ODFW's Private Forest Accord Advisory Committee holds field trip Oct. 2 in Coos Bay

SALEM, Ore. – The Private Forest Accord Advisory Committee will attend an in-person field trip in Coos Bay on Thursday, Oct. 2. The Advisory Committee will tour several project locations previously funded by the PFA Grants Program.

The public is welcome to attend in person and are responsible for arranging their own transportation and lunch. Attendees can meet at 8:15 a.m. in the lobby of the Mill Casino & Hotel, 3201 Tremont Ave., North Bend and follow the committee to the first project site. Public attendees are encouraged to email Andy Spyrka before the field trip at andy.j.spryka@odfw.oregon.gov

The first site visit will be at Coaledo tide gate and Beaver Slough in Leneve at about 9:15 a.m. A full agenda and a site tour map are available online here.

The Private Forest Accord Mitigation Fund was established in the 2022 Legislative Session (Senate Bills 1501 and 1502; House Bill 4055) as an outcome of the landmark agreement between timber and conservation groups to recommend changes to the Forest Practices Act. The Private Forest Accord allows for forest practices to proceed with increased protections for natural resources, including the development of a habitat conservation plan (HCP) for aquatic species. The Private Forest Accord Mitigation Fund's purpose is to fund projects that help aquatic species and habitats covered by the HCP and is to be administered by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Learn more about this important effort at the Oregon Department of Forestry's webpage.