THE FOREST WATERS PROTECTION ACT WILL HELP KEEP OREGON’S FOREST WATERS CLEAN
Help make water security a priority of Oregon’s forest laws.
Oregon’s laws need to be updated to protect forest waters!
Oregon’s forest law were written by the timber industry and for the timber industry to allow logging on steep landslide prone slopes, clearcutting across streams and aerial spray near homes, schools and forests waters. These outdated practices threaten water security, and are far behind the standards set by neighboring states. Current law allows logging practices that expose precious fresh water supplies to toxic pesticides and warming stream temperatures from the lack of tree cover, costing communities millions of dollars.
Oregon forest practices allow for more intensive logging and aerial spray near streams, homes and schools. Our neighbors in Washington, Idaho and California all have stronger protections for forests waters and community health. Oregon’s weak laws threaten both the security of drinking water sources and essential fish and wildlife habitat.
The communities of Salem, Dallas, Rockaway Beach, Corbett, Yamhill, Manzanita and more have suffered the consequences of logging and aerial spray practices. Oregon’s residents are tired of paying the price to clean up their drinking water after it has been CONTAMINATED. Oregonians all enjoy paper and wood products, but we cannot afford to have the health of their watersheds COMPROMISED. We need to modernize and update our laws.
CURRENTLY, OREGON LAW DOESN’T PROTECT FOREST WATERS
The Oregon Forest Protection Act is out of date. The law was passed nearly 50 years ago. Today, it fails to prioritize the security of forests and waters by disregarding the best available science and the changing climate conditions. Washington, Idaho, and California have continued to update their forest water protections, while Oregon allows for logging within 20 feet of fish-bearing rivers, clearcutting across headwater streams and aerial spray within 60 feet of streams, homes and schools. Oregon allows clearcutting on landslide-prone areas.
The green forests that Oregonians know and love provide the water for over 70% of Oregon’s residents and communities. Updated forest law is essential to the security of Oregon’s waters.
Clean and protected forest waters are vital to the health and safety, and the economic well-being of Oregon’s communities. The lack of accountability under Oregon’s forest laws has let our regulations fall way behind those of neighboring states. The changing climate and weather will only further threaten the stability of Oregon’s forest waters. Protecting of rivers, streams and all forest waters must be a primary feature of the state’s forest management law.
OREGON’S FOREST WATERS ARE THREATENED
“We can still have paper and forest products, but do it in a more sustainable way.”
– Pat Himes, Oceanside
“It’s not sustainable if a small community has to re-do its drinking water facility and has to send notices to the community that their water doesn’t meet EPA standards.”
-Kate Crump, Rockaway Beach
Intensive logging and aerial spray of toxic chemicals threaten vital water supplies.
Oregon law fails to prioritize water quality and water security. By updating our laws to match those of our neighbors, we can promote clean and protected water sources for all Oregonians.
JOIN THE CALL TO PROTECT HEALTHY FOREST WATERS.
LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY’S FORESTS AND THE WATERS THAT FLOW FROM THEM.
Learn more about protecting Oregon’s Forests Waters and join with others to protect and preserve our water resources. Sign up to stay informed on the Forest Waters Protection Act, and learn how you can help protect Oregon’s forest waters.