Celebrating our first Year of Taking It Outside! 

Not TV. BLM-TV 

Home, 

Home 

On 

the 

Stage 

Where 

The 

Wild 

Things 

n Teens Train Horses 

Are 

Urba

Bring 

me the 

ds to Stone 

Head 

of 

Medusa 

American Heritage 

A BLM Forester’s 

M o o n l i g h t G i g 

with the U .S .M .C . 

Let 

the 

Wild 

Rumpus... 

Begin! 

Turning Wee

The BLM & Oregon Public Broadcasting Ancient Medicine Wheels n
 

 

 

 

 

Steens Mountain at 10,000 Feet 

Photo by (and of) David Garcia 

N o r t h w e s t P a s s a g e ! I’m thrilled to 

celebrate the first year of our magazine 

with you, our readers, partners, and 

supporters of Oregon and Washington’s 

public lands. 

It hardly seems possible that a year 

has passed since we launched our 

premiere issue. We’ve been particularly 

pleased by the many connections we’ve 

ahead of our targets to obligate funding 

– and we’re already looking to feature 

our first completed project in the next 

issue of Northwest Passage. 

In other exciting news, we created 

an Energy Team to address the growing 

interest in renewable energy as well as 

existing conventional energy programs. 

We’ve already received three wind farm 

Edward W. Shepard 

State Director 

Oregon/Washington 

Bureau of Land Management 

Op - “Ed” 

Happy Fi rst Annive rsary, 

made with new and old friends who 

have reached out to tell us how much 

they enjoy our in-depth reporting and 

magnificent photos documenting the 

BLM’s progress in the Pacific Northwest. 

And speaking of reporting, I’m very 

pleased to give an update on our role 

in the national American Recovery and 

Reinvestment Act’s (ARRA) efforts to 

provide economic stimulus in our own 

backyard. Specifically, ARRA projects 

in Oregon and Washington account for 

10 percent of all national BLM ARRA 

projects. And here at home, we’re well 

applications and 30 meteorological 

tower/wind energy testing proposals. 

Geothermal has also been a hot topic 

with multiple prospects throughout the 

region. And not least of all, interested 

parties are reviewing viable energy 

opportunities through woody biomass, 

coalbed natural gas, and oil and gas 

leases. These efforts could provide our 

future alternative energy sources. 

We’re living in an exciting time. And 

we at the BLM and Northwest Passage 

will keep reporting out our progress. 

Here’s to another year! 

2
Departments
 

2 Op - “Ed”
 

4 This Month’s Cover
 

5 Our Contributors
 

7 Public Lands Live
 

12 Pioneers 

20 District Round-Up 

30 Dispatches 

32 Back Cover 

Contents 

Features

8 Bring Me the Head of Medusa 

14 They Love Horses, Don’t They? 

16 Le Ballon Jaune 

24 The Once and Future River 

Autumn 

2009 3
 

 

 

 

This Month’s Cover 

Take it Outside! 

V o l u m e 2 , I s s u e 1 

W W W . B L M . G O V / O R 

Ed Shepard / publisher 

Jody Weil / editorial director 

Matt Christenson / editor /art director 

Teddi Duling / copy editor 

Shelly York / production designer 

contributors 

Susan Carter, Matt Christenson, Kathy 

Eaton, Bob Hall, Candy Harmon, 

Megan Harper, Trish Hogervorst, Doug 

Huntington, Christina, Lilienthal, 

Tara Martinak, Pam Robbins, Cheyne 

Rossbach, Ethan Schowalter-Hay, 

Scott Stoffel, Maria Thi Mai, Jim 

Whittington, Mark Wilkening 

photographers 

Susan Carter, Matt Christenson, David 

Garcia, Bob Hall, Candy Harmon, 

Megan Harper, Trish Hogervorst, Doug 

Huntington, Tara Martinak, Ethan 

Schowalter-Hay, Scott Stoffel, Maria 

Thi Mai 

contact 

Northwest Passage is a publication of 

Bureau of Land Management 

Oregon State Office 

333 SW 1st Ave 

6th Floor 

Portland, OR 97204 

503.808.6035 

or_northwest_passage@blm.gov 

mission 

The BLM’s mission is to sustain the 

health, diversity, and productivity of the 

public lands for the use and enjoyment 

of present and future generations. In 

Oregon and Washington, the BLM 

provides innovative leadership in 

managing natural resources of the 

Pacific Northwest. 

Oregon’s Wild Horse Corral Facility 

in the BLM’s Burns District 

Ever seen a wild mustang? Up close and personal? There’s literally no other 

American experience quite like it. And if you haven’t taken advantage of 

this truly awesome opportunity, the BLM has got a deal for you. 

You can see one of our nation’s treasured wild mustangs today. And it won’t 

cost you a dime. Nothin’. 

F-R-Double-E. 

The Bureau of Land Management has long managed our nation’s wild horses and 

burros to ensure these majestic herds thrive on healthy rangelands. 

And when herd numbers are large enough, the BLM’s adoption program can 

place more than 2,500 wild horses and burros into good homes each year. 

In fact, you can visit us online to see which mustangs are currently available 

for adoption. 

Then if you’re moved to be an active part of America’s history of wild 

mustangs, you can make an appointment to visit one at a BLM corral. 

And yes, they’re bigger in person. Not to mention more impressive and more 

beautiful than you can ever imagine. 

Visit one today. Give him or her a name. You’ll be glad you did. 

Read more about the BLM’s Wild Horse & Burro Program online – and discover where 

you can visit one in person at: http://www.blm.gov/or/resources/whb/index.php 

PHOTO BY MATT CHRISTENSON 

4
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Contributors 

j

k

m

Susan Carter Maria Thi Mai 

Doug Huntington 

l

Ethan Schowalter-Hay 

n

Candy Harmon 

j Marking her first (of many, we hope) entry to 

Northwest Passage is BLM Botanist Susan Carter. Susan and 

returning contributor Bob Hall’s mythological take on the invasive plant 

species known as Medusahead will leave you frightened and (dare we say 

it?) petrified! Way more petrified than the actual Gorgon would’ve done 

to Perseus without his winged sandals and mirror. (It’s called Wikipedia, 

people. Look it up.) In addition to their article, Susan captured some 

incredible photos from a controlled burn to treat the noxious weed (Page 8). 

k She’s Back! After contacting Northwest Passage to inquire about 

submitting her inaugural article last month, Candy Harmon has written her 

second feature – while grabbing our cover at the same time! In her current 

piece, Candy covers a BLM summer program where Oregon teens train 

wild horses (say that five times fast) to prepare them for adoption by the 

public. In addition to their volunteering, these youths also learned much 

about facing the unknown, taking the hero’s journey, and just about every 

other theme from Joseph Campbell. And, yes, a few of the teen trainers 

got to adopt their very own horse... Read on to see the photos! (Page 14) 

l Oregon Public Broadcasting? Check. Amazing photos from 

10,000 foot vistas at Steens Mountain? Got ‘em. The BLM’s Big Yellow 

Balloon? Wait, wha?! That’s right, friends. This issue of Northwest 

Passage is pleased to make your genteel introduction to the BLM’s very 

own blimp as it suffers a few bumps and bruises trying to reach the big blue 

sky while helping OPB who was on hand to film ancient Native American 

Medicine Wheels (Page 16). Read Maria Thi Mai’s first-person feature and 

count how many references you find to French films! (p.s. There’s only one.) 

