News and Announcements

Cell Service Update

[July 2, 2022] Announced at the summer meeting on July 2nd, 2022: An AT&T 5G cell tower is due to go online Fall (perhaps September) of 2022. It is possible that other carriers  will be available on the tower at a later date. For more information on this, and other updates regarding broadband at Camp Sherman, see www.campshermanfiber.com/ .

NFH-Endorsed Cabin Insurance Program

[July 6, 2018] Insuring your cabin is one of the most important things you can do to protect your investment. Information on this program is now available on the NFH-Endorsed Cabin Insurance Program  page.

Cabin Fee Act - 2014

Cabin Fee Act Passed by Congress! (content from the NFH Website) National Forest Homeowners and Cabin Coalition 2 are proud to announce that on December 12, 2014, the U.S. Senate passed the Cabin Fee Act along with dozens of other lands bills as part of the National Defense Authorization Act.  Having passed the House on December 4, the bill was signed into law by President Obama on December 19, 2014.  This success brings permanent and very welcome permit fee relief to cabin owners all across the country.  Ring those bells and break out the champagne!

This milestone achievement coincides with the 100th anniversary of the Recreation Residence Program on National Forest lands. Passage of the Cabin Fee Act ensures the continuation of the Cabin Program for generations to come with stable permit fees, increased only inflation, while also protecting the value of cabin-owner improvements.

Noxious Weeds

[NOTE: Here is a 2023 update on the Invasive Species program from the Forest Service]

When compared to much of Oregon the Metolius Basin boasts plant communities that are mostly free of noxious, invasive weeds. Scotch broom is here but in small scattered sites, then there are the knapweeds, St John’s wort and Dalmatian toadflax. But along the river are two species that have brought up concern: yellow iris and ribbon grass. They both occur mostly along the upper Metolius, starting in Tract C and running through Tract O and pretty much petering out above Bridge 99. Both grow along the river’s edge and up the bank if the soil is wet enough. 

They both out compete native riparian plants. Once the islands on the Metolius supported a variety of flowering plants; now many islands are becoming monocultures of ribbon grass. Yellow iris is an exotic that is pushing out natives too. Yellow iris is a native of Europe. Ribbon grass, an ornamental variety of reed canary grass, is extremely invasive. It came to someone’s attention in 2000 but was probably introduced here long before that, maybe by some well meaning person who wanted to grow a decorative plant. 

The Forest Service has completed an Environmental Impact Statement that addresses invasive plants. The Sisters Ranger District is planning a control action this year. The Friends of the Metolius have tried control measures on private land and on the island below the Camp Sherman bridge. There is no silver bullet; control will be difficult and controversial.

There continue to be questions and concerns in regard to weed mitigation. The Metolius River is home to several endangered and threatened species. The best way to get involved is to become educated on what effect spreading weeds or their removal may have on the Metolius River and its inhabitants.   Contact MRFHA Board for more information.

Weed information provided by Pete Schay