Treasurer Read Celebrates Creation of Elliott State Research Forest
Oregon Legislature approves legislation to establish publicly-owned world-class research forest
Treasurer Tobias Read today applauded the Oregon Legislature for the passage of SB 1546, which establishes a public agency to create the Elliott State Research Forest in collaboration with Oregon State University.
This milestone is a culmination of work that has continued since 2019, when the State Land Board created the Elliott State Research Forest Advisory Committee to bring together competing interests to find a solution to a decades-old conflict. Members of the committee represented a variety of perspectives, including schools, conservation, timber, Tribes, recreation, and local governments.
The Advisory Committee was tasked by the State Land Board with developing a plan and structure for how a research forest – first suggested by Treasurer Read based on conversations with leadership in Oregon State University’s College of Forestry – could accomplish the Land Board’s goals of keeping the Elliott State Forest in public ownership, with strong protections for recreational access, conservation, and working forest research.
“This shows that Oregonians can come together, work around a common vision, disagree passionately about details, but still figure out a way to compromise and reach an outcome that represents a real win for Oregon,” said Treasurer Read. “When we step outside of our silos, we can do big things here in Oregon. I’m thankful for the hard work these volunteers put forward and their commitment to problem solving.”
The creation of the Elliott State Research Forest achieves key elements of the State Land Board’s vison for the Elliott:
• Keeping the forest publicly owned with public access • Decoupling the forest from the Common School Fund, compensating the school fund for the forest, and releasing the forest from its obligation to generate revenue for schools • Continuing habitat conservation planning to protect species and allow for harvest • Providing for multiple forest benefits, including recreation, education, and working forest research
You can learn more about the Elliott State Research Forest and the Advisory Committee’s work on the Department of State Lands website.
This milestone is a culmination of work that has continued since 2019, when the State Land Board created the Elliott State Research Forest Advisory Committee to bring together competing interests to find a solution to a decades-old conflict. Members of the committee represented a variety of perspectives, including schools, conservation, timber, Tribes, recreation, and local governments.
The Advisory Committee was tasked by the State Land Board with developing a plan and structure for how a research forest – first suggested by Treasurer Read based on conversations with leadership in Oregon State University’s College of Forestry – could accomplish the Land Board’s goals of keeping the Elliott State Forest in public ownership, with strong protections for recreational access, conservation, and working forest research.
“This shows that Oregonians can come together, work around a common vision, disagree passionately about details, but still figure out a way to compromise and reach an outcome that represents a real win for Oregon,” said Treasurer Read. “When we step outside of our silos, we can do big things here in Oregon. I’m thankful for the hard work these volunteers put forward and their commitment to problem solving.”
The creation of the Elliott State Research Forest achieves key elements of the State Land Board’s vison for the Elliott:
• Keeping the forest publicly owned with public access • Decoupling the forest from the Common School Fund, compensating the school fund for the forest, and releasing the forest from its obligation to generate revenue for schools • Continuing habitat conservation planning to protect species and allow for harvest • Providing for multiple forest benefits, including recreation, education, and working forest research
You can learn more about the Elliott State Research Forest and the Advisory Committee’s work on the Department of State Lands website.
Contacts
Amy Wojcicki
Treasurer Read’s office
Oregon State Treasury
503-373-7406
Treasurer Read’s office
Oregon State Treasury
503-373-7406
Kasey Krifka
Oregon Savings Network
Oregon State Treasury
503-431-7976
Oregon Savings Network
Oregon State Treasury
503-431-7976
Rachel Wray
Public Information Director
Oregon State Treasury
503-378-5474
Public Information Director
Oregon State Treasury
503-378-5474
