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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3><st1:State w:st="on"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
class=158335118-12012009>Oregon Department of
Forestry</SPAN></B></st1:State></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3><st1:State w:st="on"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
class=158335118-12012009>NEWS RELEASE</SPAN></B></st1:State></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><st1:State w:st="on"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"></B></st1:State></FONT></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><st1:State w:st="on"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Oregon</B></st1:State><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> honors 2008’s <A name=OLE_LINK2></A><A
name=OLE_LINK1></A><st1:place w:st="on"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1">Forest</SPAN></SPAN></st1:place><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"> Practices
Operators of the Year</SPAN></SPAN><o:p></o:p></B></FONT></FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>January 12, 2009</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Contact: Kevin Weeks, (503) 945-7427</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>The Oregon Board of Forestry recently recognized several <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Oregon</st1:State></st1:place> forest operators
for a commitment to innovation and protecting natural resources while harvesting
timber.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Four companies were presented with 2008’s Forest Practices Operator of
the Year awards during the Board’s January 7, 2009 meeting.</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Winners are selected by <st1:State w:st="on">Oregon</st1:State>’s
Regional Forest Practices Advisory Committees, who evaluate nominees based on an
operator’s consistency of positive performance, innovation in project design,
relative difficulty of a harvest operation and a commitment to protecting
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Oregon</st1:State></st1:place>’s
natural resources as a basis for selecting a winner from three regions of the
state.</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><st1:place w:st="on"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">NORTHWEST OREGON</B></st1:place><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> REGION – shared
award<o:p></o:p></B></FONT></FONT></P>
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style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Bighorn Logging (Banks)<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Stimson Lumber Company (Forest
Grove)<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Stimson and Bighorn collaborated to construct a deflection berm at the
foot of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Gales</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Peak</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> northwest of Forest
Grove, an area historically prone to landslides. The deflection berm was
designed to steer potential debris flows into an open pasture, where the flow
could lose energy and come to rest without jeopardizing homes down the slope;
the berm also allows a drinking water stream to continue undisturbed thanks to a
160 foot long culvert buried within the berm.</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>“This was a very unique and ambitious project,” said Eric Perkins, the
ODF stewardship forester who evaluated Stimson’s project. “This is the first
berm system I’ve encountered in a twenty-year career as a forester. Bighorn
Logging also maintains a solid corporate philosophy with over 30 years of
commitment to western <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Washington</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>.”</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>By stabilizing the hillside above, and protecting the homes below the
unit, Stimson was able to harvest a 32 acre unit upslope and, by developing the
protective berm, improved the landslide risk factors for their property which
creates future harvest opportunities on additional units upslope. Construction
of the berm system, performed by Bighorn Logging, was financed by Stimson.
</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><st1:place w:st="on"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">SOUTHWEST OREGON</B></st1:place><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> REGION<o:p></o:p></B></FONT></FONT></P>
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style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Huffman-Wright
(Canyonville)<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Huffman-Wright was honored for a timber harvest near Azalea in <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Douglas</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>. The project, performed on Seneca
Jones Timber property, involved two separate units which bordered Whitehorse
Creek and the North Fork of Whitehorse Creek, waterways that are tributaries of
Cow Creek. </FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Protection to fish and streams between the harvest zones appeared to be
nearly an impossible task, perhaps even a deal-breaker. The two fish-bearing
streams required protection and the four log landings would be very close to
sensitive riparian management areas.</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Jim Bakke, foreman for Huffman-Wright, envisioned the solution. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Bakke’s concept for the harvest operation
hinged on using a large tower equipped with nearly a mile-long skyline system.
<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This solution would rely heavily on
Bakke’s creativity and experience to get the logs to a distant landing for
loading on waiting log trucks. </FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Simply put, the logs from Unit Two were logged to the same landing as
Unit One. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The long span skyline was
equipped with a motorized carriage to move logs to the landing. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There was a problem right from the
start.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The skyline was so high at
the far end of Unit Two that the carriage would not return to this location by
gravity.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Bakke used an extra block
on the skyline, attached by a cable to a bull dozer, to bend the skyline low
enough for the carriage to reach this location.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The logs from Unit Two were raised well
above the vegetation and the heads (or gills) of unsuspecting fish in the stream
below. </FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">“Jim’s idea made sense for several reasons,” said
<st1:PersonName w:st="on">Jack Tannehill</st1:PersonName>, ODF stewardship
forester who worked with the operator and landowner to help reach a solution.
“The set up allowed the operator the opportunity to completely lift the logs
over the riparian areas instead of dragging the logs down hill and through them
to get to the landing.”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>The operation was completed with minimal damage to the sensitive water
resources and riparian areas. This is the second time within five years
Huffman-Wright has been honored for their work. The company was recognized by
the Board of Forestry as a Forest Practices Operator of the Year award winner in
2006.</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><st1:place w:st="on"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">EASTERN OREGON</B></st1:place><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> REGION<o:p></o:p></B></FONT></FONT></P>
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style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Watterson Logging (<st1:place w:st="on">John
Day</st1:place>)<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Watterson was recognized for two harvest operations that consisted of 66
acres of pre-commercial thinning, slash treatment, fuel reduction and minor
commercial harvest in eastern <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Grant</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>“Watterson Logging consistently strives to do a good job,” said Kirk
Ausland, ODF stewardship forester in <st1:place w:st="on">John Day</st1:place>.
“They have been in business for many years in <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Grant</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> and are known as a trustworthy
operator in this region.”</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Watterson was faced with densely overgrown mixed conifer stands on steep,
north facing slopes adjacent to federal-owned lands. Given the difficulty of the
job, Watterson Logging completed this harvest with exceptional
results.</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>The harvest operation resulted in an evenly-spaced mixed conifer stand
that will be resistant to catastrophic fire, disease and insects. <st1:place
w:st="on">Forest</st1:place> health was greatly improved for future
generations.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Watterson Logging is owned by Rusty Watterson of <st1:place
w:st="on">John Day</st1:place>.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>The Oregon Board of Forestry also recognized three <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Oregon</st1:State></st1:place> companies with
2008 Forest Practices Merit Awards;</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<UL style="MARGIN-TOP: 0in" type=disc>
<LI class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Plumley Contracting of <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">White</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">City</st1:PlaceType></st1:place></FONT></FONT>
<LI class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Eberhard Logging of <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Elgin</st1:City></st1:place></FONT></FONT>
<LI class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>A-1 Logging of Yamhill</FONT></LI></UL>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Additional information about <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State
w:st="on">Oregon</st1:State></st1:place>’s forest practice standards is
available on the Oregon Department of Forestry’s web site: </FONT><A
href="http://www.oregon.gov/ODF"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>www.oregon.gov/ODF</FONT></A></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
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