Lost Soda Project Could Bring Forest Treatments to 1,600 Acres Near Eagle Point
BLM is considering thinning, limited timber harvest, prescribed fire, streamside work, and new access routes as part of a proposed forest management project east of Eagle Point.
AT A GLANCE
Project: Lost Soda Forest Management Project
Location: BLM lands roughly 10 miles east of Eagle Point
Area: About 1,600 acres
Possible work: Thinning, limited timber harvest, prescribed fire, riparian treatments, and other vegetation management
Access proposals: Potential temporary and permanent roads, haul routes, and roadside vegetation work
Primary goals: Improve forest resilience, develop northern spotted owl habitat, reduce tree competition, and maintain stream conditions
Public comment deadline: Nov. 6, 2026
Status: Public scoping and environmental review
EAGLE POINT, Ore. — A stretch of BLM forest roughly 10 miles east of Eagle Point could see thinning, limited timber harvest, prescribed fire, streamside work, and new access routes under a proposal now entering public review.
The Bureau of Land Management’s Lost Soda Forest Management Project focuses on about 1,600 acres managed by the agency’s Ashland Field Office.
BLM says many of the potential treatment areas are overly dense, with increased competition between trees and limited structural complexity. Some stands also lack multiple canopy layers, conditions the agency says can reduce resilience to drought, insects, disease, wildfire, and other disturbances.
Those same forest conditions can also limit habitat features used by wildlife, including the northern spotted owl.
One part of the proposal would use selection harvest in Late Successional Reserves to accelerate development of nesting and roosting habitat for spotted owls. Other areas could be thinned or treated with fire to reduce competition between trees and create more structurally diverse forest.
Northern Spotted Owl: A northern spotted owl rests on a tree branch in this BLM file photo. The Lost Soda proposal includes treatments intended to improve nesting and roosting habitat for the species. Bureau of Land Management photo by Kyle Sullivan.
BLM is also considering work in Riparian Reserves, where selected stands could be thinned to encourage larger tree growth and future recruitment of stable wood into streams.
The project map shows potential treatment areas spread through BLM lands east of Eagle Point, along with possible temporary roads, permanent roads, haul routes, and roadside vegetation management areas.
Those locations are not final.
BLM says the treatment areas could change depending on the alternative ultimately selected, and only a portion of the areas currently under consideration may move forward.
The project is still early in the environmental review process.
BLM opened a 30-day public scoping period Oct. 7 and will accept comments through Friday, Nov. 6.
Lost Soda Project Map: BLM’s map shows potential treatment areas, proposed temporary and permanent roads, haul routes, and roadside vegetation management within the Lost Soda Forest Management Project area east of Eagle Point. Final treatment areas may change as the environmental review moves forward. Bureau of Land Management.
During scoping, the agency is asking people familiar with the area to identify potential conflicts, priority treatment locations, additional overstocked stands, resource concerns, or reasonable alternatives that should be considered as the environmental assessment is developed.
“People are extremely helpful in identifying the highest priority areas, potential conflicts, and other topics important to them for us to consider,” BLM Ashland Field Manager Lauren Brown said.
BLM says detailed comments are generally more useful than broad statements of support or opposition. The agency is asking commenters to identify specific locations, resources, conflicts, treatment concerns, or alternatives they believe should be evaluated.
Timber production is also part of the proposal.
BLM says limited harvest could contribute wood products to local mills while supporting forestry jobs and generating revenue for western Oregon counties.
“By conducting this habitat improvement, we achieve our land management and forestry objectives, while providing timber to local mills, jobs to our neighbors, and revenue to western Oregon counties,” Brown said.
The project would also count toward a BLM goal of treating 17,000 acres of certain dry Late Successional Reserve lands over a 10-year period.
Forest Thinning: Cut timber is stacked following forest management work in this BLM file photo. Similar thinning and limited timber harvest are among the treatments being considered for the Lost Soda project. Bureau of Land Management.
For people who recreate, hunt, travel forest roads, or otherwise spend time on public lands east of Eagle Point, the current scoping period is the point in the process when BLM is specifically asking for information about places, resources, and potential conflicts that may need closer review.
No final treatment areas or project alternative have been selected.
Project documents, maps, and the public comment form are available through the BLM NEPA Register.
Cover Photo / Forest Habitat: Sunlight filters through a dense forest in this BLM file photo. The proposed Lost Soda Forest Management Project east of Eagle Point would consider thinning, prescribed fire, and other treatments in overly dense stands. Bureau of Land Management.
BLM Project Documents: Read the full Lost Soda Forest Management Project scoping letter, including the potential treatment areas map and public comment information. Bureau of Land Management.
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