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Land Board to Discuss Elliott
Friday, February 5, 2010
The State Land Board will discuss and be asked to approve a recommendation for managing the Elliott State Forest near Coos Bay. Public comment will not be taken on this agenda item. The key components of the recommendation include:
· In collaboration with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), initiate an independent scientific review of aquatic/riparian management strategies to help resolve differing viewpoints on protecting streams and aquatic habitat.
· Set a Dec. 31, 2011, deadline for completing approval of a revised Habitat Conservation Plan that is acceptable to the Oregon Department of Forestry, Department of State Lands, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NMFS. If a new plan is not approved by this date, the 1995 HCP will be terminated and a take avoidance strategy will be implemented to protect threatened and endangered species on the forest.
· Concurrent with the above, develop a revised Forest Management Plan that would use take avoidance for management of T&E species on the Elliott, and have the revised plan in place by Dec. 31, 2011, if a new HCP is not approved.
· Concurrent with the above work, develop a sound understanding of carbon market opportunities for the Elliott State Forest. The overall goal is to achieve a 3-5 percent return on the forest's value, in conjunction with the preferred management strategy determined by Dec. 31, 2011.
The State Land Board owns about 91 percent of the 93,000-acre Elliott State Forest, which is an asset of the Common School Fund. Twice a year, the board sends distributions from the earnings of the fund to Oregon's 197 public school districts. The Oregon Department of Forestry manages the forest for the board and Department of State Lands.
The meeting will be held at the State Lands Building, 775 Summer St., NE in Salem, beginning at 10:00 a.m., in a facility that is accessible for persons with disabilities. If you need assistance to participate in this meeting due to a disability, please notify Lorna Stafford at (503) 986-5224 (lorna.stafford@state.or.us) at least two working days prior to the meeting.
