Where to get advice, technical assistance, and answers to questions
One of the questions woodland owners ask most frequently is, "Where I can I find help?"
Fortunately, there are many types of assistance available, from educational programs to
on-the-ground technical advice, to cost share and other financial assistance programs. In
fact, the large number of agencies and programs, each with its own acronym, can make
things pretty confusing at times! Read more… (link to below)
Agency contact info
OSU Extension Service
* Educational programs & tours
* Publications
* Clearinghouse services for woodland management questions
Jackson County Extension 569 Hanley Road Central Point, OR 97502 (541) 776-7371
Max Bennett, Extension Forester (covers both counties)
Josephine County Extension 215 Ringuette St. Grants Pass, OR 97527 (541) 476-6613
Oregon Department of Forestry
* Forest practices rules administration
* The place to file notifications of operation
* The place to ask about reforestation requirements
* Service forestry program provides on-site assistance for woodland owners including
administration of cost-share programs
Oregon Department of Forestry
5286 Table Rock Road
Central Point, OR 97502
(541) 664-3328
Oregon Department of Forestry
5375 Monument Drive
Merlin, OR 97526
(541) 474-3152
Natural Resources Conservation Service/Farm Service Agency/Soil & Water
Conservation Districts
* Conservation planning
* Technical assistance for soil and water conservation issues
* Financial assistance/incentive programs for riparian planting (CREP) and forestry
practices (EQIP)
MEDFORD SERVICE CENTER
573 PARSONS DR
MEDFORD, OR 97501-3769
(541) 776-4267
Josephine County 476-5856
Other assistance
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Medford (826-8774)
(Information and technical assistance for wildlife enhancement.)
Oregon Department of Revenue
Salem (503) 378-4988 (Timber taxation)
County Offices
County Assessor
Jackson 774-6059
Josephine 474-5260
County Land Use/Planning
Jackson 774-6900
Josephine 474-5421
Burning information
Jackson 776-7007
Josephine 476-9663
Other Useful Numbers....
Bureau of Land Management
Jackson 618-2200
Josephine 479-7244
National Forests
Rogue River National Forest
(Medford) 858-2200
Siskiyou National Forest
(Grants Pass) 471-6500
Oregon Small Woodlands Association
Salem (503) 588-1813
Local (c/o OSU Extension) 776-7371
Oregon Tree Farm System
Salem (800) 603-0865
Where to get help (link from above)
OSU Extension Service
The OSU Extension Service is a good place to start. OSU Extension is the off-campus
educational arm of Oregon State University. The extension forestry staff consists of
subject matter specialists at OSU in Corvallis and forestry agents in some Oregon
counties. Forestry agents provide workshops, demonstrations, tours, publications, and
audiovisual materials on woodland management.
OSU Extension trains experienced woodland owners to become Master Woodland
Managers (MWMs). Each volunteer completes 80 hours of instruction and then returns
the same number of volunteer hours, visiting and assisting other woodland owners.
MWMs are active in several Oregon counties. Contact your Extension office in your
county for more information.
OSU Extension has dozens of publications on a wide range of rural living topics,
including many on woodland management. Order publications through Extension and
Experiment Station Communications at OSU or from county Extension offices. There
generally is a charge to cover costs. A list of publications is available on the Web site
http://eesc.oregonstate.edu. Many can be viewed on-screen and printed out.
Oregon Department of Forestry
Service Foresters with the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) provide on-site
technical assistance to woodland owners for tree planting, fire hazard reduction, insect
and disease issues, thinning, and related woodland management activities. Service
foresters also administer the technical aspects of forestry cost-share programs such as the
Stewardship Incentive Program (SIP) and the Forestry Incentives Program (FIP).
Forest practices foresters with ODF administer and enforce the Oregon Forest Practices
Act, which governs timber harvesting, road building, and other forestry activities on
private land in the state. In some counties, ODF offers a free fire inspection of homes in
the rural-urban interface. A forest officer inspects your residence and the surrounding
grounds and makes recommendations ways to improve your property's ability to survive
a wildfire.
Other State Agencies
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) does not have an official outreach
program to backyard woodland owners but may be able to advise about fish and wildlife
enhancement or problems with wildlife damage.
The Oregon Water Resources Department has information on water rights and pond and
lake development. The Oregon's timber tax programs are administered by the Oregon
Department of Revenue. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality administers
water quality laws, while the Oregon Department of Agriculture is involved with
developing water quality improvement plans under Senate Bill 1010.
Oregon Water Resources Department, 3850 Portland Road, Salem, OR 97310 - (503)
378-3808.
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, 811 SW 6th Ave., Portland, OR 97204, 1800-452-4011, (503) 229-5630.
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
Formerly known as the Soil Conservation Service, this federal agency assists landowners
with projects involving soil and water conservation. Many NRCS clients are farmers, but
the agency works with a variety of landowners including forest owners. NRCS provides
technical advice regarding irrigation, pasture management, riparian restoration, wetland
management, and other conservation practices. NRCS works closely with local Soil and
Water Conservation Districts and the federal Farm Service Agency (FSA).
Other federal agencies
The Farm Service Agency (FSA) administers the paperwork end of some federal cost
share programs such as CREP.
The United States Forest Service (USFS) is not staffed to provide assistance directly to
private landowners. Financial and technical assistance is provided instead to the Oregon
Department of Forestry to support its Service Forestry Program.
Woodland Owner Groups
The Oregon Small Woodlands Association (OSWA) is an association of family
forestland owners. County OSWA chapters publish informational newsletters and offer
frequent tours and meeting on topics of interest to woodland managers. Woodland
association programs are generally open to non-members. Attending these programs is a
great way to pick up tips for managing your property. It's also an opportunity to meet
other woodland owners to share ideas and experiences.
Woodland owners who are implementing good forestry activities on their property may
qualify to have their properties certified as a Tree Farm. Certified Tree Farmers receive a
Tree Farm sign and certificate. A minimum of 10 forested acres is required. The program
is sponsored nationally by the American Forest Foundation, and in Oregon by the Oregon
Tree Farm System. Members receive the national Tree Farmer magazine and a periodic
inspection from a professional forester.
Oregon Small Woodlands Association, 1775 32nd Pl NE, Suite C, Salem, OR 97303,
(503) 588-1813, http://www.oswa.org.
Oregon Tree Farm System, 3415 Commercial St. SE, Suite N, Salem, OR 97302-0242, 1800-603-0865.
Watershed Councils
Watershed councils are local groups dedicated to improvement of water quality and fish
habitat in specific drainages or watersheds. Council members typically include local
residents and landowners, representatives from state and federal agencies, and local
forestry, farm, and other industry representatives. Watershed groups sometimes offer
informational tours and meetings of interest to woodland owners. They may also be a
source of technical and financial assistance, especially for projects related to fencing, tree
planting, and related stream restoration activities.
Forestry Consultants
Private forest consultants are available throughout the state to provide comprehensive
assistance to landowners. Consultants provide many valuable services that are beyond the
scope of public agency assistance programs. Many landowners find the services of a
consultant to be especially valuable during the complex process of selling and harvesting
timber. Consultants also can help landowners develop Forest Stewardship Plans. For a
referral list of local forest consultants, contact your local Oregon Department of Forestry
or OSU Extension Service office.
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