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Campfires restricted on Rogue’s wild section By Mark Freeman Jul 01, 2022 12:15 AM A A Increasingly dry, hot weather has prompted the Forest Service and federal Bureau of Land Management to increase campfire restrictions within the Wild Section of the Rogue River. Those who float or hike the Lower Rogue Canyon can build and maintain fires only within a raised fire pan in areas free of vegetation and below the high-water mark. All ashes must be carried out, and each group of rafters must carry a shovel and bucket. The restrictions run from Grave Creek near Galice to the mouth of Watson Creek upstream of Foster Bar near Agness. They were instituted beginning this morning. Smoking is allowed only while on a watercraft that is on the river, or on vegetation-free sand and gravel bars. The Wild Rogue section is co-managed by the Forest Service and the BLM. The stretch from Grave Creek to Marial is under BLM jurisdiction and, therefore, the Oregon Department of Forestry governs wildfire protection and fighting. The remaining downriver stretch is managed by the Forest Service. Those camping along the Rogue River National Recreation Trail are also subject to the new fire restrictions. Campfires are limited in Forest Service-constructed concrete or metal fire rings or pits at designated recreation sites. However, the use of propane or liquid-fueled commercial cooking stoves remain legal for use. Bottle hunt begins in parks This year’s annual Hidden Bottle Hunt kicks off next week statewide to shine a light on Oregon’s historic bottle bill and raise money for some nonprofit organizations at the same time. The Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative will hide six commemorative green bottles at various parks and trails geographically dispersed throughout the state. Those who find the bottles can keep them and select a BottleDrop Give nonprofit partner to win $1,000. About 5,000 nonprofits throughout Oregon that raise money through the BottleDrop Give program qualify for the awards. Clues for finding these bottles will be posted daily on the Oregon BottleDrop website at bottledropcenters.com/hunt. Bottle hunters can also sign up there to receive the daily clues via email. The hunt was formed last year to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Oregon’s Bottle Bill, a system that provides a redemption value to Oregonians, promotes recycling and keeps bottles and cans out of nature. It was the first of its kind in the nation. Over time, Oregon’s system has grown and innovated, and it has become a national model of beverage container redemption and recycling. Mark Freeman covers the outdoors for the Mail Tribune. Contact him at 541-776-4470 or at [email protected].