m We could fill a page listing our love for Doug “Reno” 

Huntington. But, probably happily for him, we’re already running out 

of space. It’s a shame because we had a whole speech prepared to toast him 

as he heads into retirement! And speaking of retirement, Doug interviewed 

Colonel Bill Hatton, U.S.M.C. (Page 12) as Bill takes his own retirement 

from military service. Fortunately for us dwindling folks at the BLM, Bill 

continues his public service as a field manager in the BLM’s Eugene District. 

n Another eagerly welcomed returnee! Ethan Schowalter-Hay is back at Northwest Passage bringing us on his raft trip as he shoots from the top of 

Mount Hood down the Salmon River (Page 24). No heart of darkness, this river journey carries hundreds of years of human, ecological, and literary history in a 

true life narrative we could only name, The Once and Future River. (Dear estate of T.H. White: Imitation is the highest form of flattery. Please don’t sue us.) 

Autumn 

2009 5
 

 

Howard DeLano’s

bronze plaque

will welcome

visitors to Steens

Mountain for

generations to come

Public Lands Live 

There and Back Again

A BLM Retiree Makes His Mark After 50 Years 

PHOTOS BY MATT CHRISTENSON 

6
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Autumn 7

2009

T

Oregon is 

for Lovers 

(of Public Lands!) 

A Sunny DAy WelcomeS 

FAmily AnD FrienDS 

to the DeDicAtion 

the Summit At SteenS 

ProviDeS All the 

vAliDAtion We neeD 

hey came from across the state – generations of family & 

friends and current & retired BLM staffers – converging at the 

base of the mighty Steens Mountain in southeastern Oregon... 

oregon/WAShington 

Blm Director eD 

ShePArD AnD coAuthor KAthy eAton 

the toP oF the 

mountAin SeeS uS 

WAlKing through 

SnoW in tee-ShirtS 

Arching 10,000 feet to the sky, Steens 

Mountain was long famous for having one the most 

treacherous wagon-wheel trails ever braved by pioneers 

hearty enough to crest its summit. But now – thanks to 

Howard DeLano – every visitor in a vehicle can drive the 

Steens Loop and reach majestic heights where they may gaze 

across the mysterious miles.

 Who’s Howard, you ask? 96-year-old retiree Howard 

DeLano began his career with the U.S. Grazing Service 

in 1942 (before the BLM ever existed). And thanks to his 

efforts in the 1950s, Howard secured one million dollars in 

Congressional appropriations to build the entire loop that 

we use today. He’s also the inspiration for the BLM’s new 

plaque, fittingly dedicated to his achievement at the base of 

Steens Mountain. 

So maybe add Steens Mountain to your “To Do” file. 

Come next spring, perhaps you’ll be inspired to visit the top 

and gaze out into the heart of its valleys and mountainsides. 

Howard’s plaque is there to mark your way... 

Autumn 7

2009 
8

Bring Me the Head 

Consider This: In Greek mythology, Medusa was 

a mortal woman transformed into a dragon-like 

creature with snakes for hair. And if you 

gazed upon her foul visage, she 

would turn you to stone 

— for eternity. 

(or, Burn, Baby, Burn...) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

of Medusa
 story by susan Carter & bob Hall 

Autumn 

2009 9
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the mythological powers of medusa are invoked, 

it’s no surprise that a noxious, invasive weed whose 

common name is Medusahead would be deemed a very 

undesirable usurper in the Pacific Northwest. 

THe ODyssey 

THe ODyssey 

BuT HERE’S THE RuB: Medusahead was actually 

introduced into the U.S. from Eurasia way back in the late 

1800s. And after over 100 years of infestation, this weed 

now occupies millions of acres of semi-arid rangelands in 

the Pacific Northwest where it can be found in virtually 

every county in Oregon. It’s especially prevalent in eastern 

Oregon, sucking up scarce spring moisture before perennial 

grasses get a chance to grow. And because Medusahead is 

loaded with silica, it’s unpalatable as grazing food for cattle 

or sheep. 

Once this weed becomes established in a local ecosystem, 

the land becomes nearly worthless, incapable of supporting 

native wildlife or livestock. In fact, the eyes and mouths of 

grazing animals can even be injured by the Medusahead’s 

sharp and hairy bristles. This dangerous species even 

changes the temperature and moisture content of the soil in 

which it grows, greatly reducing successful seed germination 

for other more desirable grass species – and thus increasing 

the likelihood of fostering damaging wildfires. 

CLasH OF THe TiTaNs 

TaeNiaTHeRuM CaPuT-MeDusae, ALSO 

knoWn as MeDusaheaD, became well established 

on 6,500 acres of the BLM’s North Bank Habitat Management 

Area. Originally acquired by the Roseburg District through 

a land exchange in 1994, this area was acquired in order to 

secure a safe habitat for the Columbian white-tailed deer, a 

species listed as endangered at that time. 

Once this habitat was acquired, the North Bank Habitat 

Management Plan was developed in cooperation with the 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Oregon Department 

10
 

“Bring 

Me The 

Head Of 

Medusa” 

of Fish and Wildlife. After they were designated an Area 

of Critical Environmental Concern, these acres saw the 

Columbian white-tailed deer subsequently removed from 

the federally endangered species list by 2003. 

But in recent years, the ongoing plan to manage the 

North Bank Ranch acres for a healthy ecological balance 

has required botanists and prescribed fire managers 

to collaboratively reverse the increasing march of the 

Medusahead. So land experts developed a plan to fight 

fire with fire! They’d burn the weed in the spring when the 

Medusahead seed was in the “milky” or “doughy” stage and 

before any seed dropped to the ground. The idea was to 

prevent the seeds from becoming viable and consequently 

reduce the reproductive capability and the future recruitment 

and expansion of Medusahead on the North Bank Ranch. 

PROMeTHeus PROMeTHeus e F - TTHHe FiiRRee-BBRRiiNNGGeeRR 

They started small with a 34-acre prescribed burn in the 

spring of 2007. Monitoring conducted the following summer 

noted a remarkable decrease in Medusahead – from about 

90% frequency to 17% frequency. With this encouraging 

statistic, resource specialists were eager to burn additional 

Medusahead-infested areas. In 2008, approximately 40 

new acres were burned. And in 2009 botanists noticed that 

Medusahead was increasing on the original 34 acre burn 

area and recommended that the area be treated again along 

with adjacent acres. This time, a total of 70 acres were 

burned. But the good news was that vegetation monitoring 

conducted just days prior to the burn showed a frequency of 

38 percent Medusahead – still substantially lower than the 

90 percent that was present before this effort began in 2007. 

It is likely that it will take continued effort to combat this 

formidable foe. 

