Post-Fire Volunteer Re-engagement: Please follow the guidelines below and respect all closures. Thank you all for your service and support!
View Willamette National Forest alerts and closures here.
Using chainsaws or power brushers? Check the current Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) here .
The Willamette National Forest is now in Phase 3 of volunteer re-engagement. The following Phases outline expectations associated with the Willamette National Forest Covid-19 Phased Reengagement Volunteer Services Agreement and associated Job Hazard Analyses/Risk Assessments. Prospective volunteers should contact volunteer@cascadevols.org for more information and to sign up.
PHASE 3 – “Near Normal” Volunteer Activities. Additional volunteer activities will be allowed to resume in coordination with district/forest personnel and direct approval from the appropriate line officer for the project location. Adopting COVID-19 mitigation measures has proven effective at preventing and reducing its spread. Appropriate risk assessments and mitigation measures will be adhered to for all Phase 3 activities. County risk levels for COVID-19 will be monitored and volunteer activities will be adjusted to remain in compliance with CDC and corresponding agency guidance. Particular attention will be given to avoid community transmissions. Activities may include but are not limited to:
- High Public Contact Volunteer Activities which involve face-to-face visitor interactions, masked and following OHA social distancing guidelines, such as:
- Trailhead Hosts to assist implementation of the Central Cascade Wilderness Permit System
- Visitor Services Volunteer Positions, such as staffing Ranger District offices (outdoors only) to provide information, answer questions, and deflect use from burned areas to less visited recreation sites
- Guided interpretive programs
- Youth education programs
- Large Volunteer Events – There are no group size limits when Local Community Level is LOW or MEDIUM. When Local Community Level is HIGH special approval is required for gatherings over 50 people. Information on current Community Level can be found here: COVID-19 Community Levels | CDC.
- The pause will be lifted on special projects that may entail higher risk and/or are considered “nice to do” versus “need to do” (e.g. trail bridge construction, crib wall work, trail reroutes, etc.), but still require coordination with districts like all other projects.
- In-person volunteer training events may resume, as long as they remain in compliance with CDC and corresponding agency guidance.
- All activities should tie directly to the most current risk assessments on file which incorporate proven mitigation measures to help reduce exposure and spread of COVID-19, such as face coverings, social distancing, well-ventilated/outdoor settings, sanitizing tools and surfaces, and frequent handwashing. County COVID risk levels will be monitored and group size limitations will be adjusted based on guidance for “outdoor social gatherings”. Any volunteer event may be postponed or canceled during periods of high or extreme risk levels in order to prevent community transmissions.
PHASE 2 – Project Work/Special Coordination. As conditions warrant, the forest will be incorporating the following additional engagement. There is no obligation to incorporate all of these at once.
- Activities involving larger work parties (more than 10 people) with leadership approval on a case-by-case basis
- Special project work which may entail higher risk and/or is considered “nice to do” versus “need to do” will be approved by leadership on a case-by-case basis. Examples include trail reroutes, snow shelter reroofing, etc.
- Wilderness patrols that may require public contacts.
- In-person volunteer training events may be held with leadership approval
- All activities should tie directly to the most current risk assessments on file.
PHASE 1- Annual/Routine Maintenance. Allowable work includes:
- Routine annual maintenance of trails and developed recreation sites. This includes trail surveying, basic logout, brushing, weed pulling, etc. Dispersed recreation support may be considered, such as litter pickup.
- No large groups or work parties (greater than 10) regardless of activity.
- Volunteer training events must be conducted virtually
- All activities should tie directly to the most current risk assessments on file.
Logistics (will remain the same as 2020):
- Volunteer work must adhere to any safety standards and risk mitigation techniques required by the local line officer where work is to be conducted.
- Must adhere to any risk management or safety standards as outlined in volunteer agreement and Job Hazard Analysis/Risk Assessments..
- Priority activities and specific locations for each will be identified at the discretion of field staff. This will help avoid unintended optics of favoring particular volunteer groups.
- Due to the independent nature of many Willamette volunteers, all volunteers working during the pandemic will still be required to sign the Willamette COVID19 Phased Reengagement Volunteer Agreement, align work activities with the appropriate phased allowable activities and register in the Cascade Volunteers Better Impact Database. This will ensure all active volunteers have acknowledged our current posture (this is not business as usual), have reviewed and agreed to the updated risk assessments and JHAs, and have access to appropriate PPE. Volunteer Agreements have been pre-signed at the forest level and are being distributed for use by individuals and volunteer groups by Cascade Volunteers.
The WNF will commit to the partnership with Cascade Volunteers in supporting forest-wide volunteer coordination as needed/appropriate for each volunteer group and district.