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News Release

Rivers To Ridges Partners Prepare For Ecological Burns This Fall - 09/16/25

This press release was sent on behalf of the Rivers to Ridges partners. Any resulting news coverage should reflect that and not Lane County Government.

 

This fall, Rivers to Ridges partners plan to conduct ecological burns on properties in the Eugene-Springfield area where habitat stewardship work is underway. Rivers to Ridges has been coordinating ecological burns in the southern Willamette Valley for more than 30 years.

 

Ecological – or prescribed – burning is different from wildfire. Ecological burns use low intensity fire and are only conducted under strict weather and safety conditions. The fire helps restore native prairie, savanna and oak woodland habitats while reducing the risk of high-intensity wildfire.

 

“Regular, recurring wildfires have historically been used by indigenous peoples in order to help a number of plant and animal species thrive,” said Ed Alverson, Lane County Parks natural areas coordinator. “Ecological burns mimic that historical land management practice to support important habitats in the Willamette Valley.”

 

While the partners hope to conduct several burns before the end of the year, they are dependent upon weather conditions for each burn and must have approved permits from Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA) and the local fire district or fire authority. Experienced and highly trained fire crews will be managing these controlled burns using detailed burn plans, which include extensive prescriptions for conducting the burns to provide maximum protection for the community.

 

A map of proposed burn areas, organized by responsible Rivers to Ridges partners, is available online.

 

“When the Rivers to Ridges team predicts conditions will be right for an ecological fire we monitor the weather, humidity and wind in the days leading up to the burn and if conditions aren’t exactly right on the morning of the burn we don’t proceed,” said Alverson. “If we are able to conduct the burn then fire personnel are on-site and burned areas are patrolled until there is no danger of the fire reigniting.”

 

Learn more about the benefits of ecological burning from The Nature Conservancy at www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/oregon/controlled-burns/.

 

About Rivers to Ridges:

 

The Rivers to Ridges Partnership is dedicated to improving the quality of life for residents in the upper Willamette Valley by working together to protect and enhance the region’s land and water resources and their ecosystem functions and values. Partner agencies include Lane County Parks, Friends of Buford Park & Mt. Pisgah, City of Eugene, Bureau of Land Management, Long Tom Watershed Council, Oregon State University Extension Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, McKenzie River Trust, The Nature Conservancy and more. www.rivers2ridges.org.

 

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Rivers To Ridges Partners Prepare For Ecological Burns This Fall - 09/16/25

This press release was sent on behalf of the Rivers to Ridges partners. Any resulting news coverage should reflect that and not Lane County Government.

 

This fall, Rivers to Ridges partners plan to conduct ecological burns on properties in the Eugene-Springfield area where habitat stewardship work is underway. Rivers to Ridges has been coordinating ecological burns in the southern Willamette Valley for more than 30 years.

 

Ecological – or prescribed – burning is different from wildfire. Ecological burns use low intensity fire and are only conducted under strict weather and safety conditions. The fire helps restore native prairie, savanna and oak woodland habitats while reducing the risk of high-intensity wildfire.

 

“Regular, recurring wildfires have historically been used by indigenous peoples in order to help a number of plant and animal species thrive,” said Ed Alverson, Lane County Parks natural areas coordinator. “Ecological burns mimic that historical land management practice to support important habitats in the Willamette Valley.”

 

While the partners hope to conduct several burns before the end of the year, they are dependent upon weather conditions for each burn and must have approved permits from Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA) and the local fire district or fire authority. Experienced and highly trained fire crews will be managing these controlled burns using detailed burn plans, which include extensive prescriptions for conducting the burns to provide maximum protection for the community.

 

A map of proposed burn areas, organized by responsible Rivers to Ridges partners, is available online.

 

“When the Rivers to Ridges team predicts conditions will be right for an ecological fire we monitor the weather, humidity and wind in the days leading up to the burn and if conditions aren’t exactly right on the morning of the burn we don’t proceed,” said Alverson. “If we are able to conduct the burn then fire personnel are on-site and burned areas are patrolled until there is no danger of the fire reigniting.”

 

Learn more about the benefits of ecological burning from The Nature Conservancy at www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/oregon/controlled-burns/.

 

About Rivers to Ridges:

 

The Rivers to Ridges Partnership is dedicated to improving the quality of life for residents in the upper Willamette Valley by working together to protect and enhance the region’s land and water resources and their ecosystem functions and values. Partner agencies include Lane County Parks, Friends of Buford Park & Mt. Pisgah, City of Eugene, Bureau of Land Management, Long Tom Watershed Council, Oregon State University Extension Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, McKenzie River Trust, The Nature Conservancy and more. www.rivers2ridges.org.

 

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