SALEM, Ore. – With about 24,700 acres of the 47,000-acre Santiam State Forest in 2020 wildfire perimeters, the Oregon Department of Forestry is accepting public comment through December 23 on a revised implementation plan for ODF’s North Cascade District focused on forest restoration. This covers aspects of forest restoration such as replanting, salvage harvesting, and public safety.
A 30-day public comment period on the draft Implementation Plan opens Monday, Nov. 23 and ends at 5 p.m. December 23. Implementation Plans provide guidance on how to enact management strategies described in the Northwest Oregon State Forest Management Plan, including timber harvest, road construction and maintenance, reforestation and young stand management, recreation, aquatic habitat restoration, and protection for species of concern. You can find the draft Implementation Plan and other information on the Santiam State Forest restoration by visiting https://www.oregon.gov/odf/recreation/Pages/santiam-state-forest.aspx.
This revised plan would replace the current Implementation Plan for the Santiam State Forest and extend through June 30, 2023. It provides a broad overview of strategies and activities with the aim of re-establishing a healthy, productive forest that provides the economic, environmental, and social benefits required by law on state forests.
ODF will host a virtual public forum via Zoom at 1:30-3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 8 to provide an overview of damage to the forest post-fire, ODF’s initial plans for forest restoration, and take public input. The link to view or participate in the meeting will be posted at https://www.oregon.gov/odf/recreation/Pages/santiam-state-forest.aspx. Public comment can be submitted using this form, by emailing ODF.SFComments@oregon.gov or mailing comment to ODF Public Affairs, 2600 State St., Salem OR 97310.
Most aspects of state forest activities are funded through the sale of timber. In this case, revenue from salvage harvesting will help pay for mitigating environmental impacts from the fire, replanting, and restoring and enhancing popular recreation areas. Most developed recreation trails and facilities were impacted by the fire, and this plan outlines initial steps for repair and restoration.
About the Santiam State Forest: The Santiam State Forest is a 47,465-acre forest managed by the Oregon Department of Forestry spread across Marion, Linn and Clackamas counties in the Cascade Mountain foothills. About 98% is owned by the Board of Forestry, with a small amount of Common School Forest Lands. Board of Forestry lands by law must be managed to be healthy, productive and provide sustainable economic, environmental and social benefits to Oregonians. About 24,700 acres of the forest were in the footprint of the 2020 Beachie Creek, Lionshead and Riverside fires.