Oregon's Tillamook State Forest

Oregon's Tillamook State Forest encompasses stream habitats essential for the recovery of imperiled salmon, trout, and other native aquatic species. As the number of federally protected species and degraded waters on forestlands in Oregon grows, it has become clear that Oregon's plan for logging on the Tillamook is inconsistent with federal laws.

Pacific Rivers Council is working to ensure that the best available science is used to reform Oregon's policies to reflect our national goals of protection and recovery for dwindling species and water quality.  Read about PRC's Legacy Rivers Program, which has identified the Kilchis and Little North Fork Wilson Rivers as Legacy Rivers.  These rivers run through Oregon's Tillamook State Forest.

Oregon's Board of Forestry recently decided to increase timber harvest on the Tillamook, despite the harm that will result to aquatic species. 

• Read an article about the decision.
• Read editorials in the Oregonian (in June and September) and the Daily Astorian.
• Read our testimony regarding the proposal.
• Read a letter by former Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber opposing the plan to increase logging on the Tillamook.  
• View a map (caution, large file) prepared by the Wild Salmon Center that shows clearcuts proposed in the Little North Fork Wilson under this new plan.  
• Listen to an episode of OPB's Think Out Loud discussing management of Oregon State's Forests. 
  
• Read a 12 conservation group letter to Governor Kulongoski requesting that he ask the Board of Forestry to ensure scientific peer review before any changes are made to state forest management plans and to diversify the Board of Forestry to include conservation and scientific community representation.
  
• Read an article  explaining a petition that we filed with the Board of Forestry, along with other conservation groups, asking the Board to reverse its decision to increase timber harvest on the Tillamook Forest.
• Read an article describing the petition and the economic issues surrounding the logging increase, including low lumber prices and recreation's economic value.

In addition, the Tillamook was threatened by a proposed bill to change the purpose of state lands in Oregon to give timber harvest primacy over all other values.  Download a fact sheet that asked legislators to oppose this bill, HB 3072, and to support HB 3249, which would have enabled more protection for salmon refuges and other priority parts of our state forests.  Read an editorial in the Eugene Register-Guard that opposed HB 3072.

In response to the public outcry over this decision to increase timber harvest in the Tillamook and Clatsop State Forests, the Board of Forestry has recommended a new advisory panel be created. This panel includes a diverse group of stakeholders and will serve as a knowledge base for the Board. This panel met for the first time in December 2009.