Klamath Falls, Baker City residents appointed to Oregon Heritage Commission - 03/06/14
Todd Kepple of Klamath Falls and Sarah LeCompte of Baker City will participate in their first meeting Friday as members of the Oregon Heritage Commission. Governor John Kitzhaber recently appointed them to fill vacancies on the Commission.

Kepple has been manager of the Klamath County Museum for the past eight years, and involved with a range of community organizations since 1993.

LeCompte has worked at the Bureau of Land Management's National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center in Baker City since 1993, including the past 10 years as manager.

The Heritage Commission is comprised of nine appointees representing Oregon's heritage and geographical diversity. There are also nine advisory representatives from state agencies and statewide organizations. The mission of the Oregon Heritage Commission is to secure, sustain, and enhance Oregon's heritage by ensuring coordination of heritage initiatives by public and private organizations; advocacy on its behalf; education of the public about its extent and value; and promotion and celebration of its diversity.

The Heritage Commission will meet by phone at 1 p.m. Friday. For more information about the Heritage Commission, visit its website at www.oregonheritage.org or contact coordinator Kyle Jansson at 503-986-0673 or heritage.info@oregon.gov

Seasonal recreation changes take effect March 15 in snowy plover areas - 03/05/14
Visitors to three north coast beaches designated as snowy plover management areas will be making some changes to aid in the recovery of the western snowy plover, a small shorebird native to the Oregon coast. The bird is protected under state law and under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA).

The three areas are the Clatsop Spit along the Columbia River South Jetty, Necanicum Spit, adjacent to the town of Gearhart in Clatsop County, and Nehalem Spit in Tillamook County. Maps of the area can be found here: bit.ly/wsplover.

The seasonal restrictions require dogs to be leashed during the plover nesting season, March 15 to July 15. Driving on the beach, which is already prohibited on the Nehalem and Necanicum Spits, will also be prohibited on a short stretch of Clatsop Spit east of the Columbia River South Jetty. Driving to the popular fishing spot known locally as "Fishermen's Beach" on Clatsop Spit will still be permitted. The restrictions were voluntary in 2013, but are now requirements.

"Balancing public recreation with natural resource conservation is part of OPRD's mission," said Chris Havel, Oregon Parks and Recreation (OPRD) Associate Director of Communications. "Sometimes it's not easy, but Oregonians have shown us time and time again that they understand and value both parts of that mission."

"We welcome dogs and their people on just about every beach in Oregon, all year long. The only exception is that dogs are not allowed during nesting season where plovers are actually known to be nesting," Havel continued. In Oregon, nesting plovers are usually found from southern Lane County to southern Coos County beaches, where recreation restrictions are well established. No plovers currently nest on the north coast.

Snowy plover management areas are part of a coast-wide recovery agreement called the Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), finalized in 2010 after years of public comment and analysis. The HCP is a legal agreement between OPRD, which is responsible for managing recreation on Oregon's ocean shore, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), which oversees the ESA and thus the status of the western snowy plover. The HCP enables OPRD to have a say in how beaches are managed for both recreation and plover habitat. Without the HCP, OPRD could be assessed serious penalties, including beach closures, if plovers were harmed on the ocean shore, even accidentally.

Clatsop Spit is managed by OPRD, and leased from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The eastern section of this river beach is popular with anglers, and cooperative efforts between OPRD, USFWS, and USACE focused on retaining recreation while promoting plover recovery.

At the Necanicum site, OPRD has been working with the City of Gearhart and a team of Americorps volunteers to build a new trail that redirects the many "unofficial" trails that currently spill out onto the beach. The new trail will join up with an existing fire access road and will exit onto the beach just north of the management area. OPRD is installing new wayfinding signs this spring.

The Nehalem Spit site is part of Nehalem Bay State Park, and restrictions will begin a quarter mile south of the horse concession area of the park, running to the southernmost tip of the spit.

The HCP sets out designated recovery spots, called management areas, based on a variety of factors that include suitability of habitat, known breeding areas, population surveys, proximity to other recreation areas, and a host of other considerations. In Oregon, snowy plover breeding areas, called occupied sites, are concentrated along the south coast, near Bandon. The three north coast sites have the potential to attract breeding plovers, which could strengthen the much smaller plover population along the Washington coast. In total, about 50 miles of Oregon's 362 mile shoreline have been identified as a recovery location.

Two appointed to State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation - 03/03/14
The two newest appointees to the State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation, Stephen Dow Beckham of Lake Oswego and Teara Farrow Furman of Pendleton, have participated in their first meeting with the group.

Beckham, a Lewis & Clark College professor emeritus, is the author of 14 books on the history of Native Americans and the American West. He has made more than 2,500 entries into the statewide inventory of historic properties.

Farrow Furman is the manager of the cultural resources protection program for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. She has worked in cultural resources management for 17 years.

