Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 9, September 1, 2024
(1) OAR
629-607-0000 through 629-607-0800 shall be known as the small forestland owner
rules.
(2) Small forestland owners
play a vital and distinct role from industrial forestland owners to manage and
conserve Oregon's private forests. Small forestland owners often differ from
large owners as to management goals and financial resources, and they also own
a disproportionate share of lowland fish and wildlife habitat.
(3) Goals for this division include helping
small forestland owners:
(a) Comply with the
Forest Practices Act and rules;
(b)
Meet the biological goals and objectives for aquatic resources;
(c) Practice standard harvest and road
management rules;
(d) Implement
minimum options;
(e) Use the forest
conservation tax credit;
(f) Seek
funding under the Small Forestland Investment in Stream Habitat
program;
(g) Minimize the number of
land-use conversions of timberlands to other uses; and
(h) Receive financial and educational support
to encourage small forestland owners to follow the standard harvest and road
management rules.
(4) The
State Forester shall create a Small Forestland Owner Assistance Office,
pursuant to section 19, chapter 33, Oregon Laws 2022. This office shall:
(a) Provide supporting services, including
but not limited to:
(A) Verify landowner
eligibility;
(B) Education,
training, and outreach;
(C) Help
small forestland owners with road condition assessments in OAR 629-625-0920 and
written plans under ORS
527.670(10) and
OAR 629-605-0170;
(D) Tracking,
recording, reporting, and monitoring; and
(E) Regulatory and technical
assistance.
(b) Manage
the Small Forestland Investment in Stream Habitat Program Fund;
(c) Manage the forest conservation tax credit
as described in OAR 629-607-0400 through OAR 629-607-0800;
(d) Manage fifth-field watershed
calculations, and communicate status, limits, and availability over a one-year
planning period (OAR 629-643-0140(4)); and
(e) Coordinate outreach efforts with agencies
and partner organizations, including the Partnership for Forestry Education, to
inform small forestland owners on the Small Forestland Investment in Stream
Habitat Program, road condition assessments, the forest conservation tax
credit, and other programs administered by the Small Forestland Owner
Assistance Office.
Statutory/Other Authority: ORS
527.710, Section 17(1), Chapter
33, Oregon Laws 2022, Section 20, Chapter 33, Oregon Laws 2022 & Section
2(1), Chapter 33, Oregon Laws 2022
Statutes/Other Implemented: Section 2(2), Chapter 33, Oregon
Laws 2022, Section 16(5), Chapter 33, Oregon Laws 2022 & Section 19(3),
Chapter 33, Oregon Laws 2022
