SALEM, Ore. – Public feedback is being sought on a report that captures tribal and stakeholder perspectives regarding the future of the Elliott State Forest.
The State Land Board today heard a summary of the Oregon Consensus report, which explored issues and interests regarding decoupling the forest from the Common School Fund. Decoupling would compensate the school fund for the value of the forest and release the forest from its obligation to generate revenue for schools. The forest would remain publicly owned, potentially by a different public owner.
Between March and August 2018, Oregon Consensus conducted interviews with individuals representing federal, tribal, state and local governments, as well as individuals representing timber, conservation, school funding beneficiaries, recreation, land trusts, labor and others. The resulting report summarizes what was heard in interviews and discusses key themes, issues, and considerations for successful decoupling.
The report is available on the Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL) website. Paper copies are also available from DSL on request. DSL is inviting the public to read the final report and provide feedback. Feedback may be submitted until 5 p.m. on Thursday, November 15 via the DSL website or by U.S. mail to 775 Summer St. NE, Ste. 100, Salem OR 97301.
Discussion regarding the future of the Elliott State Forest will continue in December. The Board asked that potential public owners, including Oregon State University, indicate their interest to DSL and come before the Board at the December 18 meeting. DSL will also present a summary of public feedback at the December meeting.
About the State Land Board and the Department of State Lands: The State Land Board consists of Governor Kate Brown, Secretary of State Dennis Richardson and State Treasurer Tobias Read. The Department of State Lands administers diverse natural and fiscal resources. Many of the resources generate revenue for the Common School Fund, such as state-owned rangelands and timberlands, waterway leases, estates for which no will or heirs exist, and unclaimed property. Twice a year, the agency distributes fund investment earnings to support K-12 public schools. The agency also administers Oregon’s Removal-Fill Law, which requires people removing or filling certain amounts of material in waters of the state to obtain a permit.
SALEM, Ore. – A report on stakeholder perspectives regarding the Elliott State Forest will be presented to the State Land Board on Oct. 16 as part of ongoing work to keep the forest publicly owned.
Oregon Consensus conducted more than 45 interviews with tribes and stakeholders representing key interests associated with the Elliott State Forest to gather perspectives on decoupling the forest from the Common School Fund. Decoupling would release the forest from its revenue obligations to the school fund, and could include transfer of the forest to a different public owner. The Oregon Consensus report summarizes what was heard and includes discussion of key themes, issues, and considerations for successful decoupling.
The stakeholder interviews and resulting report are part of the overall effort toward decoupling. The Land Board in 2017 voted to keep the forest in public ownership and directed the Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL) to identify options for decoupling. DSL engaged Oregon Consensus, a program of the National Policy Consensus Center at Portland State University, as an objective party to independently interview stakeholders and provide a summary of its findings.
During the meeting DSL will also ask the Board to consider approving new rules for easements on state-owned lands and the sale of .4 acres in Coos County. Additional items include updates on the DSL trust property program and a Request for Information on forest management services.
The meeting will be held:
Tuesday, October 16
10 a.m. to noon
Department of State Lands
Land Board Room
775 Summer St. NE, Salem
Meeting agenda and materials, including the Oregon Consensus report: https://www.oregon.gov/dsl/Board/Pages/SLBmeetings.aspx
To live stream the meeting, go to the State Lands YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQA7FHTWwl-gjJkQeYPJ1IA
This meeting will be held in a facility that is accessible for persons with disabilities. If you need assistance to participate in the meeting due to a disability, please notify Arin Smith at (503) 986-5224 or arin.n.smith@state.or.us at least two working days prior to the meeting.
About the State Land Board and the Department of State Lands: The State Land Board consists of Governor Kate Brown, Secretary of State Dennis Richardson and State Treasurer Tobias Read. The Department of State Lands administers diverse natural and fiscal resources. Many of the resources generate revenue for the Common School Fund, such as state-owned rangelands and timberlands, waterway leases, estates for which no will or heirs exist, and unclaimed property. Twice a year, the agency distributes fund investment earnings to support K-12 public schools. The agency also administers Oregon’s Removal-Fill Law, which requires people removing or filling certain amounts of material in waters of the state to obtain a permit.