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Nehalem council asks forester to draft new watershed management plan after residents flag water and climate concerns
Summary
The City Council heard a presentation on replacing its expiring 25‑year forest management plan; residents urged caution about clearcutting in the watershed, asked for tours and an advisory committee, and the council requested a draft scope from the city’s forester.
Brent Keller, senior forester with Mason, Bruce & Girard, told the Nehalem City Council on March 10 that the city’s 25‑year forest management plan is expiring and that a new plan will need to account for hotter summers, drought and increased fire risk.
Keller reviewed the watershed’s harvest history and said the seven timber sales during the prior plan totaled just under 11,000,000 board feet. He said reforestation typically begins about two months after a sale, but seedling availability means a sowing order can take roughly three years to fulfill. “The setback is 150 feet,” Keller added when asked about buffers along the creek.
Why it matters: Nehalem both owns the watershed and supplies water to the city, creating a long‑term stewardship question that could affect revenue. Mayor Phil Chick said, “the forest has done a lot for the city,” noting past proceeds helped pay for City Hall and other projects, and urged the Council to weigh revenue decisions alongside the city’s role as a water provider.
Residents at the meeting pressed for conservation‑minded options. Lucy Brook asked about species composition in setbacks and whether hardwoods should be preserved; Judy Coleman said “drinking water should not be traded for revenue,” arguing for natural regeneration in a small watershed. Landowner and observer Richard Felley and filmmaker Jesse Clark said some stands appear to be failing and urged caution with blanket clearcutting; Clark recommended forming a citizen advisory committee to help guide the plan.
Keller said the forest can also supply revenue when needed and offered to prepare an initial draft scope for a new forest management plan that would take climate, carbon and water protections into account. He cited prior carbon work and pointed participants to the California Carbon Registry for additional information.
What’s next: Council members agreed by consensus that Keller should draft a scope of work for the new plan for a future Council presentation, and Council members signaled interest in arranging public watershed tours and broader citizen involvement.
