Thanks to pressure from Oregon Wild members and other conservation activists, The Department of State Lands (DSL) appears to be taking a plan for privatization of the Elliot State Forest off the table! While the most egregious proposal may no longer be under consideration, the Elliott’s vulnerable old growth trees, wild salmon runs, and threatened wildlife need your help.

The fate of the Elliott State Forest lies in the hands of the Oregon State Land Board. The Board -- Governor John Kitzhaber, Secretary of State Kate Brown, and State Treasurer Ted Wheeler -- will be holding a hearing in Salem Dec 9th to consider possibilities for the Elliott, and are looking for public input. The Elliott could still be in danger of clear cutting the last remaining old-growth trees on state public lands. 

You can submit comments online, or attend the hearing in person (click for hearing and carpool information)

Email Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber 
Email Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown 
Email Oregon Treasurer Ted Wheeler

Background to include in your comments: 

Oregon’s 93,000 acre Elliott State Forest is home to pristine salmon streams, vast tracts of old, carbon-storing forests, and threatened wildlife habitat. It is also caught up in a conflict between its historic and out-of-date tie to the Oregon Common School Fund and logging proceeds, and the Oregon public’s desire to protect our remaining old-growth forests, wild salmon, and wildlife. Any plan for the Elliott needs to:

• Permanently protect old-growth trees over 100 years old. The Elliot has some of the last remaining old-growth trees on state-owned land. These stands are precious habitat for many threatened species, like the marbled murrelet, and should be safeguarded from timber harvests.
• Decouple the Oregon common school funds from logging revenues. Oregonians should not have to choose between education and clearcutting salmon streams and wildlife habitat.
• Disallow clearcutting. Sustainable management of forests does not include clearcutting. Clearcuts destroy valuable old-growth wildlife habitat, endanger salmon runs, and introduce toxic chemicals into watersheds via aerial herbicide sprays.

Information for attending the meeting in person and carpool info

Tuesday, Dec. 9
9:00 a.m. – Noon
Department of State Lands
775 Summer St. NE
Salem

You will want to sign up to testify right when you arrive. Because of an anticipated large number of public attendees, each commenter will be limited to three minutes. Your testimony will be presented directly to Gov. Kitzhaber, Secretary Kate Brown, and Treasurer Ted Wheeler. Attendees are encouraged to bring their comments in writing in case time constraints prevent everyone from speaking. All oral and written comments will be made part of the official record. Make your testimony constructive, rather than inflammatory. Incorporate the points above, but personalize your testimony and make it your own

Eugene Carpool Details: We will meet up at the FedEx Office parking lot (13th and Willamette St) at 7:15 am sharp on Tuesday morning. The land board meeting starts at 9 am and will go until 12 pm. The carpool will be back in Eugene by approximately 2:00 pm. 

Portland Carpool Details: Carpool leaving from NE Portland at 7 a.m. and returning before 2 p.m.
For more information and to learn about carpooling options, please contact Audubon Society of Portland conservation assistant Micah Meskel.

For more information, visit the Oregon Department of State Lands.