May 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 public agencies. Then together, let’s take action to protect our own forest watersheds and others across Oregon.
Action Alert: The Tillamook and Clatsop State Forests are among the best places in the world to grow a forest, and the rivers that flow out of these special places are the best water for us and for fish. The Board of Forestry is still considering whether to adopt, strengthen, or weaken the habitat conservation plan that will protect streams and fish from the intensive industrial logging of state forests. Tell the Governor and her Board of Forestry that you support the State Forest HCP.
Private Forest Accord: If you have not signed up for the Forest Activity Electronic Reporting and Notification System (FERNS), do it today https://yourforestwatershed.org/getting-started-with-ferns ! I learned recently that unattended burn piles and slash burns are a primary source of wildfires. Since we’re in the “dry but not yet too dry” period of the year, you are probably seeing lots of unattended burn piles; if you see one escape, call 911, and then 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: Want to go hiking or biking in the Tillamook and Clatsop State Forests but don’t know where to get started? Stay tuned for an Oregon Wild webcast on hiking the State Forests of Western Oregon! We’ll cover the basics of where to go, what to bring, and how to do it all safely, so that you can hike with confidence (there may be a guided hike opportunity, too). Speaking of hiking and biking, the Labor Day 2020 fires scorched the Santiam State Forest and the popular Shellburg Falls recreation area remains closed but the Department of Forestry and the Salem Area Trail Alliance continue to rebuild trails and bridges. State Forest Division Chief Mike Wilson estimates it will be open by fall of 2023 or spring of 2024.
Legislature: There is good news and bad news in the State Capitol. The state revenue forecast this month is much stronger than expected, so there will be more money for water and forest protection, education, and other priorities. The bad news is that Senate Republicans continue their strategy of skipping out on floor sessions to deny a quorum, halting all bills passing out of the Senate. That means the state two year budget cannot be approved, even though there is more money than we expected. Due to 2022’s Measure 113, the 10 Senate Republicans who have accrued more than 10 absences are barred from running for reelection. Governor Kotek pledges to call legislators back for a special session to approve the budget if the Republican absentees do not return before the mandated end of session on June 25th. Unfortunately, that means dozens of good, timely, necessary bills will die, including beaver protections, drinking watershed protections, and natural climate solutions.
Other agencies: This month, we’re highlighting an advocacy group, the Sisters Trail Alliance (https://sisterstrails.org). The values of STA are sustainable recreation, wildlife habitat protection, public lands access, and climate action, and they put their values into action in Central Oregon with trail user education, advocacy to prevent forest damage from logging, and so much more. Across Oregon, trail stewards from the Salem Area Trail Alliance (https://www.salemtrails.org) and the Northwest Trail Alliance (https://nw-trail.org)to the Greater Hells Canyon Council (https://www.hellscanyon.org) expand our horizons while building a love for the special public lands all around us.
