State Forests Annual Operations Plan for timber sales finalized after robust public comment period
Salem, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) finalized its Annual Operations Plans (AOP) that describe the variety of projects planned for state forests for the 2025 fiscal year. These include planned timber sales for each district; recreation projects, such as the installation of a bridge; or other types of forest projects, such as stream enhancement or restoration projects. ODF received 1,061 written comments during the 45-public comment period that was open from April 3-May 17.
“We thank an engaged public for robust feedback representing many diverse perspectives,” said Nick Palazzotto, ODF’s State Forests Division Deputy Chief. “It is challenging to balance the department’s legal obligation to manage state forests for social, economic and environmental outcomes—a concept referred to as Greatest Permanent Value.”
State forests provide outdoor recreation, education and interpretation opportunities; sustainable harvest volumes that produce jobs and revenue that funds vital services in rural counties; clean water; and critical fish and wildlife habitats. The majority of timber sales are on Board of Forestry lands, and approximately two thirds of the resulting revenue is split with the counties, who share it further with special districts. Together, the counties and special districts utilize this revenue to support local schools and provide other essential community services. ODF retains one third of the revenue to fund management of state forests. A small portion of the timber sales are located on Common School Forest Lands and generate revenue for the Common School Fund.
Some comments resulted in edits to specific timber sales while others are addressed in a high-level summary of the comments received highlighting the major themes, topics, and agency responses.
“We read and consider every comment,” said Palazzotto. “However, we do not respond to each one individually. Instead, we develop a summary document with broad categories that capture the comments and provides our responses to the public commentary.”
The summary document is broken down into the following sections:
- Recreation
- Climate Change and Carbon
- Timber Harvest
- Aquatic, Wildlife, and Plant
- Roads, Slopes and Water Quality
- Specific Sales
- Process and Document Improvement
- Out of Scope
The FY25 Annual Operations Summary Documents are available for ODF’s Astoria, Forest Grove, Klamath-Lake, North Cascade, Tillamook, West Oregon and Western Lane districts. These are located on the same webpage as the summary of comments and agency response document.
“Since we manage the forests for the Greatest Permanent Value, we have to consider how our decisions impact Oregonians overall, not just a single commenter,” said Palazzotto. “So even though we made changes to some sales, not everyone will be satisfied with those changes. We recognize that and seek to be as transparent as possible in our decisions. We had more than a thousand comments this year, so we know Oregonians care about their forests. Even with this already high interest ODF will strive to continue to improve communications with landowners, neighbors and concerned citizens to raise awareness of our AOP process and how they can connect with us to have their concerns heard.”
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