Environmental groups support an agreement to keep Elliott State Forest public. This includes creating a reserve of 34,000 acres, protecting and expanding old growth forest, and paying $121 million to the state’s common school fund.
The forest was almost sold in 2017 when Oregon State Treasurer Tobias Read, a Democrat voted with then-Secretary to State Dennis Richardson, a Republican to sell the land. It is rich in timber, and held by state funds. After pressure from environmental groups, Read reversed his decision and now he is the governor. Senator Bill 1546 would transform the Elliott into an Oregon State University research forest, according to Kate Brown and Secretary Shemia Fagan.
The environmental groups reached a deal in three years with school funding advocates, logging groups, and other groups.
It has been reached consensus by many stakeholders, including conservation, timber and recreation interests, education interests, Tribes and counties on one of Oregons most controversial and contested landscapes. Audubon Society of Portlands Bob Salinger wrote the Jan. 21 letter to legislators.
Read says that this work to establish the Elliott State Research Forest demonstrates that Oregonians can come together, share a common vision, disagree passionately over details, but still find a way of compromise and achieve a win for Oregon.
Related: We travelled deep into the Elliott State Forest, just as it seemed lost.
