US Forest Service reports on Blue Mountain Forest Plan revision

By Terry Murry on Wednesday, May 15th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

PENDLETON – The U.S. National Forest Service says its hearings throughout the month of April gave the public time to learn about the plan for the future of the Umatilla, Malheur, and Wallowa-Whitman forests. Those who attended provided venues for the public to also express opinions about the plan for the second time around.

The original Blue Mountain Forest Plan was withdrawn by the forest service. The revision is another attempt to determine the future for rangeland, forest management and timber, recreation settings, access, wildland fires, existing designated areas, social, cultural, and economic conditions on the forest.

There were a total of eight public meetings held in April. The deadline for public comments on the revision is May 26. The forest service says that those comments will be used as a guide for finalizing the assessment.

There will be more public input opportunities as the finalized plan moves through the development and national environmental policy act scoping.

“This will ensure that the public is involved in the development of plans and not just the review,” the report from the forest service states. “The Forest Service aims to develop durable Forest Plans that considers (sic) current science, local economic, social, and environmental conditions, and recognizes the need for active management across the landscape.”