OREGON STATE FOREST PROGRAM GEOTECHNICAL APPROACH

The Oregon Department of Forestry, ODF has a trust relationship with the counties of Oregon to manage approximately 800 thousand acres of State Forest land for the people of Oregon. The State Forest program uses input from the geotechnical specialists to make landslide and other related geotechnical decisions. The ODF approach is “risk based” and involves input at all levels of forest planning. The education and training of foresters as well as site specific geologic interpretation by the geotechnical specialists lead to informed management decisions on State Forest lands. There are management decisions made for timber harvest unit design, road design and maintenance.

Through discussion with federal and state agencies the approach of the State Forest program has been refined as a “risk based” process. This approach begins with the education and training of public and agency personnel at meetings, formal and informal training sessions and on the job training during field visits. The planning process has geotechnical input before and during the layout of the timber harvest units and road projects. Topographic maps, geologic maps, and local knowledge are used for the initial geotechnical hazard and risk assessment. The management unit foresters consult with the geotechnical specialist on a case by case basis that involves field visits for operations with the most risk and need for site specific geologic interpretation. Road specialists consult with the geotechnical specialists for design and maintenance decisions on projects that need specific geotechnical investigation and input.

The road design and maintenance input has been successful for more than 18 years. The risk-based approach to timber harvest unit design has been applied for about 5 years with ongoing modifications though time. The highest degree of protection is afforded to risk of life scenarios. The most restricted timber harvest situation for natural resource protection is in the newly defined “Salmon Anchor Habitat Areas.” The use of “risk based” approach rather than a more prescriptive approach is debated for trust and practicality, however the process is far more flexible to meet complex situations than any other means to protect the resources.