Deschutes & Ochoco National Forests
Crooked River National Grassland

Local Area News Releases

Forest Supervisor Approves $1,052,366 in Advisory Committee Resource Projects

BEND, OREGON, October 7, 2004

Watershed restoration, trail reconstruction, noxious weed removal, youth land stewardship, hazardous fuels reduction and other forest improvement projects are among $1,052,366 in Deschutes-Ochoco Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) projects approved by Forest Supervisor Leslie Weldon for fiscal year 2005.

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

The RAC is chartered 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.

“This program has given the Forests and surrounding local communities a wonderful opportunity to work together to accomplish high quality natural resource projects,” said Leslie Weldon, Deschutes National Forest Supervisor and Designated Federal Official for the Committee.

The Deschutes-Ochoco RAC will solicit the next round of project proposals in January 2005. These applications will be available on the Forest website at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon and at Forest offices.

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 2005 funding under Title II include:

Deschutes-Ochoco RAC 2005 Approved Projects

Media Contacts:

• Kyrie Murphy, (541) 383-5522