BLM reports Durkee fire salvage progress and new online permit system to Union County commissioners

Erich Schow, assistant field manager for the Bureau of Land Management’s Baker Field Office, briefed the Union County Board of Commissioners April 15 on ongoing field work and administrative changes. "The main project going on right now is the Durkee fire salvage," Schow said, and he described logging activity proceeding as conditions allow and emphasis on Clarks Creek units for public‑safety snags removal.

Schow also told the board the BLM has a new law enforcement officer assignment (Kirk Hampe) that will increase northern patrol presence and that the field office recently adopted an online special recreation permit system to make application status and process timelines more transparent. Commissioners thanked Schow for the update and noted continued interest in salvage and access operations.

The presentation included a quarterly acreage report showing Union County constitutes 1.4% of the BLM field office area. Schow said the office is receiving more applications for hunter guide and river boater permits and that the online permit system is meant to show choke points in the process and timelines for applicants.