Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Gifford Pinchot and Mt. Hood National Forests to host...

The Mt. Hood National Forest, along with the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and Gifford Pinchot National Forest, is hosting a community meeting to share information about proposed changes to the Northwest Forest Plan. The public is invited to join and learn more about the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.

Meeting Details:

• What: Community meeting on proposed changes to the Northwest Forest Plan
• When: Thursday, February 13, 2025
• Where: Stevenson Public Library, 120 NW Vancouver Ave., Stevenson, WA 98648
• Time: 5:30 to 8 p.m. (Doors open at 5 p.m.)

The Northwest Forest Plan was created in 1994 to conserve habitat for wildlife and forests while supporting local communities. After nearly 30 years, the Forest Service is amending the plan to address today’s challenges, including wildfire risks and economic needs.

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement explains these proposed changes and is open for public comment until March 17, 2025. Some of the key focuses of the updated plan include:

• Reducing wildfire risks to communities and forests.
• Supporting local economies with sustainable timber and restoration work.
• Adapting to a changing climate to increase resiliency to extreme weather events, like droughts and wildfire.
• Honoring trust responsibilities to tribal governments and communities by involving them in land management planning and implementing forest management practices.

At the meeting, you can:

• Talk directly with Forest Service staff and experts who worked on the plan.
• Look at detailed maps of the area and proposed updates.
• Pick up easy-to-understand fact sheets to take home.
• Learn how to share your thoughts during the public comment period.

Why Your Voice Matters

Public input helps shape the final version of the plan. This is your chance to share concerns, ask questions, and help ensure the plan reflects community priorities.

Read the full Draft Environmental Impact Statement and find other resources online: https://tinyurl.com/3ju57p2k. For a list of all public meetings across the Northwest Forest Plan area, visit the Northwest Forest Plan website: https://shorturl.at/uRzQd

If you have questions, you can email the team directly at SM.FS.NWFPquestion@usda.gov.

Information about the 1994 Northwest Forest Plan and the proposed amendment to the Northwest Forest Plan is available at https://shorturl.at/VaBUr.

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