Oregon's Forest Protection Laws and BMPs

Good Stewardship, Good Compliance

Taking extra care in planning and conducting forest management activities not only is the foundation of good resource stewardship, it can go a long way in meeting your responsibilities under Oregon’s forest protection laws. This section highlights a variety of key requirements for forest practices in Oregon, including how to plan and implement operations for timber harvesting, reforestation, roads, site prep, and fire and smoke control. Also featured are many practical guidelines (BMPs – “Best Management Practices”) for forest management that can help protect your property while also maintaining high water quality, productive soils and other valuable forest resources.

Learn about what’s required and more

The following resources provide both general and detailed information about how to comply with Oregon’s forest protection laws and apply BMPs for good resource stewardship. If you are new to this topic, consider viewing “Watersheds and Forestry: An Introduction,” which covers basic soil and water conservation concepts for forest lands and some examples of Oregon’s forest practices requirements. Likewise, the first chapter of “Oregon’s Forest Protection Laws: An Illustrated Manual” is good place to start. Or, if you have a specific project in mind, such as a new spur road, check out the chapter on “Roads and Stream Crossings.”

For more information, please contact:
Julie Woodward, Acting Director of Forestry, Oregon Forest Resources Institute

FOREST PROTECTION RESOURCES TO GET YOU STARTED:

Extension CMS Topics:

Forest Health and Management

Sustainability

Publications

Oregon's Forest Protection Laws: An Illustrated Manual Third Edition. Details and illustrations of Oregon’s forest protection requirements as well as available voluntary programs and assistance. Created by the Oregon Forest Resources Institute.
Oregon's Forests and Water Discusses forest management and water quality, and highlights related research, regulatory and voluntary programs
Oregon forest Practices Administrative Rules and Forest Practices Act Actual resource protection rules and legal statutes for forest practices in Oregon

Videos

Trask Watershed Study Learn about the Trask Watershed Study and how long-term forest research is affecting Oregon forest practice laws.
Salmon, Steelhead, Bull Trout Streams Forest Practice Act Rules: Intro Protecting Oregon's natural resources is a primary purpose of Oregon's Forest Practices Act. Keeping water cold in salmon, steelhead, and bull trout (SSBT) streams is a part of this comprehensive set of forestry laws. This video is an introduction to the SSBT rules.
Salmon, Steelhead, Bull Trout Streams Forest Practices Act Rules: Identifying Streams Protecting Oregon's natural resources is a primary purpose of Oregon's Forest Practices Act. Keeping water cold in salmon, steelhead, and bull trout (SSBT) streams is a part of this comprehensive set of forestry laws. This video explains what an SSBT stream is and how to locate an SSBT stream.
Salmon, Steelhead, Bull Trout Streams Forest Practices Act Rules: Partial and No-Cut Buffers Protecting Oregon's natural resources is a primary purpose of Oregon's Forest Practices Act. Keeping water cold in salmon, steelhead, and bull trout (SSBT) streams is a part of this comprehensive set of forestry laws. This video explains the SSBT buffer rules for no cut and partial cut buffers, prescriptions 1 and 2.
Salmon, Steelhead, Bull Trout Streams Forest Practices Act Rules: North-sided buffers Protecting Oregon's natural resources is a primary purpose of Oregon's Forest Practices Act. Keeping water cold in salmon, steelhead, and bull trout (SSBT) streams is a part of this comprehensive set of forestry laws. This video explains the SSBT rules for north-sided stream buffers.
Salmon, Steelhead, Bull Trout Streams Forest Practices Act Rules: Wildlife leave trees Protecting Oregon's natural resources is a primary purpose of Oregon's Forest Practices Act. Keeping water cold in salmon, steelhead, and bull trout (SSBT) streams is a part of this comprehensive set of forestry laws. This video explains the SSBT rules for wildlife leave trees.
Bald Eagle Rules: Oregon's Forest Practices Act Works The bald eagle population is stronger now than it’s been in a long time and it's growing - a real success story. Oregon’s Forest Practices Act rules played a big part in this story by protecting bald eagle habitat.