And as Medusa’s power is defeated, the BLM has 

conducted reseeding efforts in these burned areas to 

re-establish more desirable native species of forbs and 

grasses that better support the Columbian white-tailed deer 

and other native wildlife. 

Initial post-fire monitoring at the North Bank Ranch looks 

promising this year. Most of the Medusahead either burned 

or lay down. The passage of time and future monitoring 

will tell a more detailed story, but for now, instead of turning 

to stone when they looked at Medusahead, BLM resource 

specialists drew themselves up and accepted the daunting 

challenge of controlling this aggressive weed species – and 

have dealt a serious blow to this noxious invader of public 

lands. 

Autumn 

2009 11
 

 

 

IntervIew By DoUg HUntIngton 

Top secret 

American Heritage
 A BLM Forester‘s Second Career 

in the United States Marine Corps
 

By day, Bill Hatton is tHe Field Manager For tHe 

siuslaw Field oFFice on tHe eugene district. He has 

worked for the BlM in various positions and locations 

for over 30 years. However, for the past 27 years, Bill 

has also served in the Marine corps on both active 

duty and in the reserves. Bill has risen through the 

officer ranks to his present rank of colonel. 

colonel Hatton has been activated for overseas 

duty on several occasions, including two tours in 

iraq during operation iraqi Freedom and operation 

enduring Freedom, where he served as the engineer 

officer for the 1st Marine expeditionary Force. Most 

recently he served as the operations and training 

officer for the Marine Forces Pacific, combined Marine 

rear area operations group, located in Kansas city, 

Missouri. 

Bill has found many similarities between his Marine 

corps experiences and his career working for the BlM. 

Both he says “are small, tight-knit organizations 

which focus on getting missions accomplished.” Bill 

also enjoyed the rewarding experiences and comradeship 

he found working for both organizations. 

Bill will retire from the Marine corps in november 

and focus his attentions on family, friends, and the 

BlM. He will try to transition from a leatherneck– 

devil dog to a Husband-Father-Forester. However, 

as everyone knows, there is no such thing as an 

ex-Marine. when Bill was commissioned as an officer 

in the corps he was presented his curved Mameluke 

sword. it is a representative symbol. More than a 

weapon, it serves as part of the american heritage. 

“once a Marine, always a Marine.” 

12
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Autumn 13

2009

For Official Use Only 

Autumn 

2009 

Interview 

Northwest Passage (NWP): When 

did you begin your BLM career? 

Bill hatton (Bh): I began 

my career with the BLM in the 

Prineville District during the 

summer of 1975. I worked as a 

GS-3, a Range Aide on an initial 

attack fire crew. Myself and three 

others were based at Paulina 

Guard Station. I did that for two 

summers before coming to the 

Eugene District as a summer 

temporary. During the summers 

of 1977 and 1978, I worked in the 

Eugene District as a Recreation 

Guard. At the end of the summer, 

I was hired as a Forester through a 

When Actually Employed (WAE) 

appointment. I graduated from 

Purdue University in 1978 with a 

B.S. in Forest Management. My 

summer jobs with the BLM gave 

me insight into different aspects of 

forest management. 

NWP: What was it that inspired 

you to join the Marine Corps? 

BH: Watching too many John 

Wayne movies as a youngster! 

Just kidding... As a kid I 

was interested in the Marine Corps 

because of their history, traditions, 

and reputation for building leaders. 

Both of my older brothers served in 

the Marine Corps. In 1972 – like 

most 18-year-olds – I registered 

for the draft. The U.S. was still 

involved in the Vietnam War. Like 

my second oldest brother, I figured 

I’d end up joining the Marine 

Corps and serving in Vietnam. 

Other options for me opened up 

when the draft was abolished in 

1973. Fast forward to late 1981, 

I mentioned to my wife Joyce 

that I regretted never joining the 

Marine Corps when I was young. 

She told me, “If this is something 

you want to do, then, just do it.” 

(maybe she had a role in Nike’s 

future advertisement campaign?) 

Without her support then and now, 

I never would have accomplished 

what I have in the Marine Corps or 

the BLM. 

NWP: How about your experience 

in basic training and officer 

candidate school? 

BH: I wouldn’t take a million 

dollars for the experience. I 

wouldn’t do it again for a million 

dollars. Enough said! 

NWP: How has the Corps 

enhanced your BLM career? 

BH: The Marine Corps prides 

itself on mission accomplishment, 

self discipline, maintaining high 

standards, and building leaders 

who look out for the welfare of the 

people that they are responsible for 

leading. I’ve tried to maintain a 

focus on all of these attributes as 

a BLM manager. I’ve not always 

succeeded, but I’ve tried. 

dossier continues on page 31 

Pioneers 

“Fast forward to late 1981, I mentioned

to my wife Joyce that I regretted never

joining the Marine Corps when I was

young. She told me, “If this is something

you want to do, then, just do it.” 
 

 

14

story & PHotos by Candy Harmon 

There was nothing quite 

They Love 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

so wild as the free-roaming, untamed horse... 

Until it met an Oregon teenager. 

Yamhill, Oregon, near Portland saw 

opportunity when it made introductions between 

teenagers and horses last summer. In a partnership 

between the BLM and both the Mustang Heritage 

Foundation and the Teens and Oregon Mustangs 

program, 15 youths were paired with 

wild yearlings – horses generally in their second 

year. It was literally a case of youth meeting youth. 

a unique 

their own 

The experience level of each young trainer ranged 

from some who counted this as the first time they ever 

saw a wild horse to others who had experience with 

the domestication and care of wild steeds. But the 

ultimate goal of the program? To help teens gentle 15 

of Oregon’s wild horses so by the end of summer 90 

days later, these yearlings would be domesticated and 

auctioned to approved adopters. 

But what actually happened was so much more. 

In the end, it became more than a seasonal project 

for both horse and trainer. Three months later, two 

completely different forces united to form pure bonds 

of trust, friendship, and love. 

My (not so) LittLe Pony 

ExTREME MuSTANg MAkEOvER 

TRAINER ERICA kNIgHT was motivated to 

organize this program to “get these horses a home, 

and give these kids an amazing experience.” The plan 

consisted of three major tasks: provide the yearlings 

with body conditioning, get them used to having a 

halter, and train them to be able to step through a field 

course displaying all the skills learned from their teens. 

At ten years old, honorary “teen” trainer Isabell said 

when she first saw her horse, Lil’ Bugger, she was a 

little scared wondering what she’d gotten herself into. 

“Lil’ Bugger would just stand in the corner staring 

at me. After a couple of days I would stand in the 

corner so she couldn’t. I actually had her out of the 

stall the first week.” Soon afterwards Isabell and her 

mom jokingly told folks in the stables to watch out! 

They were bringing a “wild horse” through – albeit 

one that willingly followed Isabell like her very own 

pocket pony. 

two-way trust 

EvEN THOugH THE gOAL FOR EACH 

TRAINER was to make their horse available for 

adoption by the end of the program, several ended 

up adopting their own horses before the auction 

ever had a chance to begin. Erin, who trained Alice, 

entered the program thinking she wouldn’t be able 

to get near Alice for at least a month. “I was able to 

touch her and put a blanket on her on the first day.” 