The State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation (SACHP) is a nine-member, governor-appointed group that reviews nominations to the National Register of Historic Places. The members are professionally recognized in the fields of history, architecture, archaeology, and other related disciplines. The committee holds public meetings in February, June and October at different locations around the state.

For more information about the SACHP and the National Register nomination process, visit http://www.oregon.gov/oprd/HCD/NATREG/pages/nrhp_sachphome.aspx

Meetings set in Estacada, Detroit about proposed scenic bikeway - 02/28/14
The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department will hold public meetings in Estacada and Detroit for a proposed Cascading Scenic Rivers Bikeways.

The meetings will be held at;
* Estacada: March 18, 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., at the Estacada City Hall, 475 SE Main St.
* Detroit: March 19, 5 p.m. - 6 p.m., at the Detroit City Hall, 160 N Detroit Ave.

The proposed 70-mile-long Cascading Rivers Bikeway runs between Estacada and Detroit, through Ripplebrook. Information on the designation process for proposed scenic bikeways are available at www.oregonscenicbikeways.org. A draft of the bikeway plan is also available by request from Alex Phillips at alex.phillips@oregon.gov.

Public comment on the recommended bikeway will be taken at the meetings. Written public comment will be accepted both before and after the meetings until the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission acts on the proposed designation. Comments will be reviewed by the route proponents and included in the information presented to the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission before the commission votes on designation.

Comments about the proposed bikeway can be sent to Alex Phillips at alex.phillips@oregon.gov or to:
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
ATTN: Alex Phillips
725 Summer St NE, Suite C
Salem OR 97301-1266

Registration begins for Oregon Heritage Conference - 02/28/14
The Oregon Heritage Conference will take place April 23-25 in historic downtown Albany with the theme of "Celebrate, Recreate, Invigorate." Registration is underway.

The abundance of opportunities for linking Oregon heritage and recreation will be the hub of workshops, speakers, tours, and panels. Whether you want to revitalize an organization, engage with tourists, document and preserve historic buildings and collections, advocate for support, or create new appreciation for Oregon heritage in its many forms, you will want to attend.

An engaging keynote talk, special tours, cutting-edge research expositions, and meeting colleagues from across the state are important bonuses. The Oregon Heritage Excellence Awards will take place on the evening of April 24.

The Oregon Heritage Conference will take place at several downtown locations, with registration at the Albany Regional Museum. The Albany Downtown Association, the Albany Visitors Association and the City of Albany are also assisting with the conference.

Additional conference and registration information is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oprd/HCD/OHC/Pages/conference.aspx

Oregon Heritage Commission re-schedules meeting - 02/24/14
The Oregon Heritage Commission will meet at 1 p.m. March 7 by teleconference. Agenda items include issues related to Oregon heritage sites, organizations and activities, including the adoption of a 2014-2019 Oregon Heritage Plan and the recommendation for Oregon Heritage Tradition designations.

This meeting is the abbreviated makeup for the Feb. 10 meeting that was canceled due to poor travel conditions. The public listening room will be at the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, 725 Summer St. NE, Suite C, Salem.

The Heritage Commission is comprised of nine people representing Oregon's heritage and geographical diversity who have been appointed by the Governor. There are nine advisory representatives from state agencies and statewide organizations. The mission of the Oregon Heritage Commission is to secure, sustain, and enhance Oregon's heritage by ensuring coordination of heritage initiatives by public and private organizations; advocacy on its behalf; education of the public about its extent and value; and promotion and celebration of its diversity.

More information about the Heritage Commission and the meeting is available at www.oregonheritage.org or by contacting Commission coordinator Kyle Jansson at 503-986-0673.

The meetings are accessible to people with disabilities. Special accommodations may be arranged up to 72 hours in advance by call 503-986-0655.

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department debuts 2014 Oregon State Parks Guide - 02/24/14
Salem, OR - The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is pleased to announce the launch of the new Oregon State Parks Guide, a full-color, magazine-style brochure featuring detailed information about more than 200 of Oregon's most popular state campgrounds, day-use areas, trails, bikeways, and heritage sites.

"The Parks Guide is a great resource for our visitors," said Chris Havel, spokesperson for the department. "It's one of our most popular publications because it gives them essential information about the location of each park, its unique assets or activities, and the facilities and campsites available there."

The guide has been thoroughly updated for 2014, with revised or expanded listings for each property, up-to-date rules and regulations, and the addition of several parks and scenic bikeways. Special icons denote parks with pet-friendly yurts or cabins, day-use parking fees, scenic views, and other features as well as facilities that are accessible to people with disabilities.

