Skip to main content

River Butte Wildfire Resiliency Project

River Butte Wildfire Resiliency Project


Location: Big Butte Creek watershed, between Crowfoot Road and Big Butte Springs
Partners: ODF, NRCS, Medford Water Commission

A dense forest with trees, fallen branches, and leafy vegetation on the ground.
Overgrown forests filled with dense buckbrush and suppressed trees can create unhealthy conditions and increase the risk of severe wildfire.


The Big Butte Creek watershed is vital to the Rogue Valley, serving as a primary source of drinking water. Climate change, fire suppression, and frequent human-caused ignitions elevate the risk of devastating wildfires that could harm these water sources. To mitigate this risk, the River Butte Wildfire Resiliency Project implements climate-smart forestry practices to reduce wildfire intensity and enhance the resilience of these forests.

The project will focus on three priority zones:

  1. Areas near drinking water sources (surface and groundwater)
  2. Areas near major ingress/egress roads
  3. Private lands adjacent to Medford Water Commission infrastructure

The goal is to modify fire behavior to achieve a future condition of low-to-moderate intensity, improving the health of the Big Butte Springs and Creek watersheds and their tributaries. This work complements the recovery efforts following the 2020 South Obenchain Fire, which burned over 32,600 acres and destroyed more than 100 structures.

A lush, green forest with tall trees, some fallen branches, and a bright blue sky in the background.
Cut vegetation and small trees are stacked into burn piles, reducing wildfire fuel and making space for healthier forest growth. These piles will be safely burned during appropriate weather conditions.

Project Status:

Forest resiliency and hazardous fuels treatments have been completed on 17 properties totaling 1000 acres around Butte Falls, on North Obenchain Road, and along Butte Falls Highway. This grant also supported critical fuels reduction work on Medford Water Commission lands, contributing to long-term protection for the central Rogue Valley’s drinking water. The project also supported forest restoration treatments on the Butte Falls Community Forest, providing additional protection for over 50 homes in the town of Butte Falls and restoring a treasured community recreational resource.

People walking in a forest clearing, wearing safety gear and helmets, with a stack of wood nearby.
Restoration work removes ladder fuels and excess vegetation, creating healthier, more fire-resilient forests with burn piles ready for safe disposal.