State Parks Announces Changes for Central Oregon, Cascadia Park
Published 04/05/2010
(Salem, Oregon) –The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is removing diseased trees from a state park and has announced the food and supplies vendor for Lake Billy Chinook.
Beginning this week, crews will begin taking down diseased trees at Cascadia State Park near Sweet Home.
The trees to be removed are Douglas fir and western hemlock trees infected by laminated root rot. The trees are largely in the park’s campground and from a one-acre area between U.S. Highway 20 and the South Santiam River. OPRD said this is necessary for public safety needs and to prevent further spread of the disease.
DeSantis Directional Drilling, Inc. of Silverton is the contractor, removing 80 trees in stands along the highway, but leaving hardwood trees and western red cedar wherever possible. Only four trees are tagged for removal from the campground. Replanting will begin immediately.
The campground is still closed for winter, but will re-open on May 1. It is estimated the project will take up to two weeks and there may be some brief interruptions in highway traffic.
In central Oregon, Lake Billy Chinook Houseboats and Marina was selected by OPRD to be the supplier of food and other goods to visitors at Lake Billy Chinook. The stand sits at Cove Palisades State Park on the lake, which is in Jefferson County. It will be a five-year contract, providing boat docks and slips, houseboat rentals, marine fuel, food and other supplies.
The contract was won through the state’s open, competitive bidding process.
The park regularly draws more than 80,000 campers and half a million day visitors a year, making it one of the most popular recreational boating lakes in Oregon.
State park camping and day visits have been and will continue to be managed by State Parks.
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