Agencies recognize forest landowners for restoring habitat for fish and wildlife

Left to right:  John Blackwell, Chair, Oregon Board of Forestry; Marla Rae, Chair, Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission; Jeff Light, Plum Creek; Tom Hoesly, Menasha Forest Products Corporation; Jim Paul, Chief Private Forests Division, Oregon Department of Forestry. Photo by ODFW.

Salem, Ore - Four forest land managers received awards at the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting today for their work to improve fish and wildlife resources through forest stewardship activities. Fish and Wildlife Commission Chair Marla Rae and Board of Forestry Chair John Blackwell presented awards to three private-sector land managers and a public management district.

The awards are presented by the Oregon Departments of Fish and Wildlife and Forestry to recognize the efforts of landowners who contribute substantially to fish and wildlife through forest stewardship and who work for the long-term conservation of Oregon's native species in step with the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds and the Oregon Conservation Strategy.

The 2009 award winners are:

Bud Henderson, Hampton Resources, Astoria

Henderson was recognized for habitat improvements and innovative forestry practices that benefit fish and wildlife on lands managed by Hampton Resources. He played an integral role in the successful reintroduction of wild coho and winter steelhead near the Big Creek Fish Hatchery and completed a number of habitat improvement projects in Clatsop County, including off-channel habitat developments, native riparian vegetation restoration, stream channel reconnection, fish passage improvements through the replacement of stream crossings with bridges and fish passable culverts and large wood placements. One of Henderson's projects was featured on the History Channel's Ax Men series.

Tom Hoesly, Menasha Forest Products Corporation, North Bend and Joel Nelson, Plum Creek, Coos Bay

Over the past two years, Menasha Forest Products Corporation and Plum Creek partnered with the Coquille Watershed Association, ODFW and ODF to implement a large-scale habitat project that will improve habitat in 20 miles of streams in the North Fork Coquille watershed. According to the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, the 2008 phase of the project is the largest-scale instream restoration project ever implemented in Oregon.  The streams provide important spawning and rearing habitat for coho and chinook salmon, steelhead trout and resident cutthroat trout. The increase in large wood and pool complexity will be immediate and enhance through time.

Paul Stell, Bend Park and Recreation District, Bend

Paul Stell, Bend Park and Recreation District, was recognized for restoration work in Shevlin Park which, under his direction, has become a model of multi-resource management. Along Tumalo Creek, large diameter logs were placed to protect stream banks, narrow the creek channel and provide pool habitat for fish and other wildlife. Streamside vegetation was protected during habitat work and there is no sign of heavy equipment damage to soils. The forest is managed for uneven-aged stands and tree species diversity. Many snags support a variety of wildlife. Over-stocked stands of young ponderosa pine have been thinned to encourage tree growth and remove fuels that contribute to wildfire.

The award program, jointly administered by ODFW and ODF, was created in 1996. Since that time, 45 forest landowners have received the Steward Award for Forest Lands.

More information

Oregon's forests are a valued renewable natural resource, providing a balanced mix of social, environmental and economic benefits to the state. More information is available on the ODF website,

For information on the Oregon Conservation Strategy, visit ODFW's website.

Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watershed information is found on the Oregon Plan website.

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