Upper Deschutes River Communities

from Sunriver Magazine 2022-23

The Sunriver Life

Living in Sunriver, Sunriver Style Upper Deschutes River Communities

The Upper Deschutes River Communities (UDRC) is focused on providing communication and outreach services to community residents, the U.S. Forest Service, the state of Oregon, Deschutes County and community partners.

The UDRC’s activities include public information meetings and large community meetings focused on understanding the issues relating to water flows on the Upper Deschutes River, the Deschutes river basin and protection of our neighborhoods from wildfires.

The UDRC promotes and helps homeowners to be “fire wise” by creating defensible space on their property. Defensible space is a 30-100-foot fire-resistant buffer around a home to reduce the spread of fire and the likelihood of a smoldering ember igniting a home.

Residents are encouraged to remove flammable vegetation and brush around their homes and under nearby trees to reduce a potential fire spreading to a home. Pruning trees away from a roof and other vegetation will reduce the “ladder effect” of fire. Once homeowners create a defensible space around their home, it is important to maintain the space.

The UDRC has grant funds for senior homeowners and other property owners who live south and west of Sunriver to help protect their properties from wildfires. More information on the grant program is available at udrc.org/ defensible-space.

Since forming in 2004, the UDRC has invested more than $700,000 in creating defensible spaces, fire adapted communities, and educational programs on water and wildfire issues.

Visit its website at UDRC.org to learn more about its programs and grants.

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