Coos Bay, Ore. – The Bureau of Land Management’s Western Oregon Resource Advisory Council will participate in a meeting at the Coos Bay District Office on July 10, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Pacific Time and field tour to the Loon Lake Recreation Site and other public lands in the Coos Bay Area, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PT.

“We are excited to tour through the coastal forest and visit one of our most popular recreation sites with our advisory council members,” said Heather Whitman, Roseburg District Manager. “The advisory council members provide important input to the agency on recreation and forest management, and nothing beats seeing the work in the field.” 

Before departing on the field tour, the RAC will conduct an in-person meeting, open to the public with a virtual participation option available on the Zoom platform. Topics for discussion include an update on the Secure Rural Schools grant application process and hearing from District Managers about current events in Western Oregon. The public is invited to attend, and a comment period is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. PT. Virtual participants must register for the Zoom meeting at: https://blm.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_aVYZROCdQIOn2f41Gsiyqw  

During the field tour, advisory council members will visit public lands east of Coos Bay, off Highway 38. At the Loon Lake Recreation Site, they will discuss recreation management, infrastructure improvements, and fee collection. The advisory council members will also tour BLM-managed forests to discuss forest management and habitat creation. 

Members of the public are welcome on the field tour. Those planning to attend must RSVP via email to m1harper@blm.gov at least one week before the field tour and must provide their own transportation and meals. Anyone attending who needs a reasonable accommodation, such as sign language interpretation, should let Megan Harper, Advisory Council Coordinator, know when RSVPing at m1harper@blm.gov or (541) 751-4353. 

The Western Oregon Resource Advisory Council meets multiple times a year. It is one of several citizen advisory councils throughout Oregon/Washington. The council’s 15 members are appointed by the Secretary of the Interior and represent a broad range of public land interests, including environmental, local government, recreation, timber, and tribal interests. The Western Oregon Resource Advisory Council advises the Bureau of Land Management’s Coos Bay, Medford, Roseburg, Northwest Districts, and parts of the Lakeview District.

For more information about the Western Oregon RAC, visit:  www.blm.gov/get-involved/resource-advisory-council/near-you/oregon-washington.

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The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.