ODF release – SALEM, Ore. – Two loggers and a forestry consultant have been chosen as Operator of the Year for their respective region of Oregon. Three regional advisory committees to the Oregon Board of Forestry selected the trio last month. The recipients will be recognized in Salem at the January 4 meeting of the Board. The selected firms are: Eastern Oregon – Chuck Sarrett of Full Circle Consulting of La Grande, Ore.; Northwest Oregon – Mike Falleur of F and B Logging of Warrenton, Ore.; Southwest Oregon – Bobby King of R and R King Logging of Florence, Ore. The award recognizes forest operators who, while harvesting timber or doing other forestry work, protect natural resources at a level that consistently meets or goes above and beyond requirements of the Oregon Forest Practices Act *. That law requires people to manage forests responsibly and protect streams and water quality, protect and enhance habitat, and reduce landslide risks. The law also requires landowners to replant forests after harvesting. Videos about each of the three Operators of the Year and three Merit Award winners can be viewed on the ODF website at https://www.oregon.gov/odf/Working/Pages/default.aspx Southwest Oregon – Bobby King of R and R King Logging in Florence comes from a logging family and has more than 30 years of doing great work protecting natural resources. He is often called upon by landowners to tackle difficult harvests in the steep terrain of the southern Oregon Coast Range. He was nominated for work he did protecting water quality in a forest unit that was bounded by a fish-bearing stream and a meandering tidal slough. Using a drone to run yarding cables from a high point across the slough allowed him to hoist logs above the protected trees buffering the slough and creek without damaging any. He also succeeded in logging around a stand of trees along a strip of neighboring land without damaging those. Jon Laine, ODF Stewardship Forester who inspected the harvest unit, said King and his crew’s experience helped them also protect soils and keep neighbors happy. “They have the expertise and know how to take on these challenging projects and protect nearby waters and the land,” said Laine. Merit Awards were also given to three other companies. Southwest Oregon – Strain Excavating and Trucking of Coos Bay for replacing a failing tube culvert with a larger box culvert that opened up about three miles of habitat on Weyerhaeuser land for native cutthroat trout that had not been reachable by fish for more than 50 years. ODF Forest Resources Division Chief Josh Barnard said, “The honorees this year innovated to protect water quality, and helped landowners be able to improve the health of their forests and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire through careful management planning. They have shown extraordinary care and diligence in challenging harvesting situations. We’re pleased to recognize the community spirit and leadership these operators have shown.”
