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Umatilla National Forest officials brief Columbia County on forest-plan revision, timber sales and road projects
Summary
Forest Service officials told Columbia County they expect a draft environmental impact statement this spring with three alternatives for the Umatilla Forest plan revision, highlighted active-management options to reduce fire risk, and described timber-sale and road projects affecting the county.
U.S. Forest Service officials met with the Columbia County Board to update commissioners on the Umatilla National Forest planning process and ongoing projects. Eric Watcher, identified by the Forest Service during the meeting as forest supervisor (speaker 14), said the forest plan for Umatilla — originally developed in 1990 — is being revised and that the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) with three alternatives should be released this spring for a 90-day comment period.
"We received about 8,000 comments" during the scoping period, Watcher said, and the agency will analyze alternatives ranging from no-action to versions that emphasize increased active management to reduce wildfire risk while another alternative would include additional resource protections. Watcher and district rangers described planned timber sales, noncommercial thinning, mastication and other vegetation treatments intended to improve landscape resilience; planned harvest levels were discussed in board Q&A.
Officials also described cooperative road agreements and flood-repair projects, and noted that road maintenance funding derives partly from active management such as timber sales that require road upkeep. Commissioners raised concerns about road conditions and access for fire equipment; Forest Service staff acknowledged road needs and said active management and timber-sale proceeds can help sustain roads.
What comes next: the Forest Service plans to publish the draft EIS this spring, open a 90-day comment period, and aim toward a record of decision in early 2027; county leaders can expect further project- and funding-level consultations.