Erin entered the program to earn some summer 

money and find a much needed home for a wild 

horse. She was able to accomplish both goals. At 

the end of the summer Erin adopted her horse, Alice. 

The only young man to be one of the 15 

contestants, Trask, said that he was afraid of horses. 

He envisioned a vicious wild animal constantly 

running. But what he found was a horse named 

Brinly who learned quickly to trust Trask, often 

trotting over to him whenever she became scared. 

And though the first time Brinly ran up to Trask 

was an unnerving experience, he quickly saw what 

Brinly was actually doing – seeking security where 

she knew she could get it. With her trainer. Trask 

soon felt confident in his abilities as well as his 

relationship with his horse. 

continues on page 31 

Horses, Don’t They?

where Pulses thunder & wild Hearts Meet 

Autumn 

2009 15
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filming the Past with 

Oregon 

Public 

Broadcasting 

Le 

Ballon 

Jaune 

Scene I: 

And That Has Made 

All The Difference... 

on the RoaD. 

Even before the sun awoke, we climbed into our vehicles 

to rumble down a corrugated rough and tumble dirt road 

for what seemed like more than one hundred miles. 

During the next hour we dodged boulders and kicked up 

dust while six tanks of helium clanged and banged providing 

us with a syncopated symphony from the back of our truck. 

Eventually, we stopped. 

As the dust settled (literally), we witnessed 

through the pre-dawn light a paradox. 

A high desert floor laid before us – 

thousands of feet above sea level. 

16
 

story & PHotos by maria tHi mai 

The 

Yellow 

Balloon
 

Autumn 

2009 17
18

H 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a 

of 

Scene 2: 

The Green, Green Grass of Home... 

as i oPeneD My tRuck DooR, 

crisp air stole my breath away and stopped 

ot caffeine firmly 

entrenched in hand, we made 

our round of introductions. 

From Oregon Public 

Broadcasting, Vince 

Patton and Todd Sonflieth 

introduced themselves 

as the OPB producer and 

photographer, respectively. Orrin 

me cold as I dropped onto a soft green carpet 

of grass. Pat O’Grady, an archaeologist with 

the University of Oregon Museum of Natural 

and Cultural History, greeted us with his wise 

elf-like smile and a welcomed cup of coffee. 

I noticed his campsite snuggled up 

against a rock wall which prompted me 

to wonder what archaeological treasures 

may be hidden on the other side... 

summiting over the junipers, 

misty fog rising from 

spring-fed pond, and, 

course, our yellow zeppelin 

coming to life. 

At the same time, our BLM 

team worked diligently to strap 

the GPS unit and camera to our 

balloon and test a sundry of other 

Frederick, Corey Plank, and Ed connections. But after much tinkering 

Zigoy hailed from the BLM’s Oregon (and a few expletives – shhh...) followed 

State Office Geographic Sciences department. by loss of radio connection, we disconnected 

Rounding out our party were Scott Thomas, our GPS and high-definition camera and made the call 

archaeologist from the BLM’s Burns District, and his to dangle a regular ol’ ordinary video camera on the 

compatriots Kenny McDaniel, Burns District Manager, end of our balloon with hopes of getting some usable 

and Brendan Cain, Associate District Manager. imagery. 

Scene 3: Phoenix Rising Scene 4: ...Phoenix Not Rising? 

OH...BY THE wAY. Did you know the BLM OvER FOuR TANkS OF HELIuM LATER, 

has a 30-foot long helium balloon? Sure we manage (enough to fill nearly 2,500 party balloons!), our 

natural deposits of helium, but I had no idea that balloon was sent up. But it needed an anchor – more 

the BLM in Oregon and Washington owned its own specifically, a human tether. Time to draw straws. And 

balloon. Whoa. I was awed and became even more like pulling the sword from a stone, Ed became our 

impressed once I saw the big yellow zeppelin for chosen one. So we strapped him with a pack holding 

myself. 100 meters of rope rolled around a spool on his back 

I was reminded of a recent animated movie about along with climbing hardware to help regulate the 

an old man who takes off in a hot air balloon seeking tension in the rope. Ed was literally “weighted down” 

adventure. Visions filled my head of creating my own and could control the balloon - and most importantly, 

film floating high above the desert. But when asked, keep it from flying away. 

our experts told me my chances of going up in the We began carving out an invisible trail in the sky 

BLM balloon were...well, slim. Corey Plank chose for the balloon to rise, rise, rise! Paying no mind to the 

his words carefully. He told me that, while petite, I boulders at Ed’s nimble feet, we guided him to the first 

still wasn’t quite light enough – the balloon could only of several medicine wheels. 

lift about 50 pounds. (I tried not to look hurt.) While the experts sent up our balloon with a 

This was no Pixar movie. Better than any fiction, camera, I thought back to the first time I heard we 

we were writing our own story to record the enigmatic were visiting a medicine wheel archaeological site. I 

medicine wheels that leave far more to the imagination truly wasn’t sure what to expect. And if you share in 

than mere fiction could achieve. More on them later. my unfamiliarity, imagine this: a circle composed of 

And so with both the temperatures and our balloon rocks ranging in size from a large cantaloupe to small 

creeping up into the morning sky at an almost equal watermelon – all in an area where about 30 to 40 people 

rate, the OPB film crew collected shots of daybreak could sit comfortably around its perimeter. Like bicycle 

How many miles of Back Country Byways are in Oregon & Washington? Explore them all on our brand new map in BLM Facts! 

http://www.wwwes.blm.gov/or/onlineservices/orblmfacts.php 
Autumn 19

2009 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read more about the BLM’s archeology projects at: blm.gov/or/resources/heritage/index.php 

spokes coming from a hub, additional rocks radiate At this point I turn to our archeologists, Scott 

from the center. In one flat open area about half the and Pat, to ask them for validation of authenticity. 

size of a football field, we found two medicine wheels They do not disappoint. Using language I can actually 

along with another as-yet unidentified formation. understand they explain that lichens and other 

Scene 5: Reinventing the (Medicine) Wheel 

stanDing BesiDe these 

ROCk ALIgNMENTS MY 

MinD WanDeReD to questions 

such as: What did people do here? 

Was this area used for sacred 

spiritual ceremonies or as an arena 

for games? Or did residents hold 

council here to discuss important 

issues? There are obviously a 

myriad of questions with opaque and 

subjective answers to every varying 

degree. 

Another important question came up when 

microbes found on the rocks take many Roll Credits: 

Without Whom...
 

I NOw LOOk BACk TO 

THE BLM BALLOON 

which has allowed us to document 

another perspective about a people and 

culture we know little about – and to 

record it for all of history. And with 

OPB’s Oregon Field Guide, all public 

viewers will be given another perspective 

thanks to the BLM’s big yellow balloon. 

The medicine wheel and the BLM’s 

balloon will be aired (no pun intended...) 

on OPB sometime in 2010. 

decades – if not centuries – to develop. 

Furthermore, medicine wheels 

were known among some tribes 

in the American West. And yet... 

They are not features common 

to this particular area which 

raises their level of intrigue. 

