Progress with UAV, carbon projects

The tribes’ computer support enterprise, the Office of Information Systems, is taking on the range management function of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle program.

The tribal enterprise Geo Visions is the contracting entity for the UAV program on the reservation.

An area in the Seekseequa District has been cleared by tribal Land Use and the Branch of Natural Resources as a test range site. The site is on the Metolius Bench in the southeast area of the reservation.

The UAV range management team will ensure that the tests are conducted in compliance with regulation. The contracting entity works with and recruits the UAV companies that are in need of a testing site.

The UAV program is a project of Warm Springs Ventures, as approved last year by Tribal Council.

Warm Springs is one of three FAA approved UAV test ranges in Oregon. The others are at Pendleton, which just received a $545,000 state investment for UAV infrastructure work; and Tillamook.

A website is up and running with information on the three test ranges in Oregon. The site is:
Uastestranges.soaroregon.com

The site has information on the flying conditions of the three sites, the geography, access, etc.

The Branch of Natural Resources is working on phase 2 of the carbon sequestration project. This includes completing an inventory of the forest resources involved, conducting a third-party review, and preparing the carbon credits for market.

The carbon sequestration project could generate significant revenue. The project is under Ventures, carried out by the Branch of Natural Resources.