Two minutes, 14,000 miles of Oregon streams

In Live Action Alerts, Oregon by Shauna Sherard

2014 JUL 28: The Elk River Salmon Emphasis Area outside of Port Orford, OR.

 

Two minutes can help protect 14,000 miles of Oregon streams.

The Oregon Board of Forestry (BOF) will soon decide whether to increase Oregon’s riparian buffers. These buffers supply cool water in the heat of summer, water necessary for steelhead, trout, salmon and other organisms important to Oregon rivers and streams.

Currently, Oregon requires only a 20 foot buffer — far smaller than neighboring states, and according to the science, woefully inadequate as a means of providing the necessary cool water on which these species depend.

Studies have shown that at least 120 feet of buffer is needed to provide adequate shade 90 percent of the time.

By comparison, Federally managed forests in the Northwest require a 300 foot buffer on fish bearing streams.

We are asking for a mere 110 feet – a reasonable compromise.

But we need you. It’s not often you can protect 14,000 miles of streams. Please, reach out to the Board member in your region and tell them you support increasing buffers to 110 feet.

The board is expected to make its ruling by early October. We urge you to take a moment and stand up for a positive change for fish and habitat that is supported by both the science and the angling community.

Contact Information

General email for Board of Forestry:

BoardofForestry@oregon.gov

 

Tom Imeson – Chair

220 NW Second Ave.

Portland, OR. 97209

Phone (503)-220-2370

tom.imeson@nwnatural.com

 

Sybil Ackerman-Munson

20200 SE Walgren Road

Damascus, OR. 97209

(503)-419-8454

sybilbof@gmail.com

 

Cindy Deacon Williams

4393 Pioneer Rd.

Medford, OR 97501

(541) 601-4737

 

Nils D. Christoffersen

401 NE 1st St. Ste A

Enterprise, OR 97828

(541) 426-8053

nils@wallowaresources.org

 

Tom Insko

Eastern Oregon University

One University Boulevard

Inlow Hall Suite 216

La Grande, OR 97850

(541) 962-3512

 

Gary Springer

Starker Forests, Inc.

7240 S.W. Philomath Blvd

PO Box 809

Corvallis, OR 97339-0809

(541) 929-2477

gtspringer@hotmail.com

 

Mike Rose

25379 State Hwy. 38

Elkton, OR 97436

(541) 337-7413