The northern Great Basin 

has an ancient heritage of 

human occupation that extends 

14,500 years back into the 

Pleistocene era, past the time 

when people used Clovis spear 

points to hunt mammoths. Much 

has happened over the millennia to 

I looked at the OHV tracks sprawling across the 

landscape. How do we know that these rocks weren’t 

placed here last week by visitors wanting to create a 

“crop circle” hoax? 

layer the landscape with a rich appliqué of 

archaeological artifacts and features. 

And stone circles such as these will always captivate 

the human imagination. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20

District Round-Up

Burns, Oregon blm.gov/or/districts/burns 

• The National Wild Horse Adoption Day was a 

great success this year! We were especially 

appreciative of our volunteers who hosted 

Adoption Day events in their areas: Tracey 

Westbury, Jamie Thomas, Erica Knight, and 

Debbie Driesner. We also appreciate the High 

Desert Museum in central Oregon who sponsored 

an educational day for us at their facility. Over 425 

animals were adopted in Adoption Day events across 

the nation! 

• National Public Lands Day saw the Harney County 

High Desert Wheelers joining the BLM in cleaning and 

improving the Radar Hill Off-Highway Vehicle Area. 

And the Oregon Natural Desert Association joined 

us at Steens Mountain for 4 days of fence 

removal. Thanks to all our volunteers! 

Coos Bay, Oregon blm.gov/or/districts/coosbay 

• Coos Bay celebrated its 16th annual National Public 

Lands Day with over 100 volunteers at the New River 

Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) on 

Saturday, October 3. Volunteers piled shorepine and 

other vegetation for burning later this fall. They also 

pulled noxious weeds. These efforts helped the District 

restore meadow habitat at the ACEC. 

• Over 2,500 kids participated in the 13th Annual 

Tsalila Festival in Reedsport. Students from southern 

Learn About Adoption Today! 

Oregon area schools learned about watershed health, 

Native American tribes, forestry, renewable energy 

and other topics during the three day interagency 

educational event. 

• Two separate projects are underway to restore 

stream habitat. Working with the Partnership for 

Umpqua Rivers and Roseburg Resources, Coos Bay 

restored Lutsinger Creek by placing 215 logs and 

Eugene, Oregon blm.gov/or/districts/eugene 

• Eugene has entered into a partnership with several local 

agencies and organizations to mobilize the community 

in an effort to get kids into nature. Partners hosted the 

second annual “Play in the Rain Day” event on November 

7th with around 500 children participating. The BLM 

three boulder wiers along 

three miles of the stream. In 

another project, numerous 

Federal, state, and private 

partners teamed with the 

BLM, to place 400 logs in 

over five stream miles in the 

North Fork Coquille fifth field 

watershed. These projects aim 

to improve habitat for Coho, 

steelhead, cutthroat trout, and 

other aquatic species. 

2,500 kids 

were enrapt 

to learn about 

nature at the 

Tsalila Fest! PHOTOS BY BLM STAFF 

Youth in 

Nature! 

featured an interactive exhibit focused on map reading 

and fire prevention. Partners working with the BLM include; 

Northwest Youth Corps, U.S. Forest Service, Willamette 

Resources Education Network and Friends of Buford Park/ 

Mt. Pisgah. 

• The district also completed several successful 

prescribed burns at the West Eugene Wetlands this 

fall. More than 140 acres were treated as part of the 

management plan to address invasive plants in the unique 

wetland habitat. Key partners included the Corps of 

Engineers and the City of Eugene. 
 

 

 

 

Autumn 21

2009

continues on next page 

Autumn 

2009 

Lakeview, Oregon blm.gov/or/districts/lakeview 

Welcome to News from 

all the BLM Districts

in Oregon and Washington!

Incorporated, a leading expert on stream restoration in 

the Pacific Northwest, were contracted to install the log 

structures using a Boeing 234 helicopter. 

• Master Pumpkin Carvers came together to help the 

needy during a Fundraiser for the 2009 Combined 

Federal Campaign. On October 20, eight employees 

entered their creations in a competition judged by their 

fellow coworkers with the ultimate goal to raise money 

for charity. Cathy Lindsey took first place with her jovialfaced jack o’lantern, Ian Williamson came in second 

with his Service First etchings, and Sue LaCroix placed 

third with her artistic rendering of the harvest season. 

Decorated pumpkins were auctioned off to the highest 

bidder at the end of the event generating 

needed funds for charitable organizations. 

Medford, Oregon blm.gov/or/districts/medford 

• The Medford District recently accomplished 

a major milestone by providing education 

and outreach to over 25,000 people. 

And its partnerships with local schools and 

organizations helped the BLM’s Table Rocks 

Educational Program provide environmental education 

to over 3,500 elementary age students! 

L a k e v i e w 

s h o w s o f f 

a r t i s t i c 

p u m p k i n s 

f o r c h a r i t y ! 

Please join us for an update on all of our community happenings! 

From: District Round-Up

To: You

Helos Help the BLM 

• Lakeview’s Aquatic Habitat Improvement Project 

benefits local species along a three-mile section of 

Spencer Creek near Keno, Oregon. Fifty-four structures 

created from over 220 logs were placed into the stream 

to restore its natural sinuosity, channel complexity and 

gravel accumulations. These improvements promise to 

enhance the creek’s aquatic habitat and, subsequently, 

to increase populations and distribution of aquatic 

species. The Klamath River redband trout, Klamath 

small-scale sucker, and Pacific giant salamander 

should all benefit from this coordinated effort between 

the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, JWTR, and BLM’s 

Klamath Falls Resource Area. And Columbia Helicopters 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

22

Prineville, Oregon blm.gov/or/districts/prineville 

• The Crook County School District superintendent 

and board of directors recognized Prineville District 

recreation planner Tom Mottl for being instrumental in 

the success of the Lower Crooked Wild & Scenic River 

Natural Resource Education Program. In the School 

District’s letter to Tom they wrote that he helped ensure 

efforts to “sustain a successful applied science program.” 

Nicely done! 

• The Oregon Paleo Lands Institute (OPLI) held a grand 

opening of the new Field Center in the town of Fossil. The 

Center will protect, promote, and educate people about 

Oregon’s ancient and living landscapes through handson, regionally-based exhibits, while connecting rural 

communities to the land. In 2005, an almost complete 

plesiosaur fossil specimen was found on BLM land. 

Roseburg, Oregon blm.gov/or/districts/roseburg 

• The Roseburg District burned an additional 436 acres 

on the North Bank Ranch this fall. Treatment areas 

included two burn units and three Columbian white-tailed 

deer forage plots. The BLM partnered with the Douglas 

Forest Protective Association, who assisted with lighting, 

dozer line installation, site rehabilitation, and other 

logistical support. And other than a couple of cases of 

poison oak, all work was accomplished with a perfect 

safety record! 

