Make the McKenzie Connection!
Make the McKenzie Connection!
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Vets with boat By Ada Weeks Perched on a large rock at the Silver Creek Landing, I sat photographing drift boats that came close enough to capture on camera, waiting for my mystery ride to the other side of the river. My assignment was to interview a group of US military veterans during their first McKenzie River fishing trip. Having grown up as a Navy braåç, I knew this would be special. When a drift boat skillfully came close enough for me to see the fishermen wearing US Army tee shirts, I knew “my ship had come in.” Indeed, wit...
Navigation Obstruction - McKenzie River below Bellinger Boat Ramp Lower river blockage Downstream of Bellinger, the obstruction is a srainer near the end of the island. The island area has exposed gravel, and the current cuts into the edge of the left bank. The current is strong as it drops off a shelf area and with the low water levels, there isn't enough room to get a paddle to maneuver around. The main current goes straight to the strainer and the channel is deep. Law enforcement advise staying as far as possible to river right, heading...
Co9unty Parks logo Due to the high risk of fire in the area, Fire Chief Terry Ney of Lane Fire Authority has issued an emergency order that affects all Fern Ridge parks (Richardson Park, Orchard Point Park, Perkins Peninsula Park and Zumwalt Park), Camp Lane, Howard Buford Recreation Area (Mt. Pisgah), Hendricks Bridge Park and Armitage Park. In compliance with the emergency order, Lane County Parks will be enforcing these restrictions at the parks listed above: · No open flames are allowed out-of-doors, including campfires, warming fire...
At counter RAINBOW: Ways of getting out and about - from riding bikes to paddle boarding or from rafting to shuttles - now have a new central point to start from, thanks to a new business that will host a grand opening this weekend. The Horse Creek Lodge and the Blazin Saddles Bike Shop partnered for the new enterprise, housed in the former Rustic Skillet Restaurant’s storefront. The Bike Shop & Outdoor Center was planned to offer, “A great opportunity for rafting trips, mountain or road bike rentals and stand up paddle board rentals,” says...
Fire Restrictions Expand to Wildernesses The Willamette National Forest is expanding public use fire restrictions to its Wilderness areas, effective Friday, July 10th. This means the following activities will be prohibited: - Campfires, warming fires and cooking fires, including charcoal fires, portable propane campfires, biomass or particle wood-burning stoves, and wood pellet stoves. It is still permissible to use portable cooking stoves with pressurized liquefied and bottled gas. - Smoking, except in areas clear of flammable debris “Since W...
Public Use Restrictions Go Into Effect 07/02/2015; No fires outside designated fire rings Due to increased fire danger levels, the Willamette National Forest will initiate the following public use restrictions, effective Thursday, July 2nd: - Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, or campfire, or stove fire, including a charcoal fire, except in campfire rings at posted, developed and designated recreation areas (see list below) and in Wilderness areas. Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuel are still permissible in...
McKenzie River Reflections...
Tamolitch Falls MCKENZIE BRIDGE: Linn County deputies are investigating the death of a Bend area man near Tamolitch Falls, off of Highway 126 near the Trail Bridge Reservoir. According to Captain Kevin Guilford, the incident occurred at 5:24 p.m. on Sunday. The Linn County 911 dispatch center received a call from Central Lane 911 dispatch, requesting a deputy respond to assist medical personnel. It was reported at approximately 3:30 p.m. a subject had fallen and was seriously injured. Guilford said Joel Jesse Martin, 52, of Bend, reportedly...
Mountain biking The region’s best mountain biking trails take center stage in Bike Magazine’s annual Bible of Bike Tests issue, which was released today, January 2nd. Bike Magazine staffers recently spent 170 hours riding the epic singletrack trails around the McKenzie River, Oakridge/Westfir, and Central Oregon, shooting hundreds of hours of video of the jaw-dropping scenery and white-knuckle inducing rides. The magazine showcases a 10-page feature story and web videos highlighting the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region as a mountain bike des...
LEABUEG: The Eugene Water & Electric Board has closed Leaburg Lake to all boaters following the failure of one of three roll gates at Leaburg Dam on Tuesday. The unexpected shutdown of the gate closest to Highway 126 on Dec. 23rd leaves the run-of-the-river dam with one functioning roll gate. The middle roll gate experienced a failure in January of 2012 and is currently being repaired at the 73-year-old hydroelectric facility on the McKenzie River. The three 16-feet-tall by 100-feet-wide gates regulate the volume of water spilled from the dam o...
