A major reforestation effort in Central Oregon has restored hundreds of acres damaged by wildfire, marking a first for cooperation between state and federal forestry agencies.
The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) and the Ochoco National Forest recently completed a project that planted and protected more than 74,000 ponderosa pine seedlings across 424 acres burned by the 2024 Crazy Creek Fire.
The project is the first reforestation effort on federal forestland in Oregon completed through a state-written and state-administered planting contract under the Good Neighbor Authority, a partnership program that allows states and federal agencies to work together on restoration projects on federal lands.
“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. “Each seedling represents an investment in the long-term resilience of Central Oregon’s forests.”
The Crazy Creek Fire was one of several large wildfires that heavily impacted the Ochoco National Forest during the 2024 fire season. Along with the Rail Ridge and Wiley Flat fires, hundreds of thousands of acres were burned, creating an urgent need for reforestation and recovery efforts.
In 2025, the Ochoco National Forest partnered with ODF to expand post-fire restoration work. Under the agreement, ODF oversaw the planting of eight units within the Crazy Creek burn area during the 2026 planting season.
The U.S. Forest Service supplied the seedlings and protective materials, while ODF crews handled project planning, contract administration, inspections, and field operations. Workers planted ponderosa pine seedlings and installed protective Vexar netting around them to reduce damage from browsing elk and deer.
The project complemented a much larger Forest Service effort that reforested approximately 3,000 acres across the Crazy Creek, Rail Ridge, and Wiley Flat burn areas with more than 500,000 seedlings. ODF assisted that effort by helping lead planting crews and supporting contract inspections.
The additional 424 acres planted through the state-administered contract expanded the overall restoration footprint and demonstrated how state and federal partnerships can increase the pace of recovery after major wildfires.
ODF’s Federal Forest Restoration Program was created by the Oregon Legislature in 2013 to help accelerate restoration work on federal lands. The program works with federal agencies, Tribes, counties, contractors, and local partners on projects aimed at reducing wildfire risk, improving forest health, enhancing wildlife habitat, and supporting local economies.
Officials say the Crazy Creek project highlights the growing role collaborative restoration efforts can play as Oregon continues to recover from increasingly severe wildfire seasons.
Project Highlights
• Location: Crazy Creek Fire burn area, Ochoco National Forest
• Acres replanted: 424
• Planting units: 8
• Trees planted: More than 74,000 ponderosa pine seedlings
• Protection: Vexar netting installed to reduce damage from elk and deer
• Related Forest Service project: More than 500,000 seedlings planted across approximately 3,000 acres.
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