Umatilla National Forest continues flood-recovery work
By Terry Murry on Tuesday, May 19th, 2026 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – The Umatilla National Forest is continuing its flood recovery efforts this year with new repairs on Forest Service Roads (FSR) 47, 32, and 54. The Little Tucannon Bridge will also be replaced. This year’s project builds on repairs completed in 2025 after the damage from the 2020 floods.
The Umatilla National Forest website will have detailed information involving temporary closures, expected timelines, and other details. The information will also be at any of the ranger district offices and temporary closure signs will be posted around the sites.
Pomeroy Ranger District
Multiple repairs are planned. FSR 4712 road and bank repair is expected to take about two weeks. The road and associated trailheads and campgrounds will temporarily close during the work. The replacement of the Little Tucannon Bridge will begin in July or August and the road will be temporarily closed at the bridge for about two weeks. Also this summer, portions of FSR 47 will receive fresh chipseal. The road will remain open while that project is underway.
Walla Walla Ranger District
The Federal Highway Administration will begin repair work on the nine miles above the bridge near Umatilla Forks Campground. The work is expected to restore access on FSR 32 to Ruckel Junction. (The first mile of the road had initial flood repairs to provide access to Corporation Guard Station about eight miles east of Gibbon.) It’s estimated the work will be completed in 2027.
North Fork John Day Ranger District
The first four miles of FSR 54 has already been repaired. The additional work planned for this year will repair flood damage on the next four miles of the road. Forest officials ask visitors to use caution and remain alert when traveling through the forest. Additional information about the Umatilla National Forest is available at www.fs.usda.gov/r06/umatilla.
