Forestry — Blog — Rogue Riverkeeper

320 Miles of Increased Protections for Salmon + Steelhead Streams on Private Forest Lands

On June 3rd, the Oregon Board of Forestry voted unanimously to improve stream buffer standards for southern Oregon streams. This decision brings protections for approximately 320 miles of small and medium salmon and steelhead streams across 1 million acres of private forest lands within the Rogue watershed up to the same standards applied to the rest of western Oregon in 2017. Although this temporary rule is a step in the right direction, it does not fix the significant threats to clean water from harmful forest practices in Oregon that are decades behind other states.

Improving Protections for Small Streams from Harmful Logging Practices

Currently, streams in southern Oregon are left with a less protective stream buffer standard under the Oregon Forest Practices Act that allows logging closer to streams that support salmon and steelhead than in the rest of western Oregon. Cutting trees near streams means less shade and warmer, dirtier water, which can harm salmon and put clean water at risk. The Oregon Board of Forestry needs to update its rules to require the more protective stream buffer standard for the Siskiyou region that applies to the rest of western Oregon. The Board will decide whether or not they need to change these rules in July.

Siskiyou ExemptionRogue RiverkeeperApril 27, 2020Clean Water Act, Siskiyou, Rogue River, Forestry

Don’t leave Southern Oregon Streams Behind!

Right now, streams that support salmon and steelhead in southwestern Oregon are left with weaker protections than the rest of western Oregon under the Oregon Forest Practices Act. Rogue Riverkeeper is working with our partners in the Oregon Stream Protection Coalition to make sure that southern Oregon streams aren’t left behind!