Physical
Inventory: Forest Service |
| The area of our study is in the Middle Fork Ranger District, which is part of the Willamette National Forest. This is part of the Pacific Northwest Region, which includes land in Oregon and Washington. The Forest Service attempts to provide quality water, timber, forage, wildlife and recreation for the Nation's benefit. They manage over 191 million acres in the US. |
| A total of 52 sites located around the town of Oakridge and along Highway 58 were surveyed for the Forest Service. These sites were located along highlighted sections of road provided by David Murdough of the Forest Service. Included on this page are graphs and some examples of dumpsites. |
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These
graphs summarize the Forest Service dump sites found in the project
area. Severity was is a measurement that takes into account several
different things, including clean-up time, scale of dump site, and
hazardous or difficult materials. Quantity and Clean-up time are
approximate values. Recent Activity refers to frequently used sites. |
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This graph illustrates a common trend with the type of trash which is illegally disposed. The majority of sites have items with associated fees at transfer stations throughout Lane County. These items include construction wastes, tires, large appliances and yard debris (which isn't even accepted at the transfer stations within our area). Other items commonly found were: household garbage, animal carcasses, and recyclable materials. |
| Some
Examples of Dumpsites found on Forest Service Land |
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Big
Cliff Site The cliff is roughly 50 feet tall, near vertical, and drops into the river below. Items could be seen near the top, part way down, caught in trees and shrubs, and also in the river itself. Items are overgrown and sometimes located in the swift moving river. Some of the items found include: lumber and construction scraps, scrap metal, household garbage, a bike rim and tires, and miscellaneous plastics. |
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Commercial
Dump This site is ranked high in severity, due to the large amount of trash and appliances. More than 15 large tires, several large appliances, mattresses, lumber, electronics, and a large amount of household debris such as window blinds, a baby chair, and fuel cans, are widely scattered down a steep slope. |
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Multiple
Event Dump A large shoulder/pullout next to a 5-7 ft drop creates a perfect location of opportunity for trash dumpers. Numerous dumping events have occurred here. Very recently, a dumper unloaded several hundred pages of paper directly off the short slope. Underneath the papers are pieces of lumber and an old broken television. Further back are large plastic sacks that contained organic soil at one time. 20 to 30 tires, many of which have been partially buried and overgrown, were also found. |
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Recreational
Site This site is located in an old quarry. It seems to be a frequent hangout for target practice, and encompasses a large area (1000+ square feet). Small pieces of material are spread throughout the area. Some of the items found at this site include clay pigeons, dolls, electronics, and propane cylinders. |