ODF, Ochoco National Forest complete first-of-its-kind reforestation project through Good Neighbor Authority
Partnership planted and protected more than 74,000 seedlings across 424 acres affected by the 2024 Crazy Creek Fire
PRINEVILLE, Ore. - The Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Federal Forest Restoration Program and the Ochoco National Forest have completed a first-of-its-kind reforestation project within the Crazy Creek Fire burn area, planting and protecting more than 74,000 ponderosa pine seedlings across 424 acres of federal forestland.
The Crazy Creek planting project is the first reforestation effort on federal forestland in Oregon to be completed through a state-written and state-administered planting contract under the Good Neighbor Authority (GNA). The Good Neighbor Authority was authorized under the 2014 Farm Bill and allows the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to enter into partnership agreements with state agencies to accomplish forest, watershed, and rangeland restoration projects on federal lands. This project demonstrates how state and federal partners can use the GNA to expand restoration capacity and accelerate recovery following severe wildfire.
“This project is a strong example of what the Good Neighbor Authority was designed to accomplish,” said Kyle Sullivan-Astor, ODF’s Federal Forest Restoration Program Lead. “By combining the expertise and resources of the Forest Service and ODF, we were able to complete additional reforestation work that would not otherwise have occurred on this timeline. Each seedling represents an investment in the long-term resilience of Central Oregon’s forests.”
The Ochoco National Forest experienced an exceptionally damaging fire season in 2024. The Crazy Creek, Rail Ridge, and Wiley Flat fires burned hundreds of thousands of acres across the forest, creating an urgent need for reforestation and post-fire restoration.
In spring 2025, the Ochoco National Forest approached ODF’s Federal Forest Restoration Program team in Prineville about expanding the state’s role in post-fire recovery. ODF and the Forest Service subsequently entered into an agreement for ODF to plant 424 acres within the Crazy Creek burn area during the 2026 planting season.
The Forest Service purchased the seedlings and protective materials and stored them at the Ochoco Ranger Station. ODF’s Prineville-based crew completed field reconnaissance and unit layout. ODF personnel also wrote, awarded, administered, inspected, and completed the state planting contract.
The contract included eight planting units. Crews planted ponderosa pine seedlings and installed rigid Vexar netting to reduce browsing damage from elk and deer.
The ODF effort built upon a much larger Forest Service planting contract completed across the Crazy Creek, Rail Ridge, and Wiley Flat fire areas. That project, the largest planting contract in the Ochoco National Forest’s history, reforested approximately 3,000 acres with more than 500,000 seedlings. ODF personnel supported the federal contract by leading one of the Forest Service planting crews and assisting with contract implementation and inspections to ensure quality standards were met.
After supporting the Forest Service contract, ODF administered its own Crazy Creek planting contract, expanding the total area reforested during the planting season by an additional 424 acres.
Created by the Oregon Legislature in 2013, ODF’s Federal Forest Restoration Program works with federal agencies, Tribes, counties, forest collaboratives, contractors, and other partners to increase the pace, scale, and quality of restoration on Oregon’s federal forestlands. The program uses tools such as the Good Neighbor Authority to complete work that is additive to what federal agencies can accomplish with existing resources.
Across Oregon, GNA projects support a broad range of restoration activities, including forest health treatments, hazardous fuels reduction, timber sale preparation and administration, road improvements, watershed restoration, and tree planting. The Crazy Creek project highlights the growing role these partnerships can play in supporting timely, landscape-scale recovery after wildfire.
Project at a Glance
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Location: Crazy Creek Fire burn area, Ochoco National Forest
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Acres reforested through ODF contract: 424 acres
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Planting units: 8
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Seedlings planted and protected: More than 74,000
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Seedling species: Ponderosa pine
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Protection method: Rigid Vexar netting to reduce browsing by elk and deer
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Additional Forest Service planting effort supported by ODF: Approximately 3,000 acres and more than 500,000 seedlings across the Crazy Creek, Rail Ridge, and Wiley Flat fire areas
About the Federal Forest Restoration Program
The Oregon Department of Forestry’s Federal Forest Restoration Program partners with federal agencies and other stakeholders to accelerate forest restoration on federal lands in Oregon. The program is guided by state law and prioritizes projects that reduce wildfire risk, improve forest resilience, enhance wildlife habitat and watershed health, support local economies, and increase the pace and scale of restoration.
For more see ODF’s Federal Forest Restoration webpage.
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The Oregon Department of Forestry’s Federal Forest Restoration Program and the Ochoco National Forest completed a first-of-its-kind reforestation project within the Crazy Creek Fire burn area, planting and protecting more than 74,000 ponderosa pine seedlings across 424 acres of federal forestland after the area burned in 2024.
The Crazy Creek planting project is the first reforestation effort on federal forestland in Oregon to be completed through a state-written and state-administered planting contract under the Good Neighbor Authority (GNA). The project demonstrates how state and federal partners can use GNA to expand restoration capacity and accelerate recovery following severe wildfires.
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The contract included eight units with crews planting ponderosa pine seedlings and installing rigid Vexar netting to reduce browsing damage from elk and deer.
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