SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon Department of Forestry will hold a virtual meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 7, to learn about forest management planning for state forestlands west of the Cascades.
This meeting is open to the public and primarily intended for those with an interest in management of Oregon’s state forests. RSVP is requested.
This meeting will provide updates on the Forest Management Plan (FMP), the Western Oregon State Forests Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process focused on that HCP.
As part of our public engagement process, we invite you to this meeting to hear updates on the Western Oregon State Forests management planning efforts and ask questions. The meeting will be an opportunity to:
This meeting is one of many anticipated future opportunities to engage in state forests planning and is meant to provide an update to the process.
Meeting Documents: The meeting agenda and materials are posted on the FMP project website.
Date and time: Tuesday, Feb. 7 from 1-4 p.m. The meeting will include:
Where: Virtual only by Zoom or call-in. We ask that you join the meeting a few minutes early to troubleshoot any issues and to ensure the meeting starts on time. View the meeting instructions, tips, and protocols.
Meeting Recording: A post-meeting recording will be posted on the ODF YouTube channel.
Background:
State Forests are sustainably managed to provide social, economic, and environmental benefits to all Oregonians. In October of 2020, the Board of Forestry (BOF) directed the State Forests Division to begin the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process for the draft Western Oregon State Forests Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and continue developing an associated Forest Management Plan (FMP). These parallel planning processes have been closely coordinated to ensure alignment and consistency in management goals, objectives, and strategies. ODF recognizes that public engagement is a key element in developing an HCP and FMP that reflect the values of all Oregonians, and is committed to providing information and engaging in dialogue with those who have an interest in these important planning efforts.
Please note, the February 7 FMP HCP Meeting Open to the Public will provide updates on the Western State Forests FMP and HCP. This meeting is separate from the February 2 Implementation Plan Public Workshop which will provide an opportunity for the public to learn more about the Implementation Plan revisions for six state forest districts.
More information: More information is available by contacting the project leaders or online:
Western Oregon Forest Management Plan & Implementation Plans
Jennifer McAdoo
503-855-7060
Western Oregon Habitat Conservation Plan
Cindy Kolomechuk
503-945-7731
cindy.kolomechuk@odf.oregon.gov
Online resources:
SALEM, Ore.— The Oregon Legislature will be considering a number of recommendations for changes related to the statewide wildfire risk map during the 2023 session, some of which would substantively change the map itself. Following conversations last week with the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire Programs Advisory Council, the state has decided to postpone the release of an updated draft of the map, which was planned for March 2023.
“As we’ve been working with Oregon State University on technical adjustments to the map and planning for community outreach and engagement, we’ve also been keeping a close eye on the policy conversations happening in different venues,” explained Cal Mukumoto, Oregon State Forester and director of the Oregon Department of Forestry. “There were some great recommendations that came out of the Wildfire Programs Advisory Council’s first annual report and opportunities identified by Wildfire Programs Director Doug Grafe related to the map that I hope the Legislature gets the opportunity to explore during this session.”
Those recommendations are in addition to several bills proposing a variety of changes ranging from which areas are assigned a risk classification to abolishing the map entirely. “We want to avoid expending resources on work that may not align with new direction that may come from the Legislature this session,” Mukumoto said. Without knowing what decisions will be made by the Legislature, the department does not yet know how long it will take to implement that direction.
Members of both the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and the Wildfire Programs Advisory Council have expressed support for continued mapping of wildfire hazards to identify where to direct investments in wildfire mitigation activities including fuels reduction and building defensible space.
“Our goal this session is to get resources and expertise to Oregonians already doing good work on the ground to protect their properties and neighborhoods,” said Sen. Jeff Golden (D), Ashland. Golden chairs the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and was the chief sponsor of SB 762. “It’s important to get that done and to do all we can to ease the homeowner insurance challenges that the era of megafires has brought us before moving forward with any map.”
There is also broad recognition of the need for increased outreach, education and engagement with communities. “We need an integrated, coordinated and robust communications and outreach effort across all Senate Bill 762 programs to help property owners understand what their classification means, how they can better protect their homes and what resources are available to help them with that work,” said Mark Bennett, chair of the Wildfire Programs Advisory Council.
OSU, ODF’s partner in the development of the map, will lend technical expertise to upcoming educational efforts related to wildfire risk and hazard. "We are prepared to support state agencies in education plans and will help develop and implement an operational plan as needed,” said Tom DeLuca, dean of OSU’s College of Forestry. Other state agencies with SB 762 responsibilities that have a nexus to the map are Office of the State Fire Marshal, Department of Consumer and Business Services – Building Codes Division and the Department of Land Conservation and Development.
“The success of this whole program depends on strong collaboration between state government, local leaders and property owners in wildfire-prone areas. Building that partnership has to be job number one over the coming months,” Golden explained. “When we feel like we’re pulling in the same direction, we’ll be ready for a much better conversation about the map.”
While the Legislature is in session, the department will:
SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon Department of Forestry invites you to a virtual meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 7, to learn about forest management planning for state forestlands west of the Cascades.
