fee Free dates include: National Get Outdoors Day: June 14, 2025, Juneteenth: June 19, 2025, National Public Lands Day: September 27, 2025, and Veterans Day: November 11, 2025.

For more information about the USDA Forest Service visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06.

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