Forest Advisory Board Meeting - Aug. 13, 2025

Agenda

1. Call To Order - Introductions
2. Citizen Input
3. Business
   1. Review of Minutes from November 13th, 2024, meeting
   2. Forestry Program Updates – Andrew
   3. Trespass on Cedar Ridge Property – Andrew
   4. Wild Trout III Update – Andrew
   5. Next 5 years of Timber Sales – Andrew
4. Good of the Order
5. Adjournment

Minutes

1. Call To Order – Introductions
   Meeting was called to order at 6:17pm by Brent Keller.
   Members Present: Brent Keller, Dan Green, Mark Rasmussen, Bill Street
   Members Absent: Molly McKnight
   Staff Present: Sarah Eckman, Andrew Dobmeier, Lisa Harman
2. Citizen Input
   No citizen input.
3. Business
   1. Review of Minutes from November 13th, 2024, meeting
      Motion to approve minutes was made by Bill Street, seconded by Dan Green, and passed. Minutes from November 13th, 2024, meeting are approved.
   2. Forestry Program Updates – Andrew
      • Finished 65 acres of PCT in late Winter/early Spring. Contract was with North Reforestation, but since it was a large contract, they also sub-contracted to Perez.
      • Barton Park has an old quarry that was used by Transportation Maintenance but now will be an expanded area for County Parks. We are doing some tree planting around the pond that is 8 to 10 feet deep. This area is gated off and not open to the public.
        • Planting began 4 years ago. The first year 99% died, second year was very wet into late spring, then got hot and dry, which caused 95% mortality. The third year the trees were planted and watered every third week starting in June, and this year dug wells around them as well. They have had a 65% survival rate when watered and we could have 85% survival this year. The first year surviving Doug-fir are now 4.5 – 5 feet tall. Drier species of trees are doing better there because the soil is very rocky. There are also little oak trees planted on the island in the pond.
        • The construction class from NW College of Construction conducts project work in the quarry area, and a parking lot will be built there for the Barton Park expansion.
      • We had some general contracts out and are slashing blackberries, digging wells around planted trees, and caging trees from beavers at the Barton Park expansion.
        • Franco Reforestation is handling our spraying contracts, and they are careful about preventing tree loss while spraying. They have sprayed for thistle, japanese knotweed, tansy, teasel, scotch broom, blackberries, and poison hemlock, and will spray again this fall. Contracts are valid until the end of November.
      • Utilizing a student assistant for Forestry projects during the winter months.
      • Forestry has a new 2024 Chevy Duramax flatbed truck. It was customized to hold a fire tank in the summer and be used for salvage logging in the winter.
      • We have a new grapple attachment for the small excavator that can pick up logs and will increase production.
      • There is still a lot of illegal shooting up on Wildcat. We had to replace the “No Shooting” signs a couple of times. Some areas have less garbage thanks to Charlie’s frequent efforts and are getting green again. Forestry employees are cleaning the area and talking with people about proper shooting etiquette and safe places for target practice. There has also been some vandalism of the gates.
   3. Trespass on Cedar Ridge Property – Andrew
      • There was a trespass and theft of approximately 25 wildlife trees from our Cedar Ridge harvest unit. The case has been referred to the Oregon Department of Forestry. The State will make a finding and then our attorneys will get involved with recovering the value of the timber. Andrew will open the roads this winter and will remeasure and mark the trees.
      • There was discussion related to the sale of the property after the 2014 harvest, however there are no plans to sell it at this time.
   4. Wild Trout III Update – Andrew
      • The documents are currently under review in the Procurement department, then will go out to bid.
      • We are building a connector road to shorten the haul route and keep it all on County lands.
      • Log prices should be good, but maybe not as high as the last sale due to a smaller percentage of power pole trees.
   5. Next 5 years of Timber Sales – Andrew
      • Last winter we cruised the Wild Trout III unit, and it was very close to projected growth estimates. We cruised a couple other areas in Wildcat to get a better idea of volumes left in Wildcat.
      • There looks to be about 15 MBF left in the Wildcat tract that are over 60 years of age.
      • Andrew proposes that the next harvest plan be for a 5 years period. Public notice will take place in accordance with all requirements.
      • There was discussion on the Forest Management Plan which should be completed by 2028.
      • Sarah mentioned that the Commissioners are discussing how to make Commissioner assignments to various advisory boards including the Forest Advisory Board.
4. Good of the Order
   No good of the order.
5. Adjournment
   Meeting was adjourned at 7:59pm by Brent Keller.