Often confused with the U.S. Forest Service, the Oregon Department
of Forestry is Oregon's state agency ("the other guys") responsible
for management of about 1 million acres of state-owned forest;
protection from forest fires on about 16 million acres of public
and private forest; and implementation of standards and rules to
protect natural resources during forest operations on private
lands.
We started out as a fire department in 1911 with two paid
employees. Since then, our mission has grown to include planting
and management of the Tillamook, Santiam, Clatsop, Elliott, Sun
Pass and Gilchrist State Forest, and other scattered forest lands.
Today, we operate offices in 17 Oregon communities statewide, and
have about 800 full-time employees. Much has changed in 100 years:
land ownership, harvest practices, the economy, transportation
systems. What hasn't changed is our commitment to serving people
and protecting Oregon's forests.
As you seek out this cache, we hope you'll appreciate the
history behind the place you're going as you take a moment to see
the forest and the trees.
Safe and happy cachin!
The Oregon Department of Forestry is part of a
cooperative effort to eradicate and contain Sudden Oak Death (SOD)
in Curry County along with other agencies such as the Oregon
Department of Agriculture, United States Forest Service (USFS),
Bureau of Land Management, and Oregon State University.
SOD is a disease caused by a non-native
pathogen, Phytophthora ramorum. SOD threatens the health of
Oregon’s communities and ecosystems. Found first in Oregon in
2001, it kills tanoak, California black oak, coast live oak trees,
and damages many other trees and plants found in Pacific Northwest
forests and nurseries.
Establishment of SOD in Oregon would have
serious negative impacts on forest health, wildlife and related
industries. Large numbers of dead trees would increase fire danger.
While there are also large economic risks to Oregon’s
horticultural and timber industries, the ecological impacts are
significant and may further hamper efforts to recover such species
as northern spotted owl, marbled murrelet, and salmon.
The USFS Redwood Trail Site is the location of
the very first SOD infestation found on USFS land in Curry County.
The agencies, working cooperatively, have treated the site of the
infestation and cut, piled, and burned surrounding host species to
reduce the likelihood of disease spread. The trail passes through
some of the treated area. After locating the cache, enjoy the trail
and keep an eye out for the area where SOD treatment has occurred.
Please be sure to stay on the trail and help us prevent spreading
the pathogen’s spores on your shoes.