Oregon Department of Forestry invites public comment
on state forest management activities
Salem, Ore. — The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) is inviting public comment on planned projects, timber sales, and other management activities in state-owned forests.
Starting April 3 through 5 p.m. May 18, Oregonians can weigh in on draft Annual Operations Plans for state forests on the Astoria, Forest Grove, Klamath Falls, North Cascade, Tillamook, West Oregon, and Western Lane Districts. These plans lay out on-the-ground activities expected to take place in the coming fiscal year. State forests by law must provide social, economic, and environmental benefits to Oregonians. To achieve the legal mandate, these lands are managed to create healthy productive forests, high-quality habitat for native fish and wildlife, clean water, benefits and revenues to rural communities and timber related economies, as well as recreation and educational opportunities.
Overall goals and strategies for forest resources are established in long-range Forest Management Plans, which are refined into more specific objectives in Implementation Plans. Annual Operations Plans describe discrete activities to achieve the objectives laid out in Implementation Plans. ODF is seeking input on the draft Annual Operations Plans, which can be viewed on the State Forests’ Annual Operations Plans website.
Common topics in the Annual Operations Plans include:
- Timber harvest operations
- Recreation improvement and maintenance projects
- Forest road construction, maintenance, and improvements
- Reforestation/replanting and young stand management activities
- Habitat improvement for native species
- Invasive species management
The most useful input speaks to these specific activities and whether they are consistent with longer-range plans, offer suggestions to improve efficiency or effectiveness, correct errors, provide additional information, and are solution oriented. Activities that affect fish and wildlife habitat are reviewed by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, while operations that may affect threatened and endangered fish and wildlife habitat are shared with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Activities that may affect sensitive plants are reviewed by the Oregon Department of Agriculture.
ODF offers several avenues to comment on Annual Operations Plans:
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