MT. VERNON – In addition to its regular meeting Thursday, the Blue Mountains Forest Partners is taking a field trip to the South Fork Complex fire area from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Wednesday.

The tour follows a workshop, held Tuesday at the Mt. Vernon Community Center, to examine the current science surrounding snags on the landscape, post-fire habitat and woodpeckers, soil impacts, and management actions to enhance forest health after fires.

Speakers scheduled were: Chris Dunn, a wildland fire researcher and post-doctoral scholar at Oregon State University; Ari Cowan, a master’s student in forest ecosystems at OSU’s College of Forestry; and Vicki Saab, a research wildlife biologist with the Forest Service’s Rocky Mountain Research Station.

The Partners’ regular meeting will be at 4 p.m. June 18 at the Grant County Regional Airport in John Day.

The group will hold a second field trip on Friday, June 19, to the Camp Lick project area. Participants should meet at the Malheur National Forest Supervisor’s Office parking lot.