Deschutes & Ochoco National Forests
Crooked River National Grassland

Local Area News Releases

Forest Supervisor Approves $963,967 in Advisory Committee Resource Projects

BEND, OREGON, October 17, 2003

Watershed restoration, noxious weed removal, forest road maintenance, hazardous fuels reduction and other forest improvement projects are among $963,967 in Deschutes-Ochoco Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) projects approved by Forest Supervisor Leslie Weldon for fiscal year 2004.

These funds were approved for forest projects under the new federal county payments legislation, the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000.

The RAC is chartered under county payments legislation to review and recommend proposals to fund projects located on or that benefit the Deschutes or Ochoco National Forests.

The Deschutes-Ochoco RAC is comprised of 15 members from a variety of backgrounds selected to three-year terms by the Secretary of Agriculture. The Deschutes-Ochoco RAC represents all or portions of Crook, Deschutes, Grant, Jefferson, Klamath and Wheeler counties.

“Working with our county and community partners to accomplish priority natural resource projects has been a tremendous experience,” said Leslie Weldon, Deschutes National Forest Supervisor and Designated Federal Official for the Committee. “I look forward to continuing to work with the RAC and counties to fund future projects.”

The Deschutes-Ochoco RAC will solicit the next round of project proposals in January 2004. The RAC will host a workshop after applications are available to provide tips on filling out the application package. These applications will be available at the:

• Forest website at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon
• Deschutes National Forest headquarters office at 1645 Highway 20 East, Bend, OR 97701
• Ochoco National Forest headquarters at 3160 NE 3rd Street, Prineville, OR 97754

The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 gives counties a payment in lieu of taxes on federal lands equal to the average of the three years between 1986 and 1999 when forest product payments were highest. Counties are required to spend between 15 and 20 percent of their payments on either Title II or Title III projects. Title II projects are Forest enhancement activities requiring approval by the Designated Federal Official after being recommended by a RAC. Title III projects are administered by the counties.

Projects receiving fiscal year 2004 funding under Title II include:

Deschutes-Ochoco RAC 2004 Approved Projects

Media Contacts:

• Roland Giller, (541) 383-5653
• Kyrie Murphy, (541) 383-5522