March 2026 Sunriver Scene - Flipbook - Page 1
Snow – more than
frozen water – will
be topic of discussion at the Sunriver
Nature Center
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
SROA News ............. 4
Calendar ................ 15
Public Safety........... 30
Classified Ads ......... 39
Sunriver's art
galleries coordinate
'Art in the Circles'
event in March
Page 22
Page 12
S U N R I V E R
S C E N E
A NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE SUNRIVER OWNERS ASSOCIATION
MARCH 2026
VOLUME XLIX • NUMBER 3
It’s a go for
curbside
recycling in
south county
T R,
After
2026 LFR work on commons to begin this spring
By SROA Natural Resources
Each year, Sunriver Owners Association (SROA) performs ladder fuels
reduction (LFR) treatment on about
150 acres of commons.
Covering an area of this size takes a
community effort. SROA staff, local
contractors and Sunriver owners have
a role to play in this important fire
mitigation work.
LFR treatment is scheduled to begin
in the northeast corner of Sunriver this
spring, from east of Circles 6 and 7 to
north of Cottonwood Rd (see map).
Ladder fuels reduction treatment consists of removing trees to achieve greater
spacing and eliminate potential hazards,
removing certain highly flammable underbrush, and limbing strategically in
order to create separation between the
tree canopies and forest floor.
This type of vegetation management mimics the natural fire ecology
of Sunriver. Before Sunriver was de-
veloped, frequent, low-intensity fires
would sweep through the forest periodically, clearing out fine fuels and leaving
large, fire-resistant trees behind.
Since allowing fire to manage the forest in an urbanized area is impractical
and dangerous, performing mechanical
LFR treatment is the method recommended by agencies like the U.S. Forest Service, Oregon State University,
National Fire Protection Association
T LFR,
Sunriver hosts second annual Wildfire Preparedness
Fair at SHARC; free and open to all area residents
The Sunriver Fire Department, along
with support from the Central Oregon
Fire Prevention Cooperative and the
Sunriver Owners Association, is hosting
its second annual Wildfire Preparedness
Fair in Sunriver.
The event is noon to 2 p.m. Thursday,
April 16 at SHARC. It’s free to attend.
Topics will include wildfire prevention
education, expert tips for protecting
your home, staying safe when smoke
is in the air, planning for evacuation
and more.
The public is invited to join in these
fun, family friendly events to learn about
crucial strategies and resources to stay
safe during wildfire season.
The highlight of the Sunriver event
will be a presentation by Evan Sluder,
research scientist and engineer for the
Insurance Institute of Business and
Home Safety (IBHS). Sluder will speak
about science-backed mitigation strategies that can help protect your home and
property from wildfires.
“Wildfires occur with regularity in
Central Oregon. Our community was
evacuated due to the Bachelor Butte
Fire in 2024, so we know that they can
happen here. This event is one way for
the residents and owners in Sunriver
to learn what actions they can take to
be prepared,” Sunriver Fire Chief Bill
Boos said.
If you are unable to attend the
Sunriver event, there are two other
events available:
• 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 11at La
Pine High School, 51622 Coach Rd.,
La Pine.
• 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 9
at COCC Wille Hall in Bend. Bring
your “Go-Kit” and receive an ice cream.
For additional information, visit
centraloregonfire.org/prevent-wildfires
SUNRIVER SCENE
SUNRIVER OWNERS ASSN.
VOLUME XLVIV • NUMBER 3
SUNRIVER, OR 97707
By Susan Berger, Sunriver Scene
The Deschutes County Board of
Commissioners has approved a curbside recycling program for distant
rural areas, bringing long-awaited
service to communities south of
Sunriver. Rural residents in La Pine,
Bend, Redmond and Sisters also will
receive service.
Side-yard recycling pickup began
in Sunriver in January 2023. This
eventually led to the closure of the
Recycling Depot at the Public Works
yard on Oct. 31, 2024. Because
the depot had served all of south
Deschutes County, residents outside
Sunriver were then required to haul
their recyclables to transfer stations
in Bend or La Pine.
“We’ve received a number of calls
ever since as to what curbside options would be available or to expand
county drop-off options,” said Tim
Brownwell, director of the Deschutes
County Department of Solid Waste.
An initial push for curbside recycling was proposed about a year ago
by Republic Services but was halted
when the Oregon Department of
Environmental Quality determined
the plan did not comply with state
law. If recycling is offered, it must be
provided as part of garbage service
— not as a separate “cafeteria-style”
option.
“It’s not mandatory to have garbage service, but everything must
be offered under one cost if you do,”
Brownwell said.
The state’s Plastic Pollution and
Recycling Modernization Act requires producers and manufacturers
of materials entering the recycling
stream to help fund infrastructure,
carts and collection vehicles through
the Circular Action Alliance. Although reimbursements are not
Before
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