USDA Forest Service to Host Public Meetings for Northwest Forest Plan Amendment
Media contact: Kristin Carver
SM.FS.R6pressoffice@usda.gov
www.fs.usda.gov/r6
Portland, Ore., January 6, 2025 —The USDA Forest Service will host a series of public meetings across northern California, Oregon and Washington to discuss the proposed amendments to the Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP). These meetings will allow the public to learn about and comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) released in November 2024.
The public meetings will provide information on the proposed amendment, which aims to address wildfire resilience, economic opportunities, improved forest stewardship, adapting to a changing climate, and tribal inclusion. Topics of discussion will include an introduction to the Northwest Forest Plan, an overview of the proposed amendment to land management plans, key details about the proposed action and alternatives outlined in the DEIS, and information on how to engage during the 120-day public comment period.
Sessions will be hosted by the local Forests and members of the NWFP team will be onsite to answer questions. These meetings represent a crucial opportunity for the public to engage with the Forest Service and contribute their perspectives to shaping the future of forest management across the Northwest Forest Plan area.
The meetings will be held at various locations throughout January and February 2025.
| Forest/Scenic Area | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Olympic & Gifford Pinchot National Forests | Olympic National Forest Supervisor’s Office 1835 Black Lake Blvd. Olympia, WA 98512 5:30 p.m. | 1/14/2025 |
| Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest | Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Supervisor’s Office 1000 SE Everett Mall Way #410 Everett, WA 98208 5:30 -7 p.m. | 1/15/2025 |
| Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest | Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Supervisor’s Office 215 Melody Lane Wenatchee, WA 98801 5:30 p.m. | 1/16/2025 |
| Klamath & Six Rivers National Forests | Klamath National Forest Supervisor’s Office 1711 South Main St. Yreka, CA 96097 5-7 p.m. | 1/21/2025 |
| Modoc & Lassen National Forests | Adin Community Center 605 CA-299 Adin, CA 96006 6-8 p.m. | 1/22/2025 |
| Shasta-Trinity & Mendocino National Forests | Shasta College, Building 2000 11555 Old Oregon Trail Redding, CA 96003 5-7 p.m | 1/23/2025 |
| Umpqua National Forest | Roseburg Public Library Ford Rood 1409 NE Diamond Lake Blvd. Roseburg, OR 97470 6 p.m. | 1/28/2025 |
| Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest | Medford Interagency Office 3040 Biddle Rd. Medford, OR 97504 6 p.m. | 1/29/2025 |
| Fremont-Winema National Forest | Klamath Community College 7390 S 6th St., Classroom 820 Klamath Falls, OR 97601 6-7 p.m. | 1/30/2025 |
| Siuslaw National Forest | Siuslaw National Forest Supervisor’s Office 320 SW Jefferson Way Corvallis, OR 97331 5:30 p.m. | 2/11/2025 |
| Willamette National Forest | Willamette National Forest Supervisor’s Office 3106 Pierce Parkway Springfield, OR 97477 5:30 p.m. | 2/12/2025 |
| Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area & Gifford Pinchot & Mt. Hood National Forests | Stevenson Public Library 120 NW Vancouver Ave., Stevenson, WA 98648 5:30-7 p.m. | 2/13/2025 |
| Deschutes National Forest | Sisters Fire Station 301 S Elm St. Sisters, OR 97759 5:30 p.m. | 2/13/2025 |
Details and updates regarding the schedule and locations can be found at https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r6/home/?cid=fseprd1172301#meetings.
“Much has changed in society and science since the Northwest Forest Plan was created nearly 30 years ago,” said Jacque Buchanan, regional forester for the Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest Region. “We’re amending the plan to address today’s challenges in ways that honor the plan’s original goals, while adapting to changing conditions and enhancing wildfire resilience.”
The public comment period for the DEIS will remain open until March 17, 2025. The Forest Service is encouraging interested parties to attend these meetings to learn more about the proposed amendment and to provide input during this time. Comments can be submitted at https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public//CommentInput?Project=64745. The Forest Service will review and incorporate feedback to develop a final environmental impact statement, anticipated later in 2025.
To view the DEIS and learn more about the proposed amendment, visit the Project Page.
For more information, visit:
- Northwest Forest Plan Federal Advisory Committee: https://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/r6/nwfpfac
- Northwest Forest Plan: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r6/reo/
- Pacific Northwest Region: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r6
For more information about the USDA Forest Service, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov.
For additional news about National Forests in the Pacific Northwest, visit our news page at https://www.fs.usda.gov/news/r6/news-events.
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