The Oregon Department of Forestry released a report to state forest trust land counties last week, highlighting economic, environmental and social accomplishments in fiscal year 2021, including distributing $11.3 million in revenue to Marion, Linn and Clackamas counties.
The 47,000-acre Santiam State Forest covers portions of the three counties. Linn received about $4.4 million in 2021, while Marion and Clackamas received $6.9 million and $17,021, respectively.
This reporting period included post-fire harvest following the Labor Day weekend fires of 2020, which damaged more than 16,000 acres of the Santiam State Forest. ODF’s North Cascade District has made progress removing hazards, repairing roads and trails, and reopening areas to public access as it is safe to do so. Some popular destinations, such as the Shellburg Falls recreation area about 25 miles west of Salem, remain closed.
ODF recently released its Council of Forest Trust Land Counties annual report, which highlights economic, environmental and social contributions from 729,000 acres of actively managed state forestland. The report includes a recap of timber sales and revenue distribution, conservation and forest health activities and recreation use, including popularity and number of visitors, among other statistics.
Statewide, counties and local governments received revenues of $71.4 million in fiscal year 2021, collected from timber sales on state-owned forests. Revenues are distributed based on timber sales within a particular jurisdiction. Other highlights include replanting more than 3 million trees, hosting more than 11,000 campers at ODF campgrounds and maintaining about 230 miles of trail.
Counties and local service providers receive 64% of net revenues from timber harvests on state forests. The remaining revenues finance most aspects of state forest management, including ODF’s recreational offerings, environmental enhancement projects, replanting after timber harvest and forest road maintenance. The state’s share of revenue was $42.8 million in 2021.
State forests managed by the Oregon Department of Forestry are distributed across 15 counties, with the largest being the Clatsop and Tillamook state forests on the north coast, the Santiam State Forest in the northern Cascade Range and the Gilchrist and Sun Pass state forests in Klamath County. Other scattered tracts can be found throughout western Oregon. Many State Forests employees also are part of Oregon’s complete and coordinated fire protection system, providing critical resources and expertise during fire season.