Friday, November 12, 2010

Public invited to assist in new Oregon state forester recruitment

Nov. 10, 2010
Contact: Twyla Lawson, Dept. of Administrative Services
503-373-7677, Twyla.LAWSON@state.or.usmailto:Twyla.LAWSON@state.or.us>

Recruitment for a new Oregon state forester is underway, and Oregonians are invited to share their thoughts on the attributes they think the next state forester should have. The Board of Forestry has posted a brief survey online. It takes only a few minutes to complete and will help the board as it recruits candidates for this important position.

The survey can be found at: www.surveymonkey.com/s/DOFhttp://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DOF>. It must be completed by Sunday, Dec. 12.

All responses to the survey will be compiled and used to develop an ideal candidate profile, which the board will reference throughout the selection process.

The board launched a plan last Friday to recruit candidates for the position, with a goal of having a new state forester in the post early next year.

The recruitment process includes the online survey to collect public input, as well as stakeholder and Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) employee forums with the finalists, and an opportunity for incoming Gov. Kitzhaber or his representative to meet with the finalists.

Nancy Hirsch, chief of ODF's State Forests Division, has been designated to serve as acting state forester until the position is filled.

Oregon's state forester carries out the Board's overarching policies through leadership of the Oregon Department of Forestry. The state forester serves as director of the department, which provides services including preventing and fighting wildfires, managing state-owned forests, enforcing natural resource protection laws on private forestlands, advising landowners, and providing urban forestry assistance.

The agency has 647 employees and a two-year budget of $303 million.

The state forester also assists and represents the board and department in identifying and resolving policy issues and in working with interest groups, the state legislature, and others.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Put Some Roots Down with Tualatin Riverkeepers

Habitat Restoration Event - Saturday Nov 13, 9am-Noon

This Community Restoration Event hosted by Tualatin Riverkeepers at Munger Lane Natural Area on the Tualatin River near Scholls. Munger Natural Area is home to wildlife such as beaver, river otter, mink and red tail hawk. Restoring this natural area will increase opportunities for wildlife to find food and shelter. Planting native plants and removing invasive weeds will reduce erosion and ultimately improve water quality in the Tualatin River.

BRING
Water Bottle, Dress for the Weather, Sturdy Shoes or Boots!

TRK WILL PROVIDE
Tools, Gloves, Instruction and Gratitude!

Directions to Munger Farm from I-5: Take exit 289 and head west on Nyberg Rd. (turns into Tualatin-Sherwood Rd.). Go through the 99W intersection in Sherwood. After the intersection Tualatin-Sherwood Rd. becomes Roy Rogers Rd. Go 1.5 miles on Roy Rogers Rd. and take a left onto SW Scholls-Sherwood Rd. Follow SW Scholls-Sherwood Rd. through many turns. At a 90 degree turn in SW Scholls-Sherwood Road, turn right onto SW Munger Lane. Drive down Munger Lane and follow the road to the right at the bend and you’ll find the site on your left.

Directions to Munger Farm from Hillsboro & Forest Grove: Take Hwy. 8 to Hwy. 219. Follow Hwy 219 to Highway 210. Left on Hwy. 210. Follow Hwy. 210 to SW Scholls-Sherwood Road and go right. At a 90 degree turn in SW Scholls-Sherwood Road, go straight onto SW Munger Lane. Drive down Munger Lane and follow the road to the right at the bend and you’ll find the site on your left.

Restoration Project Background
Munger Natural Area is public land held by Metro Parks and Greenspaces. Munger Natural Area is one of the many amazing natural areas acquired by Metro with monies from a public bond measure passed in 1995.

Tualatin Riverkeepers have been very successful leveraging funds for restoration on Metro properties and encouraging community involvement.

Tualatin Riverkeepers is a community-based organization working to protect and restore the Tualatin River watershed though public education, restoration, citizen advocacy and access to nature.

RSVP to vicki@tualatinriverkeepers.org

Questions? Call Vicki at 503-620-7507.