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Curry County explores federal timber lease to boost revenue; Forest Service staff signal support
Summary
Commissioners discussed a proposal to seek a federal lease to administer harvesting on selected federal timberlands as a source of sustained revenue; county officials said Department of Agriculture staff indicated support and a meeting with the Forest Service Pacific Northwest deputy director is scheduled.
Curry County commissioners on Thursday discussed a proposal to seek a federal lease or similar agreement that would allow the county to administer timber harvesting on select federal lands, an initiative county leaders say could provide sustained timber receipts to support local services.
Commissioner Hollinger (identified in the record as having advanced the idea) reported he and county staff drafted a proposal to lease portions of federal timberlands—starting with candidate plots within the county—and brought it to officials at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Hollinger said USDA staff and the department’s undersecretary expressed interest and support and connected the county with the Forest Service Pacific Northwest deputy director for follow-up.
County officials described the plan as county administration of a timber program rather than the county getting into commercial forestry. Local industry would serve as on-the-ground managers, harvesters and contractors; the county would administer contracts, oversight and revenue flow. Commissioners said the target lands would be historically merchantable stands that are not old-growth.
Why it matters: county leaders said diversifying and stabilizing revenue sources is urgent after several years of volatile one‑time funding and drawdowns of road fund reserves. County officials framed a federal agreement as a potential model other rural counties could replicate.
What county leaders described - Proposal scope discussed: county staff and commissioners considered asking to lease an initial tranche of federal land (the meeting referenced an illustrative 80,000 acres figure discussed in earlier budget committee conversation) where merchantable timber could be harvested. - Federal response: USDA staff told county representatives the proposal was timely; they said they were interested and could help assemble a contract pathway. The county reported a meeting with the Forest Service Pacific Northwest deputy director is scheduled the following week to work out contract needs and next steps. - Local role: county officials emphasized the county would administer the program but not operate logging crews; local timber industry participants would carry out harvesting under contract.
County leaders stressed this effort remains at planning and negotiation stages and is contingent on federal approval. Commissioners said the arrangement, if implemented, would increase county-controlled receipts and could be used to support general-funded services without increasing property taxes.
Ending note Officials said they will keep the board updated as discussions with USDA and the Forest Service proceed; county staff will report back on required steps and proposed contract terms in future meetings.