Notable enhancements to this edition include an enlarged statewide map, an index that can be used to look up individual parks, and a new "snapshot" design with photos that convey the diversity of each region. Feature stories explore new trails in development, the 20th anniversary of yurts in Oregon State Parks, and the new nature play area at Silver Falls State Park. There are also recommendations for tidepooling and wildlife viewing spots and profiles of Golden State Heritage Site, the historic Wolf Creek Inn, and the newest state park, Cottonwood Canyon, in north-central Oregon.

The 2014 Guide is available in print from OPRD's offices in Salem and Portland as well as online at www.oregonstateparks.org: the electronic version has virtual pages that can be turned as well as clickable links to park webpages.

Detailed information about any park is always available by calling the toll-free State Parks info line at 1-800-551-6949. Camping reservations can be made through Reservations Northwest (1-800-452-5687) or by visiting the website.

Oregon State Fair Council will meet in Salem February 24, 2014 - 02/14/14
News Release // Oregon Parks and Recreation Dept. // FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE // Feb. 14, 2014

Media Contact: Andrea Fogue, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
Desk: 503-986-0576

Salem OR - The Oregon State Fair Council will meet at the Oregon State Fairgrounds and Exposition Center in Salem on February 24 starting at 1 p.m. in Cascade Hall.

The agenda includes the election of officers, a budget overview, and discussion of the timing for hiring an Executive Director for the Council.

The full agenda is online at: http://oregonstatefaircouncil.wordpress.com/

The meeting is open to the public.

Those needing special accommodations to attend should contact Brenda Schorr at 503-986-0788 to make arrangements at least three days in advance.

The council is charged with creating a new, sustainable business model for the Oregon State Fair and Exposition Center, and Council members will have the authority to execute a business strategy.

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Candidates announced for Director of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department - 02/12/14
News Release // Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission // FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE // February 12, 2014

Media Contact: Chris Havel, Director's Office, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
Desk: 503-986-0722 // Cell: 503-931-2590

Salem OR - After initial interviews earlier in February, the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission has named the final three candidates for Director of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD). They are:

Jim Desmond. Desmond is currently director of the Sustainability Center at Metro, where he has worked since 1995, also serving as Regional Parks and Greenspaces director and Land Acquisition and Conservation program manager. Before that, he was a project manager for the Trust for Public Lands, and a regional attorney for The Nature Conservancy in North Carolina.

Lisa Van Laanen. Van Laanen is currently interim director for OPRD, where she has worked since 2007, also serving as an Assistant Director. She served a brief stint as Chief of Staff for the Oregon Education Investment Board in 2013, and before OPRD worked as the statewide e-commerce management coordinator at the Oregon Department of Administrative Services and internal auditor for the Oregon Department of Human Services.

Eric Wold. Wold is currently natural resources manager for the City of Eugene's Parks and Open Space Division, where he has worked since 2007. Before that, he served as both the interim director and wetland program supervisor for the City of Eugene Parks and Open Space Division.

Second interviews will take place on February 19. After formal interviews, candidates will meet informally with Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commissioners by phone from 3-4 p.m. at 2501 1st Ave SW in Portland, Oregon.

On February 20 at 1 p.m., the Commission will meet in executive session by phone to consider employment of the director. A public phone meeting hosted at 775 Summer St. NE, Salem, Oregon will start at 2 p.m. to deliberate and act on the hiring decision. The agenda for the meeting is online at http://tinyurl.com/9vy72bo .

The Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission promotes outdoor recreation and heritage by establishing policies, adopting rules, and setting the budget for the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. The seven members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Oregon Senate. They serve four-year terms and meet several times a year at locations across the state. Additional information, including minutes from previous Commission meetings, is available online at http://www.oregon.gov/oprd/pages/commission.aspx.

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Oregon's State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation - 02/11/14
Oregon's State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation (SACHP) will consider nominations to the National Register of Historic Places in a two-day meeting on February 20th and 21st at McMenamins Grand Lodge, 3505 Pacific Ave., Forest Grove. The public meeting will begin at 2:00pm on Thursday and 9:00am on Friday.

The Committee will review proposed nominations for properties in Scappoose, Klamath Falls, Paisley, and Newberg. A meeting agenda, complete nominations, and further details about the nomination process are available at http://www.oregon.gov/oprd/HCD/NATREG/pages/nrhp_sachphome.aspx.

Nominations recommended for listing in the National Register by the SACHP are forwarded to the National Park Service, which maintains the Register under the authority of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. Members of the Committee hold credentials in many historic preservation-related fields.

The meeting site is accessible to people with disabilities. Special accommodations for the meeting may be made by calling (503) 986-0690. More information about the National Register and Oregon properties listed in the Register is online at www.oregonheritage.org (click on "National Register" on the left side of the page).

Oregon Heritage Commission cancels meeting in Cottage Grove - 02/09/14
Due to wintry travel conditions, the Oregon Heritage Commission meeting scheduled for Monday in Cottage Grove has been canceled. The meeting will be rescheduled.