During a work session to discuss forest issues, the commissioners agreed to craft a letter expressing their concerns with Senator Ron Wyden’s recently release forest bill. To be included in the letter is the matter of the Coos Bay Wagon Road and the distribution of payments. The Act of 1939 specifies that 75% of revenue derived off the CBWR should be distributed proportionately to Coos and Douglas counties, however, Wyden’s bill lumps these payments in with the other O&C lands. The net effect will be a loss to Coos County.

[Wikimedia Commons]

[Wikimedia Commons]

Douglas County commissioner Joe Laurance and Don Gurney participated in the discussion and it was agreed that the letter would propose using Wyden’s own payment formula put forth in his forest bill of 75% payments to the counties. The letter will also clarify that proceeds from CBWR be distributed on this formula only to Coos and Douglas based upon what is harvested within each county.

Laurance visited the Coos County Commission to request the county join a Sustainable Forests Action Coalition made up primarily of Northern California timber counties. The commission agreed to join.