Leaburg Hatchery Angling success is higher when fishing for hatchery raised trout than it is for trout grown in a more natural setting, even when that more natural environment is created in a hatchery. A recent study in Finland found that brown trout grown in a normal hatchery environment are more vulnerable to anglers because they have a greater tendency to explore and to grab at any food supply they see. In the study, scientists created two rearing environments: a normal hatchery environment with concrete pens and a more natural or enriched...
Hazards for travelers come with high winds The forecast could bring dangerous driving to the Oregon Coast and Willamette Valley High winds predicted for this weekend may cause problems for Oregon travelers who should be on the lookout for downed trees and debris, downed power lines and high water caused by clogged storm drains. Strong winds may hit the Oregon Coast and Willamette Valley Saturday. Wind can create many traffic hazards, including broken tree limbs, and can bring down trees already weakened or decaying. Here are a few travel tips:...
Trout on stringer Anglers fishing Leaburg Lake will benefit from an additional 1,000 rainbow trout in excess of one pound each, stocked just in time for the holiday weekend. Leaburg Hatchery will stock the fish before the long weekend to allow anglers plenty of opportunities to get into fish in the 15-18” range. This will be the final release of fish into Leaburg Lake in 2014. These fish will fall within the five adipose-fin clipped trout daily bag limit. Anglers are reminded Leaburg Dam will be closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic after...
Big trout in Leaburg...
McKenzie River Reflections...
Water hazards Less snow and rain expose dangers As a result of less snow pack and lower rainfall amounts this winter, many Oregon lakes and rivers will be reaching historically low levels which will expose previously unseen hazards to boaters this summer. Stumps, rocks, logs and other obstructions could be just below the surface, resulting in hull or prop damage in areas that are normally navigable. These obstructions also impact the water dynamics and the currents in rivers, which can increase the difficulty to navigate safely, especially for...
Watch out for stumps, logs and other water hazards...
Volunteers for backpack stocking Fish stocking...
Fish stocking SPRINGFIELD: The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking volunteers to assist with trout stocking in approximately 60 High Cascade Lakes on Saturday, July 19th. Fingerling-sized trout are carried by backpack into a variety of lakes in the Cascades every other year where they are then released. The project is designed to provide angling opportunities for people interested in a more remote fishing experience. “This is a great opportunity to get out into the back country and participate in a unique fish stocking p...
Forest service plans tour Hot springs COUGAR RESERVOIR: After a large rock nearly hit a bather in April, the U.S. Forest Service closed off a pool at Terwilliger Hot Springs. Since April 29th, other rocks and debris have continued to fall, and the top pool was temporarily closed. Three pools remain open for use and visitor enjoyment. “We will be looking into solutions to stabilize the site but first, we want to hear from the public on what aspects of the springs they most value so we can do our best to protect those values, while ensuring v...
Forest Service plans tour Hot Springs rock...
McKenzie Rec Guide Rec Guide ad rates...
McKenzie Pass still car free Ride map OLD MCKENZIE PASS: Every year the scenic route between McKenzie Bridge and Sisters is open for a very brief window for bikers and hikers only. Thanks to a planned excursion, there’s likely to be plenty of bicycles at the start of June along Hwy. 242. Earlier this month the Oregon Dept. of Transportation plowed the snow out one lane to allow limited access until nature melts out the rest of the roadway. One of the best ways to ride the Old McKenzie Pass is set for Saturday, June 7th. The 4th Annual Ride f...
McKenzie Pass still car free Ride map...
Vandals lock out public at Blue River’s Park Park closed BLUE RIVER: There won’t be anyone playing baseball, basketball or even tennis at the Blue River Park until further notice. People wanting to have a cookout or picnic will have to go elsewhere as well. The restrictions went into effect last week in response to a rash of vandalism that escalated beyond the usual dumping of trash about the area to a rash of window breaking and using a vehicle to gouge ruts in the playing fields. The decision to padlock the entry gate came from the Blue Riv...