Salem, Oregon blm.gov/or/districts/salem 

• Cascades Pacific Resources Conservation & 

Development (CPRC&D) just named Salem BLM Botanist 

Claire Hibler, 2009 Partner of the Year! Claire assisted 

CPRC&D in bringing together potential partners to help 

them continue their operations in the face of funding 

challenges. And it’s a great cause as CPRC&D works 

with citizens of rural communities in nearby counties to 

enhance their quality of life through social, economic, 

and environmental improvements. Way to go, Claire! 

• Roseburg Employees also partnered with the general 

public on two National Public Lands Day events in 

September. The clean-up in Cow Creek removed 

140 cubic feet of trash including a Maytag cookstove, 

a box car coupler, and old dishwasher parts. Field 

Manager Ralph Thomas reported that he found half 

a dollar. (Too bad for Ralph it was a half of a paper 

dollar!) Then at Red Top Pond, 20 volunteers disposed 

of over 300 pounds of trash, brushed more than 1/3 mile 

of trail, installed, sanded, and stained a picnic table, 

and removed an acre of Scotch broom and Himalayan 

blackberry from around the entire perimeter of Red Top 

Pond. 

PHOTOS BY BLM STAFF 

Part of 

the

Plesiosaur 

exhibit! 

District Round-Up

continues

from

previous

page

A Botanist’s Work! 

Out in 
 

 

Autumn 23

2009

Spokane, Washington blm.gov/or/districts/spokane 

• The Spokane District congratulates Nick Teague, 

a BLM outdoor recreation planner in the San Juan 

Islands, for his nomination for the Silver Excellence in 

Interpretation or Environmental Education Award! 

Nick has been nominated for his work in fostering 

cohesive, citizen-based stewardship in the San Juan 

Islands and in helping to develop the San Juan Islands 

Experiential Education Outdoor Classroom for island 

youth. Great job, Nick! 

• Spokane also recently hosted two National Public 

Lands Day events with volunteers lending a helping 

hand in replacing fences, building horse corrals, 

performing trail maintenance, and helping pick 

up litter at the Douglas Creek Canyon and Escure 

Ranch Recreation Areas. At Douglas Creek Canyon, 

volunteers enjoyed a break in the work with a 

presentation by Diane Priebe, Recreation Planner with 

the Wenatchee Field Office, about the railroad and 

pioneer history of the area. 

Vale, Oregon 

Autumn 

2009 

• Salem is also pleased to announce that the 

AmeriCorps “Hoopa Tribal Civilian Community Corps” 

based in Hoopa, California recently spent three weeks 

clearing roads and trails, removing non-native ivy, 

and cutting and stacking wood at the BLM locations 

in the district such as Valley of the Giants, the 

Alsea Falls Recreation Site, and the Yaquina Head 

Outstanding Natural Area. While in the woods, 

Salem BLM Botanist Ron Exetor taught crew members 

how to identify different types of plants, ferns, trees, and 

moss. Just a fantastic experience for everyone! 

Beautiful 

San Juan 

Islands in 

Washingt on 

State 

A Descent into Caves! 

n the Field! 

YOUR OREGON & WASHINGTON BLM DISTRICTS

blm.gov/or/districts/vale 

• Over Labor Day weekend, 30 cavers from the Gem 

State Grotto in Idaho and the Oregon High Desert Grotto 

in central Oregon joined up with Jordan Assistant Field 

Manager Jill Silvey, Malheur Wildlife Biologist Michele 

Caviness, and Jordan Recreation Technician Ken Siegrist for 

a descent down into the Saddle Butte Lava Flow. There 

they conducted cave and bat inventories completing over 

seven miles of the lava flow! 

• As part of the 10 year Statewide Bat Inventory, Malheur 

Wildlife Biologist Michele Caviness and wildlife student 

Heather Beeler were assisted by seasonal employees and 

volunteers alike to conduct bat inventories in established 

areas on the Vale District. No doubt it was just in time for 

Halloween! 
 

 

T 

And 

Ri

It’s a fiercely wild river – the only one in the lower 48 states to 

Its waters become especially feral 

24
 

by Sir Ethan Schowalter-Hay 

he Once
 

Future
 

ver 

claim a Wild & Scenic designation along its entire path. 

when provoked by winter storm and spring snowmelt... 

Autumn 

2009 25
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

T 

his is the Salmon River. 

anD though it’s no stRangeR to VisitoRs, the Salmon River has cloaked itself in dramatic 

scenery befitting its nature: from volcanic rock to frozen ice, from lava canyons to cold jungles. 

Anadromous fish return from the sea to spawn in its rapids; elk thump shadowed woodlands 

alongside massive waterfalls. Hikers tread next to this giant that’s no stranger to the 

And if you travel an hour’s 

water, fish, and people – all 

company of foot-bound travel. And motorists whiz past on the Mount 

WoodS Run deep 

The Salmon River is birthed by cold, sedimentfrothed rivulets drawn off Palmer Glacier onto 

Oregon’s greatest volcano from Tygh Valley to the 

Willamette lowland: Mount Hood. Careening due 

south down Hood’s volcanic slopes, the Salmon arcs 

northwestward for the Sandy River which accepts 

its waters at the small community of Brightwood 

before carrying them to the mighty Columbia. In 

all it’s a 33-mile journey from ice-field to mouth, 

during which the river drops some 6,000 feet. 

Three miles from the Sandy – before taking 

a few final, proud meanders – the Salmon flows 

past the Wildwood Recreation Site, a 550-acre 

area maintained by the BLM where visitors can 

sit on the Salmon’s banks and wander its shady 

forest and immerse themselves in all its richness. 

Further, Wildwood pays homage to the river’s 

power through a series of fascinating interpretive 

trails, beautiful picnic grounds, and open sports 

fields. From the Wildwood Recreation Site, the 

waters then gain access to the rugged SalmonHuckleberry Wilderness to the south where 

the Boulder Ridge Trail climbs upwards to a 

summit some four thousand feet up Huckleberry 

Mountain, one of Oregon’s great wilderness 

landmarks. 

Hood Scenic Byway, shadowing the phantom route of 19th-century 

wagoneers who came before them. Now please join me 

on a river trip that begins, of all places, 

at the top of a volcano. 

RIveR’S poWeR to unIte 

If you can, I highly recommend taking the 

Wetland Boardwalk Trail into what is a beaver-flooded 

backwater between the Salmon River and one of its 

tributaries, Sixes Creek. In late winter and spring, 

skunk cabbage flares yellow; in winter, the willow 

and alder form skeleton thickets. Great ponderous blue 

herons flap hunch-backed, announcing pleasure and 

annoyance alike through their shamelessly raucous 

squawks. This sound of pure wildness – of mystery 

– is a good one to hear, to overtake our senses in a 

Cascade wetland located not far from the urban horns 

of the cars littering downtown Portland, Oregon. 

Along this lower course, the Salmon hugs a northfacing foot at the steep slopes of the Western Cascades. 

Bottomland sloughs of marsh marigold, wood duck, and 

red-legged frog are framed by blue-green knife ridges 

rising steeply with rhododendron groves, pumas, and 

subalpine fir. It’s a stark contrast of landscapes. 

This sound of pure wildness – of mystery – is a good one to hear, 

to overtake our senses in a Cascade wetland located not far from 

the urban horns of the cars littering downtown Portland, Oregon. 

