Benton CountyBenton County

Forestland Classification ReviewForestland Classification Review

Public Information MeetingPublic Information Meeting

Oregon Department of Oregon Department of ForestryForestry

Forestland Classification Forestland Classification MeetingMeeting OBJECTIVES OF TONIGHT’S MEETINGOBJECTIVES OF TONIGHT’S MEETING

Introduction to Oregon Department of Forestry Introduction to Oregon Department of Forestry and West Oregon District.and West Oregon District.

Provide a background on Forestland Provide a background on Forestland Classification.Classification.

Discuss Classification processes and major Discuss Classification processes and major decision points.decision points.

Review findings.Review findings. Receive public input.Receive public input.

History and Overview of History and Overview of Forestland ClassificationForestland Classification

ODF has been providing fire protection ODF has been providing fire protection in the West Oregon District since the in the West Oregon District since the 1950’s. 1950’s.

No written history exists of Forest Land No written history exists of Forest Land Classification on the West Oregon Classification on the West Oregon DistrictDistrict

Forestland classification and the Forestland classification and the corresponding per acre fire patrol corresponding per acre fire patrol assessments are the major funding assessments are the major funding component for ODF’s protection system. component for ODF’s protection system.

History and Overview of History and Overview of Forestland ClassificationForestland Classification

Classification identifies the land’s vegetation Classification identifies the land’s vegetation type for assessment purposes. This process type for assessment purposes. This process also determines which lands are not to be also determines which lands are not to be assessed fire patrol within the ODF District.assessed fire patrol within the ODF District.

The Forest Land Classification process is The Forest Land Classification process is outlined in ORS 526.outlined in ORS 526.

This is the first major effort to examine and This is the first major effort to examine and classify lands in Benton County. The original classify lands in Benton County. The original “classification” assumed all lands should be “classification” assumed all lands should be protected by ODFprotected by ODF

Why Forestland Why Forestland ClassificationClassification

Data is difficult to keep currentData is difficult to keep current Assessment data in use is outdatedAssessment data in use is outdated Equity of the current assessmentsEquity of the current assessments Directed so by multiple Oregon Directed so by multiple Oregon

Revised Statutes and Oregon Revised Statutes and Oregon Administrative RulesAdministrative Rules

Purpose of the Purpose of the Forestland Classification Forestland Classification

EffortEffort To develop anTo develop an ACCURATE ACCURATE classification classification

process and corresponding assessment process and corresponding assessment rolls. rolls.

To developTo develop EQUITABLE EQUITABLE forestland forestland assessment for Benton County. assessment for Benton County.

To allowTo allow INVOLVEMENT INVOLVEMENT of local of local interests (County Government and Local interests (County Government and Local Landowners) in this process. Landowners) in this process.

The Process for The Process for Forestland Classification Forestland Classification

ReviewReview Establish a County Forestland Establish a County Forestland

Classification CommitteeClassification Committee Review all lands inside protection Review all lands inside protection

district boundarydistrict boundary Determine where ODF protection Determine where ODF protection

responsibility existsresponsibility exists

The CommitteeThe Committee

Appointed by Benton County Appointed by Benton County CommissionersCommissioners Jim Wernz, ChairJim Wernz, Chair Rose Marie McGeeRose Marie McGee George Mears, SecretaryGeorge Mears, Secretary

Appointed by OSU Extension ServiceAppointed by OSU Extension Service Rick FletcherRick Fletcher

Appointed by Oregon Dept of ForestryAppointed by Oregon Dept of Forestry Ted ErdmannTed Erdmann

The WorkThe Work

AllAll lands in Benton County within lands in Benton County within the West Oregon Protection District the West Oregon Protection District reviewed by ¼ ¼ sectionreviewed by ¼ ¼ section

Excluded Forest Service and Bureau Excluded Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) landsof Land Management (BLM) lands

Local Rural Fire Protection Districts Local Rural Fire Protection Districts involvedinvolved

