Originally published on July 15, 2021 6:55 pm
Even as wildfires continued to burn across Oregon on Thursday, wind offered temporary respite to many communities that have been blanketed in the heaviest wildfire smoke. But the U.S. Interagency Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program cautions there could well be more smoke to come, especially in the southern, central and eastern areas of the state.
Strong winds overnight Wednesday into Thursday cleared smoke in the Klamath Falls area, which had been heavily affected by the largest wildfire now burning in the United States the Bootleg Fire. Smoke forecasts call for similar weather patterns overnight Thursday into Friday, with smoke likely to be heavier in the Sprague River Valley and the Harney Basin and low-lying areas.
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On Sunday, the sign at the entrance to Detroit Lake State Recreation Area read: Campground full. Lines formed throughout the day at the Moutain High Grocery, the town’s only store.
The visible, extensive destruction from last year’s Labor Day fires did not stop crowds from flocking to enjoy Detroit Lake over Memorial Day weekend.
Shelley and Tim Pyatt booked their camping reservations at the state recreation site the morning it became available. Within a half-hour, Tim Pyatt said, most campsites were booked for the entire season.
After months of being cooped up during the pandemic, the family from Cornelius said they were just looking for safe ways to get outdoors. They purchased their first camper a few months ago.
The USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) has received $850,000 from the first round of funding from the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) to work on five local projects. All of the planned projects will improve the visitor experience by reducing deferred maintenance and enhancing recreational infrastructure.
“The Great American Outdoors Act is a major investment in our public lands that will help us tackle deferred maintenance and infrastructure projects on National Forest lands at Lake Tahoe,” said Forest Supervisor, Bill Jackson. “Maintaining and improving our public facilities is a key factor in the Forest Service’s ability to deliver sustainable recreational benefits to the American public.”