[ODF_Private_Forests] Board approves land exchanges in western & NW Oregon

[WEEKS Kevin]

Oregon Department of Forestry - NEWS RELEASE(S)

Board of Forestry approves land transfers in western Oregon

September 8, 2010
Contact:         Mike Totey (541) 929-9151 or Kevin Weeks (503) 945-7427
NR10-48

The Oregon Board of Forestry today approved the exchange of forestland located in Benton, Lincoln and Polk counties, where similar amounts of state land will be exchanged for private land.

The land exchange involves about 1,904 acres of state-owned land and 2,095 acres of forest owned by Starker Forests Incorporated. The land values, including harvestable timber, are approximately equal, according to an independent appraisal. Third-party assessments also were conducted for sensitive plant, fish and wildlife habitat on affected forest lands. ODF completed an assessment of recreational values.

The forestland acreage in the land exchange approved Wednesday includes:
Lincoln County: 1,024 acres of state land and 1,070 acres of Starker land.
Benton County: 484 acres of state land and 696 acres of Starker land.
Polk County: 396 acres of state land (includes 40 acres of Common School Fund land) and 329 acres of Starker land.

The land exchange yields a net increase of 191 additional acres in state ownership of forestland, producing additional economic, environmental and social benefits to Oregon and local county services.

ODF began negotiations with Starker Forests in 2008 regarding a potential exchange of lands for the purpose of consolidating respective ownerships and to increase management efficiency and effectiveness in forest management by both parties.

Public hearings on the proposed land transfer occurred in April 2010 in Newport, Corvallis and Dallas. Additional public comment on the proposal was accepted during May 2010 and the proposed land exchange was approved by the Board of Commissioners in Benton, Lincoln and Polk Counties during June 2010.

The 40-acre parcel of forest in Polk County under Common School Fund ownership proposed for transfer from the Department of State Lands to Starker will be reviewed by the State Land Board this fall. The Board of Forestry voted 5-0 to approve the land exchange, with board member Gary Springer abstaining due to his employment with Starker Forests.

ODF manages 848,000 acres of state forestland to provide social, economic, and environmental benefits to local communities throughout Oregon. Additional information, including maps of the land exchange areas, is available on the Oregon Department of Forestry website, www.oregon.gov/ODF

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Board of Forestry approves land transfer with Cannon Beach

September 8, 2010
Contact:           Ron Zilli (503) 325-5451 or Kevin Weeks (503) 945-7427
NR10-47

The Oregon Board of Forestry today approved the transfer of several hundred acres of forestland located within Cannon Beach's watershed to the City in exchange for several forest parcels within Clatsop County that are owned by the city moving to state ownership.

The land exchange approved Wednesday transfers one 805-acre contiguous block of State Forest land (Ecola Tract) which encompasses a majority of the City of Cannon Beach's watershed, for eight parcels totaling approximately 720 acres in City ownership.

"The primary purpose of the exchange is to consolidate ODF lands managed by the Astoria District which will improve the social, economic, and environmental benefits provided from public forestlands, and makes management of these lands more economically feasible," said Ron Zilli, Assistant District Forester for ODF's Astoria District. "The high quality salmon habitat on this forest parcel will be managed for conservation under a stewardship plan being developed by the City.  This land exchange is a win-win for Oregon."

The 805-acre Ecola Tract was recently appraised at $2,570,000 while the 720 acres of City-owned land have a market valuation of $2,519,000. The $51,000 difference in land value will be resolved through a one-time payment made to ODF by Cannon Beach.

"An independent appraisal found the land values, including harvestable timber, are approximately equal," said Zilli. "Third-party assessments were conducted for sensitive plant, fish and wildlife habitats while ODF completed an assessment of potential impacts and benefits of recreational values."

The land exchange process has been underway since 2008 when Cannon Beach officials approached ODF about the proposal to consolidate land within ODF's Astoria District and provide City ownership of the watershed. A public hearing on the proposal was held in Astoria during May 2010 with public comment accepted on the proposal until June 2010. The exchange was approved by Clatsop County's Board of Commissioners in June 2010.

ODF manages 848,000 acres of state forestland to provide social, economic, and environmental benefits to local communities throughout Oregon. Additional information, including maps of the area within the land exchange, is available on the Oregon Department of Forestry website, www.oregon.gov/ODF

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