<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Tahoma;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Verdana;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p.MsoAcetate, li.MsoAcetate, div.MsoAcetate
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Balloon Text Char";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:8.0pt;
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";}
span.BalloonTextChar
{mso-style-name:"Balloon Text Char";
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Balloon Text";
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";}
span.EmailStyle19
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:windowtext;}
span.EmailStyle20
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D;}
span.EmailStyle21
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D;}
span.EmailStyle22
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D;}
span.EmailStyle23
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>State Forester Doug Decker provided this update to Oregon Department of Forestry staff on Friday.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Kevin Weeks<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>ODF Public Affairs Office<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> DECKER Doug S <br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, November 30, 2012 3:04 PM<br><br></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hello – <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>There’s much to report, from Salem to Washington, D.C., as we head into December and the holiday break that follows. Here are a few updates: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>An early milestone in the budget process<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal>This morning, Governor Kitzhaber released his recommended 2013-2015 budget, which he will submit to the Legislature when it convenes early next year. The economy continues to grow very slowly, and the budget remains challenging. With the funds available, the Governor’s budget addresses priorities in education, jobs, and reducing the cost of government—primarily with changes in PERS and in the corrections system. In his remarks, the Governor mentioned forestry as part of the foundation of Oregon’s wellbeing and economic recovery, and his budget includes some key forestry investments.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Among them is the Wildfire Protection Act, a reform crafted over many months by a range of stakeholders and with the strong support of the Department and the Board of Forestry. The Act increases investments where we know they are most effective: up front, in firefighting assets that we can position when and where fire danger is most severe. This keeps more fires small, and reduces costs in the long run for landowners and for the public.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>With that foundation, the Act also moves towards a 50-50 sharing of large fire costs, which landowners have paid fully in most years. And it provides an offset for fire protection rates on lower-productivity, fire-prone eastside lands, a measure that can help keep those lands viable as working forests.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I’m pleased to report that the budget also includes authorization for use of lottery-backed bonds to allow us to purchase 20,200 acres to complete acquisition of the Gilchrist State Forest, which we began several years ago. This will mark an important milestone for the Department, Oregon’s state forest system, and the state as a whole. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Acknowledging the importance to Oregon of federally-owned forestlands, the Governor’s budget also provides lottery funds to support collaborative groups developing projects that enhance forest health while also providing raw materials for mills.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>As part of a focus on water, the budget includes funds, shared among several natural resource agencies, to continue important research about the effectiveness of regulations in meeting water quality standards. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>Two other notes of particular interest for us: The budget includes funding for four new positions in our Information Technology Program, essential to modernization and improved customer service, and replacement of an aging, structurally unsound<span style='color:#1F497D'> </span>warehouse in our South Cascade District. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>The inclusion of these elements during challenging budget times is a tribute to strong relationships with stakeholders, and to a clear, unified message about the importance of forests and other natural resources. We will join with our partners to make the case for these investments as the Legislature conducts its budget deliberations, leading toward an adopted budget about mid-year. I’ll continue to keep you posted as that process moves ahead.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>A busy trip to Washington, D.C.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal>I leave Sunday for a full week of meetings and work sessions in the nation’s capital. Board Chair John Blackwell will be joining me for the first several days. On Monday, we’ll be in the gallery as the U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments in a case that originated in 2006 in federal court in Oregon. It will be a privilege to witness the Supreme Court in action.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In the case, the Northwest Environmental Defense Center sued the Board of Forestry, then-State Forester Marvin Brown, and several timber companies, asserting that storm runoff from forest roads constitutes a “point source” of pollution, therefore requiring federal permits for each discharge point.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The case has taken on national interest, with forestry associations, 31 states, and other groups concerned about the regulatory burden and expense that could result. We continue to stand by the Oregon Forest Practices Act and associated best management practices as the most effective way to address storm runoff from forest roads, as we believe the federal Clean Water Act intends. A decision in the case is expected in the spring.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The week’s agenda also includes meetings with Oregon’s Senators and Representatives or their staffs, Forest Service leadership, and my National Association of State Foresters colleagues. Federal forest management, and opportunities for us to more fully use federal programs to conserve working forests at risk of fragmentation, will be themes throughout the week.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I wish you all a safe and productive week, and I look forward to sharing impressions from my visit when I’m back in town. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Best wishes, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>Doug Decker, Oregon State Forester<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal>Director<span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>Oregon Department of Forestry<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2600 State Street, Salem OR 97301<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>