Elliott Saga Continues
State Treasurer Tobias Read’s 2019 idea to turn the Elliott State Forest over to Oregon State University for a research forest has hit numerous roadblocks, none bigger than OSU deciding that the risks of ownership due to expected legal challenges over any timber harvests are too great. Read is now running for Governor and would like to see his idea go forward.
A Department of State Lands Advisory Committee, made up of stakeholders, OSU and DSL representatives has been overseeing a process that would keep the ESRF in public hands. The Committee is now developing Legislative Concepts for the February 2022 short legislative session. Legislation is needed to create an entity that governs the Elliott State Research Forest, where OSU will conduct the research on the massive 84,000 acre forest.
Still to be determined is where or how the $121 million will come from to decouple the ESRF from its Constitutional tie to the Common School Fund. Also, the Committee decided a new appraisal would be timely. Since timber values have increased dramatically since the Pandemic it’s likely the price tag will increase.
DSL is overseeing the development of an Endangered Species ACT Habitat Conservation Plan for the Elliott that will determine the allowable timber sale quantity. Previous attempts by the Department of Forestry to develop an HCP failed to get Federal Agency buy-in during both Republican and Democratic Administrations. Good luck this time.
The ESRF will need to generate funds for research projects, road maintenance and fire protection. Not to mention maintaining public access to the forest.
Likely next steps include approval of legislative concepts for creating the ESRF and a governing body for this new public entity. Just as important is securing $121 million. Stay tuned.
Controversial forestry experiment will be largest-ever in United States
No comments:
Post a Comment