Dear Reader:
The Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest is conducting scoping for a new Dutchman Radio Building and Tower Replacement. Winter windstorms have caused significant damage to the historic living quarters cabin, where the radio equipment is being housed, and to the communications tower. The USDA Forest Service is proposing to install a freestanding radio building to store radio equipment and to replace the damaged communications tower. Additionally, the Forest Service, in coordination with the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), plan on moving the ODF solar panels south of the Dutchman Lookout living quarters cabin. The new location would be across Forest Service (FS) Road 20-800. Currently, the Forest Service is planning on utilizing Categorical Exclusion 36 CFR 220.6(e) 21.
Location - The Project Area is located on Dutchman Peak, in the Dutchman Peak Botanical Area, behind the historic living quarters cabin (see attached map). The site is located approximately 20 air-miles south of the city of Medford, Jackson County, Oregon, and 14 air-miles southeast of Ashland, Jackson County, Oregon. The legal location is Township 40 south, Range 2 west, southwest corner of Section 36 (Willamette Meridian).
Need - The need for a new radio building is to keep radio equipment safe from the elements and from potential theft. The radio equipment plays a vital role during field and fire season. Without it, field-going personnel are at greater risk without proper communication available. The current building is regularly visited by the public and there have been recent break-ins and unauthorized people removing or damaging the valuable equipment. The current building is infested with woodrats and rodent feces, making it a safety concern for our staff and the public. The new building will move the radio equipment out and the solar panels off the old cabin, restoring the cabin back to its historical look.
Figure 1. Picture of the Communications Tower leaning on the cabin.
What’s proposed - The proposed actions to meet this need are to:
Install a new building, which will be fabricated off-site, with the dimensions of 8 ft wide by 10 ft long by 9 ft high. The building will be placed on blocks behind the cabin, next to the current radio tower. The building will be constructed to look like the cabin and lookout.
Replace the 12 solar panels located on the roof of the cabin with four newer panels that will be mounted on the south facing part of the tower and the south facing roof of the new building.
Move the freestanding ODF solar panels across the FS 20-800 road, and down the hill, where they will be less visible from the lookout and living quarters. They will be placed on a permanent solar panel rack. A trench to connect the solar panels to the new radio building will be constructed across FS 20-800. The ODF fire detection camera and associated equipment will remain on the radio tower.
Replace the damaged radio tower with a new tower. The height of the new tower may be up to 60ft tall. The base of the tower could be larger than the current base. Assess and determine if another location in the vicinity may be appropriate to move the communications tower.
How to Comment - The Forest Service is accepting public comments during the project’s scoping period. Your written comments help the Forest to identify environmental issues. Please send your comments by hardcopy to Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District 6941 Upper Applegate Road, Jacksonville, OR 97530, Attention: Jennifer Sanborn; or email at FS-comments-pacificnorthwest-rogueriver-siskiyoumountains; or via CARA https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public/CommentInput?Project=64275. Comments will be most helpful if received by July 10, 2023. If you have questions, you can contact the District Ranger by phone at 541-324-1318. Thank you.
Enclosures:
(1) Aerial View of Dutchman Radio Building Project (2) Dutchman Project Location
Jennifer Sanborn
