Exploring an Elliott State Research Forest

The Elliott State Forest was established northeast of Coos Bay in 1930 as Oregon's first state forest. Most of the 91,000 acre forest is a Common School Fund land asset overseen by the State Land Board and managed by the Department of State Lands. More Elliott history.

Since 2019, DSL and Oregon State University have been working together to explore transforming the Elliott into a publicly owned state research forest. The Land Board in December 2020 confirmed the Elliott's future as a research forest and directed details to be finalized over the next two years. Elliott State Research Forest Project Timeline.

Happening Now

Work in Progress - Updated 3/12/2021

Finalizing the OSU research forest proposal, including development of final details on riparian protections, a governance structure to ensure public accountability, and additional clarity on the breadth of anticipated research and involvement of multiple research disciplines.
OSU Elliott State Forest website
Developing a Habitat Conservation Plan for submittal to federal agencies.
Identifying pathways for decoupling the Elliott from the Common School Fund.

Elliott State Research Forest Advisory Committee

DSL has formed an Advisory Committee to provide insight and input on the research forest idea. The committee, which represents a variety of perspectives on the forest, began meeting in April 2019. The committee will continue to meet as work to finalize research forest details continues.

Roster of advisory committee members
Past meeting summaries and materials.

Upcoming Advisory Committee Meetings

Thursday, April 22
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Meeting agenda

Via Zoom. Register to attend the meeting

The Land Board's Vision for the Elliott

The State Land Board voted in 2017 to keep the Elliott State Forest in public ownership, directing the Department of State Lands to move forward with work to achieve the Board's vision for the Elliott, which includes:

Keeping the forest publicly owned with public access
Decoupling the forest from the Common School Fund, compensating the school fund for the forest and releasing the forest from its obligation to generate revenue for schools
Continuing habitat conservation planning to protect species and allow for harvest
Providing for multiple forest benefits, including recreation, education, and working forest research

Decoupling the Elliott from the Common School Fund

The Land Board's vision calls for decoupling the Elliott from the Common School Fund and compensating the Fund for the forest.

In December 2018, the Land Board approved a declaration to implement the statute enacted by the Oregon Legislature in 2017 that provides $100 million in bonding toward decoupling the Elliott from the Common School Fund.

The appraised value of the forest of is $221 million. The remaining $121 million needs to be accounted for decoupling to occur, and to transfer ownership and management responsibilities to OSU. Work to establish a framework for decoupling is ongoing, with progress reports anticipated in 2021.

Developing a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP)

The Land Board also directed DSL to seek an HCP from the federal agencies responsible for enforcing the federal Endangered Species Act. The purpose of an HCP is to establish clear boundaries for management and harvest on the forest in compliance with the Act and to ensure conservation of at-risk species such as salmon, spotted owls, and marbled murrelet.

DSL initiated the HCP process in 2018, contracting with IFC, Inc. to develop the plan. DSL is working with OSU to ensure that when submitted, a draft HCP will reflect the terms and conditions necessary for OSU to manage the forest for research purposes, or – should transfer to OSU not occur – for DSL to manage the forest for the benefit of the Common School Fund.

HCP drafting is underway, with a draft anticipated to be available for public review in spring 2021 prior to submission to the federal agencies.

Partial funding for HCP development has been provided through Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's Wildlife Grants Program in cooperation with the Federal Funding Agency, under Federal Award number F20AP00323.

Elliott State Forest Timeline

Dec. 2020 - The Elliott State Research Forest Proposal was presented to the State Land Board. The Land Board affirmed the Elliott State Forest's future as a research forest and directed continued collaboration and engagement to finalize remaining details.

Watch the meeting. Meeting documents.

Oct. – Nov. 2020 - Approximately 1,700 comments were submitted on the draft OSU research forest proposal.

Summary of public comments . Draft proposal information.

Dec. 2019 – An update on progress was presented to the Land Board. The Elliott State Research Forest Advisory Committee also delivered a unanimous statement to the Board recommending that work continue. The Land Board directed DSL to continue work to explore transforming the Elliott into a publicly owned state research forest.

Watch the meeting. View meeting documents.

Jan. – Dec. 2019 - DSL and OSU launched an exploratory process. DSL convened an Elliott State Research Forest Advisory Committee, and OSU established an exploratory committee within its College of Forestry. DSL and OSU engaged the public and various stakeholders in conversation. The research forest concept was incorporated into the in-progress habitat conservation planning process.

Dec. 2018 – The Land Board directed DSL and OSU to begin exploring the Elliott State Research Forest concept.

May 2017 – The Land Board voted to keep the Elliott in public ownership and directed DSL to move forward with a public ownership project for the forest. Learn more about the project.

July 2012 - A lawsuit over endangered species affects harvest levels and significantly reduces revenue. The Elliott begins to cost rather than contribute to the Common School Fund, with maintenance costs, legal fees, and other expenses adding up to millions over subsequent years.

1955 – The state began actively managing the Elliott. Timber harvest revenue goes to the Common School Fund and covers the cost of forest management.

1930 – The Elliott State Forest was established as Oregon's first state forest.

1927 – President Calvin Coolidge signed a bill authorizing the exchange of Common School Fund lands for a large block of land from the Siuslaw National Forest – what would become the Elliott State Forest.

1859 – The US Congress granted Oregon nearly 3.4 million acres of land upon statehood for the purpose of funding Oregon's K-12 public schools.

Related websites

OSU Elliott State Research Forest Website. (Research forest proposal background, OSU Exploratory Committee Roster, details about the Elliott State Research Forest Science Advisory Panel, etc.)

Contact

Elliott Research Forest project:
Ali Ryan Hansen
Phone: 503-510-6860
ali.r.hansen@state.or.us

Permits and forest management:
Ryan Singleton, Forester
Phone: 541-388-6289
ryan.singleton@state.or.us

Amber McKernan, Property Manager
Phone: 541-388-6345
Amber.McKernan@state.or.us

Visiting the Elliott

There are no established trails and no restrooms or trash receptacles. Keep the Elliott healthy by bagging and carrying out all trash.

Apply for a firewood cutting permit
Current fire restrictions
Map of general forest ownership
Map of geo-referenced forest ownership

Elliott State Forest Documents

Elliott Project Documents

Expenses Overview - Updated Nov. 2020