Such is an example of how our rivers unite such 

divergent scenes and bring a fierce, highland spirit 

down to gentle lowland vistas filled with bits and pieces 

of every corner of the watersheds they drain and move. 

26

Do you know how many wild and scenic 
An ecologIcAl JouRney 

For more exploration of Salmon River ecology, the BLM’s Wildwood 

Cascade Streamwatch Trail brings us on a rambling path through a 

riverside forest of Douglas-fir, red cedar, big-leaf and vine maple, 

and red alder – all across a bed of sword fern, oxalis, Cascade 

mahonia, salal, trillium, and other herbs and shrubs. 

A unique underwater viewing shelter affords an intimate look 

drive from Portland, you’ll find it packed with stories of rock, 

passing through dimensions of time across every foot of current. 

Autumn 27

which are fed upon by the aquatic insects that in turn nourish the growing fish. Truly an ecological marvel. 

rivers the BLM manages in Oregon & Washington? Check out the latest edition of BLM Facts to see them all! 

http://www.wwwes.blm.gov/or/onlineservices/orblmfacts.php 

into one of the Salmon’s tributaries. These feeder channels flood 

more slowly and less violently than the river itself, attracting spawning salmonids and their tiny 

fingerlings. Depending on the time of year, you might spy on gentle steelhead, Chinook, or cohos shrouded 

beneath the shaded stream pools. Alders that canopy these streams loose nitrogen-rich leaves upon their surface, 

2009 
O 

n warm summer afternoons, the Salmon invites 

can be downright bucolic between whispering 

the ol’ SWImmIn’ hole 

But never forget that upriver – not so many miles away after all – the Salmon serves as conduit between a 

violent, black-rock canyon cleft through a heavy and brooding temperate rainforest. Great waterfalls serve to 

stagger and gentle its course: Stein Falls, Split Falls, Little Niagara Falls, Vanishing Falls, Frustration Falls, and 

then, aptly, Final Falls, a nearly 80-foot plunge that defiantly gates the upper Salmon from the salt water sea life. 

With a chasm so rugged, torrents so precipitous – extreme kayakers speak of the Salmon River Gorge in tones 

of hushed reverence. 

through a series of marshy meadows in a mudflow BetWeen chuRn & BedRock basin. These high-elevation flats, sporting sedges, 

Moss-walled defile marks a confrontation isolated tree groves, shrub thickets, and nesting 

between the Salmon’s relentless churn and the sandhill cranes serve to constitute a unique 

Western Cascades’ bedrock. A grand view of this 

never-ending battle is gained by hiking from the 

West Salmon Trailhead south of Highway 26 and 

upstream from the Green Canyon Campground. 

For two miles you’ll stroll a fairly level path 

through magnificent old-growth alongside the 

riverbanks. Barrel-trunked Douglas-fir, western 

hemlock, and red cedar – with big-leaf maple, 

red alder, and black cottonwood interspersed – 

shadow an understory of devil’s club, salal, and 

vine maple. 

Past Rolling Riffle Camp, you’ll pull away from 

the river and make a switchback up the slopes of 

the gorge. Some 3.5 miles in, a southern prospect 

opens up to reveal the gaping, heavily-timbered 

canyon, scarred here and there with basalt cliffs. 

The Salmon churns far below, barely visible, and 

the roar of unseen Frustration and Final falls can 

be discerned even in low flow. 

Well upstream, the Salmon tumbles through 

a headwaters gorge, excavated in Mount Hood’s 

volcanic pumice, ash, and mudflow outwash south 

of Palmer Glacier. Below that and between the 

upper and lower canyons, the river meanders 

ecosystem in this portion of the Cascades. 

28
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

its special guests to wade and swim – at sites that 

cottonwoods and the chattering of its ever flow. 

A long And WIndIng hIStoRy the once And FutuRe RIveR 

the Blm’s Wildwood Recreation Site is a day-use facility nestled in the forested foothills of the cascade 

mountains along the spectacular Wild and Scenic Salmon River about 40 miles east of portland. this 

550-acre forest park features cascade Streamwatch and Wetland Boardwalk interpretive trails and 

offers access to the pristine Salmon-huckleberry Wilderness. Wildwood also has group and family 

picnic sites, a playground, and a ball field. To learn more about Wildwood, the Salmon River, or any 

of the other spectacular recreation opportunities on public lands, please visit : 

http://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/index.php 

In all this appreciation of natural wonderment, 

don’t forget that this river shoulders much human 

history too. A number of Native American cultures 

have long lived in and used this region. A historic 

campsite identified by the Confederated Tribes of 

Warm Springs lies to the near east of Wildwood on 

the Salmon’s banks. Tribal travel routes included a 

probable path around the southern slopes of Mount 

Hood and across the upper Salmon which is the likely 

precursor to the Barlow Road of the Oregon Trail – as 

well as the eventual Oregon Highway 26. 

Early Oregon pioneer Samuel K. Barlow’s party 

explored this leg of the Salmon in 1845 while seeking 

an alternative to the harrowing boat ride through the 

Columbia River Gorge. Their cross-country option 

swung past the Salmon River close to the Highway 

26/35 junction – near the Pioneer Woman’s Grave, a 

good spot to observe vintage Barlow Road ruts while 

honoring the memory of those who died along this 

steep route. 

Elk trails, footpaths, wagon roads, paved 

highways: the Salmon has seen them all materialize 

and fade along its banks. Meanwhile, with such 

special resolution as belongs to moving water, the 

river has continued its march from glacier to parent 

stream and back – all convinced that the windswept 

toe of the Palmer Glacier must be carried out where it 

may drain into the Pacific Ocean. 

Elk trails, footpaths, wagon roads, paved highways: the Salmon 

has seen them all materialize and fade along its banks. 

Back on the Salmon River, a fish once babied by 

quiet side streams may be easily swept along to the 

ocean where it must then someday fight its way back, 

against currents, to return to the Salmon’s nursery 

beds. A story of there and back again. Such are the 

old and immutable ways of the river. 

.

Autumn 29

2009 
 

 

 

As RepoRted by bob HAll, 

RosebuRg distRict 

S

ince my first day in Roseburg, 

I’ve been steadily and consistently 

amazed by the creativity, 

generosity, and caring nature of 

Roseburg District employees. 

Having worked in several districts 

in a number of western states, 

I’ve interacted with a lot of great 

BLM staffers and some incredibly 

productive offices. But I’ve never 

been anything but overjoyed by the 

philanthropic nature that seems to 

Dispatches 

The BLM’s 

Roseburg District 

is Generous...Naturally! 

define the BLM’s Roseburg District 

and its employees. Let me share 

just a few of the many examples.... 

The Combined Federal Campaign 

The Roseburg District takes pride 

in its participation! Last year, 140 

employees raised a record $30,992 

for local and nationwide Federallyapproved charities. The Roseburg 

employee auction is always its biggest 

fundraiser with employees donating 

services such as rafting, fishing and 

crabbing trips, dinners, homemade 

foods, handcrafted gifts, and gift 

certificates to local businesses. And 

since 1980, Roseburg has raised 

nearly $400,000. In fact, two years 

ago, the BLM was recognized for its 

efforts with a prestigious Business 

Building Community award from the 

United Way. 

