ILLINOIS VALLEY, Ore. – The Upper Illinois River Watershed Post-Fire Restoration Project is in its final stages after nearly a year of work. The project, which began in April 2023, focused on replanting and remediating land severely impacted by the Slater Fire, which ravaged the area in 2020.
A coalition of local organizations, including the Illinois Valley Soil and Water Conservation District (IVSWCD), the Illinois Valley Fire Resiliency Oversight Group (IVFROG), and the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB), have collaborated to restore 74 acres of land in the Illinois Valley.
John Bellville, District Manager for the IVSWCD, spoke about the project’s primary goal of addressing the environmental fallout from the fire. “The early stages were challenging, particularly in securing trees for replanting,” Bellville noted. However, thanks to a two-year extension on the project, the team was able to source native trees from Scholls Valley Native Nursery in Forest Grove, ensuring the success of the replanting efforts.
The restoration has focused on replanting native trees and shrubs in areas hardest hit by the fire. This is not just a cosmetic fix but a strategic move to combat erosion, invasive species like tanoak and madrone, and mitigate future wildfire risks. These actions play a crucial role in the region’s long-term resilience against environmental threats.
In addition to the replanting efforts, the IVSWCD and IVFROG have engaged the local community with a series of educational events. These included a riparian planting event along Page Creek and several native plant giveaways in Cave Junction.
Bellville expressed his gratitude for the community’s involvement, saying, “We’re really grateful to be seeing results. It’s a testament to the work of the community and our partners who made this happen.”
Crews from Grayback Forestry and Pacific Ridgeline Forestry have played a pivotal role in the project’s success, working through challenging terrain to restore the land. Many of these same crews were also on the frontlines during the Slater Fire, helping save the Illinois Valley. Bellville referred to their work as a “full-circle moment,” highlighting how their efforts are now contributing to the restoration of the land they helped protect.
The final milestone of the project will be marked by a celebratory event on April 5, 2025, at the newly remodeled Cave Junction Library. The event will provide the community an opportunity to celebrate the success of the restoration project and look ahead to future conservation efforts.
“We couldn’t have made it happen without you, and we look forward to putting more trees in the ground,” Bellville said, echoing the sentiment of the collaborative effort that has defined the entire restoration project.