The Oregon Board of Forestry voted to more than double streamside shade buffer requirements within the Oregon Forest Practices Act to protect cold water in western Oregon fish-bearing streams. Board members voted 4 to 3 to develop administrative rules that create a 60-foot buffer on small fish-bearing streams (120 feet total including both sides of the stream) and an 80-foot buffer (160 feet including both sides) on medium-sized fish-bearing streams. Operating under their statutory direction, the board considered the underlying science and the broad viewpoints from interest groups, scientists, forestry professionals, small woodland owners, fishing professionals, and the public. The rule concepts will now go into the formal rulemaking process.