This meeting is open to the public and primarily intended for those with an interest in management of Oregon’s state forests. RSVP is requested.
This meeting will provide updates on the Forest Management Plan (FMP), the Western Oregon State Forests Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process focused on that HCP.
As part of our public engagement process, we invite you to this meeting to hear updates on the Western Oregon State Forests management planning efforts and ask questions. The meeting will be an opportunity to:
This meeting is one of many anticipated future opportunities to engage in state forests planning and is meant to provide an update to the process.
Date and time: Tuesday, Feb. 7 from 1-4 p.m. The meeting will include:
Where: Virtual only by Zoom or call-in. We ask that you join the meeting a few minutes early to troubleshoot any issues and to ensure the meeting starts on time. View the meeting instructions, tips, and protocols.
Meeting Recording: A post-meeting recording will be posted on the ODF YouTube channel.
Background:
State Forests are sustainably managed to provide social, economic, and environmental benefits to all Oregonians. In October of 2020, the Board of Forestry (BOF) directed the State Forests Division to begin the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process for the draft Western Oregon State Forests Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and continue developing an associated Forest Management Plan (FMP). These parallel planning processes have been closely coordinated to ensure alignment and consistency in management goals, objectives, and strategies. ODF recognizes that public engagement is a key element in developing an HCP and FMP that reflect the values of all Oregonians, and is committed to providing information and engaging in dialogue with those who have an interest in these important planning efforts.
More information: More information is available by contacting the project leaders or online:
Western Oregon Forest Management Plan & Implementation Plans
Jennifer McAdoo
503-855-7060
Western Oregon Habitat Conservation Plan
Cindy Kolomechuk
503-945-7731
cindy.kolomechuk@odf.oregon.gov
Online resources:
SALEM, Ore. — On Thursday, Feb. 2 from 3:30 – 5 p.m. there will be a virtual information workshop open to the public to learn more about the Oregon Department of Forestry’s proposed Implementation Plan revisions for six state forest districts. To join the Zoom meeting, use this link. A public comment period will begin Feb. 3 and ends March 6 at 5 p.m. Learn more about the implementation plan revisions.
Background
State forests by law must provide social, economic and environmental benefits to Oregonians, and are managed under long-range forest management plans, mid-range implementation plans, and annual operations plans. Implementation plans describe forest management activities such as timber harvest targets, road construction and maintenance, reforestation and young stand management, recreation, aquatic habitat restoration, and protection strategies for species of concern.
At the direction of the Board of Forestry, ODF is continuing the development of a draft Western Oregon State Forests Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and Forest Management Plan (FMP) for Western Oregon State Forests. The HCP is currently going through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. Finalization of this process and issuance of Incidental Take Permits (ITPs) is expected to occur within fiscal year 2024. Revising the current implementation plans allows the agency to continue operations during this time of transition while focusing resources on developing a companion forest management plan and accompanying implementation plans required to implement the HCP.
The revisions to the current Implementation plans update timber harvest targets, maintain current forest management plan requirements, update new information on the district land base and forest resources, incorporates the components of the draft HCP through June 30, 2025 in order to cover the potential HCP approval timeline and the new Forest Management Plan and new Implementation Plan development timelines. The comment period begins Feb. 3 and ends March 6. The proposed implementation plan revisions are for the Astoria, Forest Grove, Tillamook, North Cascade, West Oregon, Southwest Oregon, and Western Lane (including the Southwest unit) state forest districts.
About Oregon’s state forests: The Oregon Department of Forestry manages approximately 730,000 acres of Board of Forestry lands across 15 Oregon counties as well as 28,000 acres of Common School Fund land. This includes the Tillamook, Clatsop and Santiam state forests in western Oregon as well as the Sun Pass and Gilchrist state forests in Klamath County
SALEM, Ore. — Oregon’s Smoke Management Advisory Committee will meet Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the ODF Headquarters, Building C, Tillamook Room, 2600 State Street, Salem. To join virtually, please use the Zoom video conference information found on the agenda.
The committee’s agenda includes:
The meeting is open to the public to attend either in person or virtually. There will be a period for public comment in the morning. Requests for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours before the meeting by contacting Shelby Berry at 503-949-5181.
View more information on the SMAC webpage.
Created by the Legislature in 1989, the five-member committee assists and advises the Oregon Department of Forestry in carrying out its Smoke Management Program. Members are appointed by the State Forester to serve a two-year term, which is renewable.
SALEM, Ore. — The Committee for Family Forestlands will meet virtually on Wednesday, Jan. 18 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. To join virtually, please use the Zoom video conference information found on the agenda.
The committee’s agenda includes:
The meeting is open to the public to attend online via Zoom. Public comments will be accepted near the start of the meeting. Requests for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 24 hours before the meeting by emailing committee.of.family.forestlands@odf.oregon.gov.
The 13-member committee researches policies that affect family forests, natural resources and forestry benefits. Based on its findings, the committee recommends actions to the Oregon Board of Forestry and the State Forester. View more information on the CFF webpage.