Public invited to meetings to discuss future of the Elliott State Forest, May 29

By Steve Lundeberg, OSU release – CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Oregon State University College of Forestry is inviting the public to participate in discussions regarding the Elliott State Forest next month in North Bend, Reedsport and Roseburg. The listening sessions are part of an OSU-led exploratory phase to assess the feasibility of transforming the Elliott into a research forest. The sessions will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on these dates at these locations: June 4: North Bend Library, 1800 Sherman Ave., North Bend; June 5: Umpqua Discovery Center, 409 Riverfront Way, Reedsport; June 6: Douglas County Extension Annex, 1134 SE Douglas Ave., Roseburg.  Doors will open at 6 p.m. for each of the sessions. College officials will be on hand to discuss the future of the forest, a 91,000-acre parcel in Coos and Douglas counties. Topics could include public access and recreation, conservation, timber harvests, carbon sequestration and educational partnerships. In December 2018, the State Land Board directed the Department of State Lands to work collaboratively with OSU to develop a plan to transform the Elliott into a research forest. DSL and OSU anticipate a proposed plan will be presented to the Land Board for consideration in December 2019. “Our goal is to gather input so we can develop a shared understanding while offering opportunities to discuss issues related to OSU’s process and intentions, ask questions, and identify opportunities to incorporate a spectrum of views into the management of a world-class research forest,” said Anthony S. Davis, interim dean of the College of Forestry.