North Coast forest professionals, including silviculturists, forest engineers, loggers, teachers, researchers, and conservationists regularly meet to share information and ideas. Learn more about some of the issues that are front and center on the minds of local folks who work in the woods.
Trees & Taps goes virtual
The Clatsop County Trees & Taps meetup group went virtual in May! Trees & Taps provides an opportunity to share experiences and ideas, celebrate our community’s ties to natural resources, and meet new people!
Impacts of COVID-19 on forest recreation
In Oregon, most timberland owners keep their lands open to the public except during periods of high fire risk. With public forest restrictions in place due to COVID-19 and general misuse, private timberlands are experiencing higher than normal public use. Unfortunately, this has led to increased incidents of vandalism and illegal camping. As a result, some private landowners have had to temporarily changed access policies.
People who wish to recreate on private timberland should contact local foresters to get the most up-to-date information on individual public access policies.
Hampton Family Forests at Big Creek – (503) 458-6111; Clatsop County lands currently open for walk-in access only.
GreenWood Resources – (971) 533 7031; Free access permit required. Apply here.
Wildfire response in a pandemic?
Fire response at the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) is already underfunded (Oregon Starting Fire Season With Limited Budget, OPB). ODF frequently spends six times what is budgeted. It is now being asked to take another 8.5% cut due to anticipated COVID-19 revenue shortfalls. This loss is made worse by the fact that some of ODF’s budget is derived from matching funds from forestland owners. Local foresters work closely with rural fire protection districts and host fire response trainings, however, many are concerned about how firefighters will cope with the new challenges, including the need for social distancing in fire camps.
Mass timber construction in the West
- Spokane, WA – The Catalyst Building at Eastern Washington University will be the first office building in the state to be made entirely out of environmentally friendly cross-laminated timber (CLT).
- Corvallis, OR – Oregon State University’s George W. Peavy Forest Science Center and A.A. “Red” Emmerson Advanced Wood Products Laboratory are primarily made from wood grown in Oregon. The Emmerson lab is dedicated to researching and testing mass timber in commercial buildings. It also houses the TallWood Design Institute.
- Toronto, Canada – Flexible, mixed-use timber buildings are planned for the 12-acre, three-million-square-foot Quayside project. If completed as planned, it will be the largest timber project in the world.
Merkley, Wyden announce grants for wood products innovation projects
WASHINGTON (KTVZ), April 18, 2020 — Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced nine federal grants awarded across Oregon that support innovation in the state’s wood products industry — creating jobs in rural Oregon, advancing research at Oregon State University and the University of Oregon, and reducing wildfire risks and improving forest conditions statewide. Learn more…
Will spruce aphids return?
Spruce aphid (Elatobium abietinum) is an invasive, sap-sucking insect that can quickly overwhelm, defoliate, and kill native species of spruce, including large Sitka spruce. Last year, perhaps due to mild temperatures, was a particularly bad year for aphids on the Oregon coast. In 2020, however, local foresters are reporting far fewer aphids. To keep on top of the problem, the Oregon Department of Forestry is working with Oregon State University Extension Forestry in Astoria to train citizen scientists to locate and log information about spruce trees on the North Coast. If you’re interested in receiving training, contact OSU Extension: dan.stark@oregonstate.edu