Umatilla 1 will be working in the Umatilla National Forest on the border of Oregon and Washington for the season. We will be working in the The Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness and the North Fork Umatilla Wilderness.
The Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness is located in the northern Blue Mountains of southeastern Washington and northeastern Oregon and encompasses 177,465 acres.
The majority of the wilderness is characterized by rugged basaltic ridges and outcroppings separated by deep canyons with steep side slopes. Elevations range from 2,000 feet on the Wild and Scenic Wenaha River to 6,401 feet at Oregon Butte. Plant communities vary widely from bunchgrass slopes to higher subalpine areas of lodgepole pine and subalpine fir.
Nearly every wildlife species present in the Blue Mountains can be found within the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness including Rocky Mountain elk, bighorn sheep, whitetail and mule deer, black bear, cougar, coyote, and pine martens. Both the Tucannon and Wenaha Rivers provide good spawning habitat for Chinook salmon and steelhead.
The managed trail system within the wilderness totals over 200 miles. We will be doing primarily brush clearing and logging out trees with vintage crosscuts.
The North Fork Umatilla River wilderness is characterized by terrain that varies from gentle, sloping hills to extremely steep, timbered canyons. The elevation in the area ranges from 2,000 to 6,000 feet, assuring a good workout for hikers and equestrians using the 27-mile trail system. The wild, unpredictable weather of the Blue Mountains also adds to the challenge anytime of the year.
The North Fork Umatilla River supports sizeable runs of anadromous fish, which makes this area a popular spot for anglers. There are also several streams within the wilderness that contain native trout, and a few streams support spawning steelhead.
In this section we will be doing some brushing, tread work, and installing water drainage structures.