Definition of ForestlandDefinition of Forestland ORS 477.001: “Forestland” means any ORS 477.001: “Forestland” means any

woodland, brush land, timberland, grazing land woodland, brush land, timberland, grazing land or clearing that, during any time of the year, or clearing that, during any time of the year, contains enough forest growth, slashing or contains enough forest growth, slashing or vegetation to constitute , in the judgment of vegetation to constitute , in the judgment of the forester, a fire hazard, regardless of how the forester, a fire hazard, regardless of how the land is zoned or taxed. As used in this the land is zoned or taxed. As used in this subsection, “clearing” means any grassland, subsection, “clearing” means any grassland, improved area, lake, meadow, mechanically or improved area, lake, meadow, mechanically or manually cleared area, road, rocky area, manually cleared area, road, rocky area, stream or other similar forestland opening that stream or other similar forestland opening that is surrounded by or contiguous to forestland is surrounded by or contiguous to forestland and that has been included in areas classified and that has been included in areas classified as forestland under ORS 526.305 to 526.370. as forestland under ORS 526.305 to 526.370.

NoNot classified as Forestland

Yes

3. Does it meet the definition of Forestland?

(ORS 477.001(9))

NoNot classified as Forestland

Yes

4. Contiguous to or a threat to forestland? No

5. Is it inside a City or Rural Fire District

Yes

7. Improved infrastructure?

(ie: paved streets, fire hydrants, etc.)

Yes

Classify as Forestland

No

8. Are forest fuels the primary carrier of

fire?

Usually with home densities of greater than 4-6 per acre

9. Confer with City or Rural Fire

District for input on decisionNo Yes

YesClassify as Forestland

6. Inside City LimitsNo

Yes

No

A. Review by ¼ of ¼

section

Classify as Forestland

Do not classify as Forestland

2. Is it owned bythe USFS? Yes Exempt

1. Is it in the West Oregon District?

No

Benton County Forestland Classification Flowchart

(Fire Risk)

T14S R8WT14S R8W

T14S R8W Sec 10T14S R8W Sec 10

Major Decision PointsMajor Decision Points

Dual Assessments with Dual Assessments with Rural Fire DepartmentsRural Fire Departments

Urban-Interface areasUrban-Interface areas Agricultural Lands and Agricultural Lands and

Christmas Tree Christmas Tree PlantationsPlantations

Current Forest Patrol Current Forest Patrol RatesRates

$0.7878 per acre, with an $18.75 $0.7878 per acre, with an $18.75 minimum minimum (23.8 ac)(23.8 ac)

$47.50 surcharge on improved tax lots$47.50 surcharge on improved tax lots

Examples:Examples: 5 ac tax lot with no improvements - $18.755 ac tax lot with no improvements - $18.75 5 ac tax lot with a house on it - $66.255 ac tax lot with a house on it - $66.25 40 ac tax lot with no improvements - $31.5240 ac tax lot with no improvements - $31.52 40 ac tax lot with a house and shop - $79.0240 ac tax lot with a house and shop - $79.02

TimelineTimeline

Committee MeetingsCommittee Meetings 20 meetings (May 2008 – Sep 2009)20 meetings (May 2008 – Sep 2009)

Public MeetingsPublic Meetings Alsea, Philomath, CorvallisAlsea, Philomath, Corvallis

Public Hearing (ORS 526.328)Public Hearing (ORS 526.328) Fall of 2009 or winter 2010Fall of 2009 or winter 2010

Appeal ProcessAppeal Process

Outlined in ORS 526.332Outlined in ORS 526.332

MaintenanceMaintenance

Benton County Forestland Benton County Forestland Classification Committee (BCFCC) Classification Committee (BCFCC) will meet periodically to review will meet periodically to review classificationclassification Meet at a minimum of once per yearMeet at a minimum of once per year Future development in the countyFuture development in the county Future annexations into city limitsFuture annexations into city limits

QuestionsQuestions