On a beautiful, blue sky spring day, our team at Sustainable Northwest Wood had the opportunity to visit the mill and a section of forestland of the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, one of nine federally recognized Tribes in Oregon.  In July 2019, the Mile Post 97 Fire burned nearly 13,000 acres of forest in Oregon along I-5 near Canyonville. The Tribe lost 3600 acres of only recently re-acquired forestland to that human-caused fire.

Four years after that devastating wildfire, the Umpqua Indian Forest Management team has salvaged as much of the burned timber as they can, cleaned up the remaining underbrush and fuels, and planted over a million seedlings to restore their forest. Most of the delicate seedlings had to be re-planted after the heat dome of 2021, exacerbating the cost and scope of the restoration work. 

The forestland here is a checkerboard of private, public and Tribal land.  The Tribe's land stands in stark contrast to the mostly untouched BLM property that adjoins it. The dead standing trees on the neighboring lands pose a threat for feeding future fires, inviting pests, and potentially undoing their extensive restoration efforts. 

Salvaging the usable timber has been an all-hands-on-deck approach, with all other harvesting, processing and restoration work paused to cope with the sudden influx of fire damaged logs. It is a literal race against time and Mother Nature to try to recoup some of their value before pests, disease and rot degrade the timber beyond usefulness. 

The mill was humming like a beehive when we arrived for the tour. Under an arched steel building with a picturesquely framed wooded area behind it, there is a flurry of activity amid the high-pitched whine of saws and machinery. Organized piles of charred logs line the perimeter of the mill site. The sweet aroma of fresh cut Incense cedar wafts in the air. Beautiful stacks of cedar and Douglas fir lumber coming off the mill are categorized by size and appearance. There is a cadence to the movements of the mill workers that is not unlike a dance – a mesmerizing Waltz of the Woods.

Incense Cedar- Calocedrus decurrens - is a lesser-known local species, with a fine grain, honey to amber coloring and great workability. It is a durable wood for exterior applications, with aromatic oils that make it naturally rot resistant for products like trim, soffits,  siding, decking, and fencing, as well as interior wall cladding and more.  

As we walk around the mill property, we can’t help but notice the ends of many of the logs are pocked with holes. Forest Consultant Heidi Lieb tells us the fire damage encourages beetles, fungus, and decay which often results in “pecky” lumber. Pecky cedar has a unique, somewhat rustic look, with pockets and patches of decay caused by a fungus. The resulting lumber ranges from just a few holes and natural defects to boards that are riddled with them. Each board is unique and replete with creative opportunity.  

The pecky grade is overly abundant from this fire salvage and therefore, very affordably priced. This mill is also providing beautiful Clear and Select Tight Knot #1 & #2 Incense cedar, as well as Clear Vertical Grain and Mixed Grain Douglas fir.

In our commitment to support local mills and promote the Good Wood the forest has to offer, Sustainable Northwest Wood is now stocking Cow Creek Umpqua Incense Cedar and Douglas fir. Your purchases with us directly support small local mills like this and contribute to thriving local communities, while also supporting sustainable forest management for the generations to come. Reach out for a quote for your upcoming projects.  Want to know where your wood comes from?   Just ask us.  

We encourage you to learn more about the history of the Cow Creek Umpqua Tribal Nation and read their story of perseverance and survival HERE.