Protect Tillamook and Clatsop State Forests, and salmon

If you care about salmon and steelhead on Oregon’s North Coast, now is the time to get involved with the ecological nightmare about to unfold on the Tillamook.

From Jeff Hickman: Back in June 2009, the Oregon Board of Forestry voted to increase clear cutting from 50% to 70% of the Tillamook and Clatsop state forests. The Board’s decision authorizes increased clear cutting of thousands of acres of diverse, native forests, which are rare in the North Coast range, including up to 70% of some key salmon “anchor” watersheds.

The Tillamook and Clatsop state forests that are affected by this decision are the largest publicly owned coastal rainforest south of the Olympics and home to some of the healthiest remaining runs of wild fish in the lower 48 states. These forests and the health of their watersheds face an uncertain future if the Board’s recommendations are allowed to proceed unchallenged.

Bob Van Dyk of the Wild Salmon Center said the Oregon Board of Forestry is seeking public comments before they finalize their June 3 decision to weaken environmental protections on your state forests.

You can send your comment through a website created by the Sierra Club. The website has a good preset comment, but it can be changed, so add something personal, too.

Or you can send your own comments via email to Jeff Foreman and the Oregon Department of Forestry. Jeff.Foreman@state.or.us Put “State Forest Rule Making” in the subject line.

KEY POINTS:

1) Do not lower the goal for growing and protecting older, complex forests.
2) Do not increase the amount of forest that is allowed to be recently clear cut.
3) Work cooperatively with the federal fish and wildlife agencies to design a strong habitat conservation plan.

COME TO A PUBLIC HEARING IF YOU CAN:

Salem Oregon on Tuesday the 26th from 5:30 to 9 PM at the Department of Forestry Headquarters.
Seaside Oregon on Thursday the 28th from 5:30 to 9 PM at Seaside City Hall.

Details on hearings and proposed changes in ODF press release HERE.

COMMENT PERIOD CLOSES FRIDAY JANUARY 29