Oregon Department of Forestry Announces Steep Slope Harvesting Rule Changes and Mandatory Training

The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) issued a bulletin on Friday (5-26-23) in regard to the Forest Practice Act (FPA) rule changes that are aimed at providing regulatory certainty and to protect fish and wildlife.

In 2022, the Oregon Legislature directed the Board of Forestry to make about 110 FPA rule changes. As a result, on January 1, 2024, the steep slopes rule goes into effect. Part of those rule changes address harvesting on steep slopes. These rules require foresters and those planning timber harvests to receive steep slopes certification training. The steep slopes rules only apply to Western Oregon, which informed the selection of training locations:

• June 14, Douglas County Fairgrounds, Roseburg
• June 16, Holiday Inn, Wilsonville
• June 20, Comfort Suites, Albany

The new laws require this certification for large forestland owners, those who own 5,000 or more acres of forestland. Qualifying small forestland owners do not need this certification. According to the bulletin, the goal is to help people follow the rules intended to improve fish and wildlife habitat in and around streams.

The main reason to keep trees on certain steep slopes is to allow natural landslides to deliver large wood and sediment to streams over time and ultimately improve aquatic habitat. Human activities on the landscape can influence the timing and size of landslides, the amount of large wood that is available for future delivery to streams and can increase the amount of sediment delivered to a stream.

Increased amounts of sediment can adversely impact fish and other species. Sediment can fill in gravel beds for spawning, reduce food availability and impact a fish’s ability to see prey. Large wood from landslides creates vital habitat and protection for fish and other creatures.