Beyond the stream protection mandated in the Oregon Forest Practices Act, Oregon also has a bold plan to restore salmon runs and improve watershed health. The Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds is a unique, grassroots conservation strategy that goes beyond regulation to encourage voluntary, proactive restoration efforts. Individually and through some 100 local watershed councils across the state, volunteers from the forestry, agricultural and conservation communities have worked independently and with state and municipal agencies.

“. . . instances of good or excellent water quality occur most often in the forested uplands of Oregon. Both forest practice rules on public and private forests and lack of development help explain this result. On the other hand, instances of poor or very poor water quality occur most often in the non-forested lowlands where intensive land uses and land conversions have occurred.”

Restoration Work in the Forest

Projects on Private Forestland				Projects on State Forestland
YEAR	NUMBER OF PROJECTS	MONEY SPENT		YEAR	NUMBER OF PROJECTS	MONEY SPENT
1997	559	$6,709,948		1997	99	$5,925,772
1998	690	$9,662,444		1998	117	$4,191,331
1999	790	$10,261,926		1999	83	$2,169,291
2000	821	$12,108,001		2000	76	$6,482,777
2001	799	$10,002,371		2001	56	$3,219,492
TOTAL	3659	$48,744,690		TOTAL	431	$21,988,663

Private forest landowners were early supporters of the Oregon Plan, committing to voluntary restoration work on their land estimated at $130 million over 10 years. From 1997 to 2001, they spent nearly $50 million on nearly 4,000 habitat restoration projects. The second set of numbers shows similar work in state forests.

Improving Habitat In Forest Streams

Private Forest Industrial Landowners Summary							State Forests Summary
YEAR	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001		1997	1998	1999	2000	2001
Miles of Road Surveyed	2677	6817	3671	1091	827		658	691	2	23	32
Miles of Road Vacated, Closed or Relocated	27	50	94	89	86		8	12	15	11	8
Miles of Road Improvements	263	381	414	375	351		197	118	65	220	98
Number of Peak Flow Improvements	489	889	1071	1105	1045		528	238	168	299	91
Number of Surface Drainage Improvements	972	1896	2302	2739	2531		655	462	129	847	256
Number of Stream Crossings and Culverts Improved for Fish Passage	129	202	195	175	188		16	30	21	10	37
Instream Wood Placement Projects	118	104	57	49	25		23	32	21	14	10

The more than $70 million spent by private landowners and the State since the Oregon Plan began in 1997 have resulted in thousands of miles of roads surveyed, improved or vacated. Fish passage has been enhanced by culvert improvements and the placement of instream structures.