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BLUE RIVER LANDSCAPE STUDY CHRONOLOGY

1989: Blue River Landscape Study proposed - concept was to compare dispersed, small clearcuts with aggregated clearcuts at the scale of subdrainages (e.g., Cook Creek versus Quentin Creek)

1990: Blue River watershed was placed in a Habitat Conservation Area - further development of the study was halted

1991-1992: Augusta Creek landscape management planning approaches initiated - concepts and methods for using historical fire regimes as a basis for landscape planning were explored

1993-1995: Augusta Creek landscape plan developed - methods to meet aquatic conservation objectives established in the Northwest Forest Plan (1994) were integrated into the landscape plan, and the plan was evaluated relative to the matrix and riparian reserve approach in the Northwest Forest Plan

1996: Blue River watershed analysis completed and the initial Blue River landscape management and monitoring strategy developed - decision was made to apply the concepts and lessons from the Augusta Creek study in the Blue River watershed (a part of the Central Cascades Adaptive Management Area), and develop it as a model of adaptive management

1997: two timber sales sold in Blue River watershed - the first sales in the watershed since 1990 were sold in landscape areas 1 & 2 using the landscape management plan

1998: initial road restoration projects completed in Blue River watershed - a comprehensive road inventory and analysis was begun as a basis for development and integration of watershed restoration strategies into the landscape plan

1999: planning for a timber sale and prescribed fire in landscape area 3 was initiated - report on how well the landscape plan models historical fire regimes received

2000: landscape team assessed several potential changes to the landscape management strategy, developed an integrated road restoration strategy, and added approaches to dealing with large wood, coarse sediment and water quality source areas - field monitoring continued - timber sale in landscape area 1 completed

2001: package of adaptive management recommendations completed - Administrative Study Plan completed - project planning for road restoration underway - modeling of additional landscape scenarios initiated