The Roseburg BLM “Brickyard” 

In addition to donating their 

personal time, energy, and money, 

the Roseburg staff also gives the 

gift of life. Over the past 12 years, 

BLM employees have donated more 

than 1,870 units of blood. And 

earlier this year they celebrated 

their 100th Donor Express. Due to 

these incredible figures, the BLM 

was encouraged to participate in the 

national “Racing Team” competition. 

And now the Roseburg District is part 

of a unique partnership that includes 

the Red Cross, 3M, and NASCAR 

in an online nationwide program 

designed to encourage additional 

blood donations. And out of more 

than 1,000 participating teams across 

the country, the Roseburg blood donor 

team known as the “Brickyard” placed 

seventh nationally in 2008. 

Camp Millennium 

In the summer of 2009, Roseburg 

District runners joined forces with 

other community advocates for Camp 

Millennium, a summer camp for kids 

addressing the challenge of cancer. 

Three BLM relay teams participated 

with each individual running 12 

to 14 miles to cover a 67-mile 

course. And while the runners 

got to enjoy the exercise, the fresh 

air, and the beautiful scenery, 

Camp Millennium received strong 

financial support of the racers’ 

sponsors. 

For a final example, I will 

simply quote a recent letter from 

the Salvation Army to the editor of 

the News Review, Roseburg’s daily 

newspaper: 

“The Salvation Army extends 

a special thanks to the Bureau of 

Land Management. Once again it 

has supported us, establishing its 

own food drive, collecting more 

than 600 pounds of food.” 

The Roseburg District is a 

beautiful place to work. So much 

gets done week in and week out. 

All of which is a reflection of the 

employees and their commitment 

to their jobs as well as to their 

community and each other. 

30
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pioneers 

American Heritage
 continued from page 13 

NWP: Okay, now the other 

direction. How has the BLM 

enhanced your career in the Corps? 

BH: In the beginning of my 

USMCR career, the field skills 

(physical stamina, map reading, 

land navigation, and using a hand 

compass) that I developed as a 

BLM Forester were a tremendous 

benefit to me. As my military 

career progressed, the patience 

that I learned as a BLM employee 

helped me to be a more successful 

leader of Marines. 

NWP: What were some of your most 

interesting overseas deployments? 

BH: I spent two and a half years 

in Okinawa, Japan where, on one 

deployment, I provided support 

for the 40th Commemorative 

Anniversary of the Battle of 

Iwo Jima. In the early 1990s I 

participated in Operation Desert 

Storm, Operation Desert Shield, and 

Operation Provide Comfort during 

the first Gulf War. I also served two 

tours of duty in Iraq from 2002 to 

2005. In all cases I saw things that I 

will always remember, worked with 

outstanding people, and learned 

about different cultures. 

NWP: What will you miss most 

upon retiring from the Corps? 

BH: Leading Marines. 

NWP: Can any of the principles 

you’ve learned from the Corps apply 

to our mission in the BLM? 

BH: Lieutenant General John Sattler 

(my Commanding General during 

the second tour of duty in Iraq) had 

the following saying: “Who did you 

teach today? What did you learn 

today? When did you laugh today? 

Who did you make laugh today?” If I 

can give a positive response to these 

four questions when I hit the rack at 

night, it’s been a good day! 

Colonel Hatton was honored by the 

Marine Corps at a formal retirement 

ceremony on November 14, 2009 at the 

same unit where he began his military 

career in 1986. 

They Love Horses, Don’t They? 

where Pulses thunder & wild Hearts Meet 

continued from page 15 

teLLing tHeir story 

THE TEEN TRAINERS wERE ABLE 

to DecoRate theiR stalls With 

MEMENTOS they felt helped tell their story of this 

incredible experience. And even though the youths 

didn’t know what to expect when they began the 

program, they overcame any fear of the unknown 

or doubt in their abilities – turning questions into 

confidence, knowledge, and understanding. 

And while each trainer took a different, and 

personal, hero’s journey to reach their goal, they 

all achieved very similar outcomes. They took 

pride in what they accomplished. They made new 

friends with fellow trainers. And they formed an 

unconditional bond with a wild horse that can never 

be broken. 

l

The BLM’s Corral Facility in Burns, Oregon has 

approximately 300 horses in their care year-round. 

If you would like to know more about these amazing 

animals and how to adopt one, you can contact the 

Burns BLM office at (541) 573-4400 to chat with one 

of our dedicated Wild Horse and Burro staff. And 

please visit us online at: blm.gov/or/resources/whb/ 

index.php 

How many wild horses were adopted from the Oregon & Washington BLM in 2008? That answer – along with great photos and maps – can be found in BLM Facts! 

http://www.wwwes.blm.gov/or/onlineservices/orblmfacts.php 

Autumn 

2009 31
 

 

 

 

David Jason, stage and television actor, has just wrapped his latest performance as “Probably” george Malvern, 

a city boy turned mountain man who lived an exciting, if too short, life in the 1800s american West. Carrying 

little more than his “possibles bag” full of every possible staple he might need on his travels, “Probably” 

George struck out from the relative safety of his hometown to brave a wild, unpredictable future hoping to find his 

fortune – as well as a place where he could settle down. 

Mr. Jason knows this character very well. He created him. Mostly. 

“Probably” George Malvern is based on in-depth historical research as well as 

Jason’s personal experiences gathered along his own journey. 

Before becoming an Interpreter for the BLM’s National Historic 

Oregon Trail Interpretive Center (NHOTIC) in eastern Oregon, 

David Jason spent decades acting in popular vehicles 

ranging from famed soap opera One Life to Live to the 

1965 film The Great sioux Massacre along with Darren 

McGavin (an actor most recognizable as the father in the 

film a Christmas story) to 1979 television movie of the 

week Walking Through the Fire starring Emmy-winner 

Swoosie Kurtz. 

Now David Jason is lending his prodigious talents to the 

BLM’s NHOTIC, which delivers a full educational experience of 

living history, interpretive programs, multi-media presentations, special 

events, and more than four miles of interpretive trails. 

To this character, Jason has brought his own travels and a myriad of similar 

life experiences. Between acting gigs, Jason has also worked as a ranger for 

both the U.S. Forest Service and the Park Service. 

But now David Jason comes full circle, rejoining his craft as a thespian to 

transmit the experience of American life in the West from 150 years ago. 

At the end, the crowd stands on its feet cheering for both 

“Probably” George Malvern and David Jason. What’s his next act? 

“Well, I’ve been trying to settle down for the last 25 years,” 

says Jason. And from the overwhelming applause at his 

performances, it seems he’s found his audience at last. 

l

Home, Home on the Stage 

BackCountry 

a blm actor comes full circle 

See David perform at the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. 

Schedules and information online at: blm.gov/or/oregontrail 

“Change is one 

of the themes for 

professional aCtors.” 

– DaviD Jason Summer Autumn 

2009

3232