March Update
Topline Summary: Roughly 3.2 million Oregonians get their drinking water from forested watersheds. Let’s stay aware of what’s happening with private & state forests, at the legislature, and among other state agencies. Then together, let’s take action to protect our own forest watersheds and others across Oregon.
Action Alert: Timber companies act like their profits are more important than clean drinking water, fish survival, and a stable climate for all. They are pressuring the volunteer Oregon Board of Forestry to upend protections for fish, drinking water, and carbon storage in the Tillamook and Clatsop State Forests. They demand continued cash from our forests. If you support watershed protections, the Board of Forestry and Oregon Governor Kotek want to hear that loud and clear. Take action now!
Private Forest Accord: If you have not signed up for the Forest Activity Electronic Reporting and Notification System (FERNS), you are missing out. Aerial herbicide spraying near you will trigger a notification, and you can see timber company plans for your neighborhood or places where you hike and fish. Sign up now! https://yourforestwatershed.org/getting-started-with-ferns Coming in June, timber operators will be following the new, expanded stream-side buffer rules; if you see logging or spraying closer than is allowed to streams, please contact your local Department of Forestry stewardship forester https://www.oregon.gov/odf/working/Pages/findaforester.aspx or reach out to me (ck@oregonwild.org).
State Forests: Our state forest lands are managed by the state Department of Forestry for what the law calls “greatest permanent value” to all Oregonians. Greatest permanent value includes trees absorbing carbon pollution, stream beds hosting fish nests, trails for hikers and dirt bikers, and timber harvesting. But over the last 20 years, our public land has been used as a cash register for county services, wildfire financing, and mill owner profits. There’s a lot of work to do and there’s a lot of skilled workers to do the work. Stay tuned for how you can help skilled folks stay employed in the woods improving forest and stream health.
Legislature: Bills are moving out of committee and getting signed into law. There are a number of bills that improve forest watersheds that are still alive; if you want to send a note of support, click the link and look for the “Testify” button. The form allows you to input your name and click “support.” Or you can elaborate.
Senate Bill 530 https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2023R1/Measures/Overview/SB530 will fund natural climate solutions to store carbon, improve drinking water and air quality, and benefit forest and farm business finances.
House Bill 3019 https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2023R1/Measures/Overview/HB3019 reforms the public Oregon Forest Resources Institute to limit OFRI’s dissemination of industry propaganda.
House Bill 2813 https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2023R1/Measures/Overview/HB2813 will help communities purchase their watershed to protect drinking water.
House Bill 3159 https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2023R1/Measures/Overview/HB3159 raises the statewide transient lodging tax to fund critical wildlife habitat restoration, much of it in forested watersheds across Oregon.
House Bill 3124 https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2023R1/Measures/Overview/HB3124 is a sprawling drought-prevention and -recovery funding package. If your water is at risk, let’s talk about how to get funding here.
Other agencies: This month, we’re highlighting Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and their efforts to reduce non-point source pollution from farms, roads, and industrial forests on the Coast, to come into compliance with the federal Clean Water Act. Because the state has been unable to reduce non-point source pollution of Coastal rivers, the federal government continues to withhold funding for coastal cities and counties. https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/2016/03/oregon_fined_12_m_for_failing.html The Private Forest Accord’s conservation measures should eliminate the pollution from forest activities, but other sources remain. To learn more about your nearest streams, you can navigate to Oregon DEQ’s 2022 Approved Integrated Report https://www.oregon.gov/deq/wq/Pages/epaApprovedIR.aspx and click on “submittal documents > 2022 303d and impaired waters” to see streams with poor water quality and what is driving it.
