Public comments sought for state forest management activities
The Oregon Department of Forestry is inviting public comment on planned projects, timber sales, and other management activities in state-owned forests.
Through 5 p.m. June 3, Oregonians can weigh in on draft Annual Operations Plans for state forests on the Astoria, Forest Grove, Klamath Falls, 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 economic, environmental, and social 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 management policies and management goals are established in long-range Forest Management Plans and Implementation Plans. Annual Operations Plans describe activities to achieve the policies and goals laid out in the longer-range plans. ODF is seeking input on the draft Annual Operations Plans summary documents, which can be viewed on the State Forests' new Annual Operations Plans website.
Common topics in the Annual Operations Plan 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 will speak 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.
This year the department worked to improve communications by adding clarity in the documents provided, improved the website, and issued notification to private landowners that share a property line with a proposed operation.
ODF is offering several avenues to comment on Annual Operations Plans:
* Online comments can be submitted through ODF's comments page.
* Comments can be emailed to: odf.sfcomments@oregon.gov
* Comments can also be mailed to ODF Public Affairs, 2600 State St., Salem, OR 97310.
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