SALEM, Ore. – Three Oregon loggers representing northwest, eastern and southern Oregon have been chosen as 2018 Operators of the Year. The Oregon Board of Forestry will honor the recipients at its March 9 meeting in Salem. The awardees are:
- Eastern Oregon – Brad Clemens, B & M Timber LLC of Burns
- Northwest Oregon – Jay Browning, J.M. Browning Logging Inc. of Astoria
- Southern Oregon – Dave Wilkerson, Dave Wilkerson Logging LLC of Eagle Point
The Board gives the Operator of the Year Awards to recognize those who, while harvesting timber or doing other forestry work, protect natural resources at a level that goes above and beyond requirements of the Oregon Forest Practices Act. That law requires people to harvest responsibly and protect streams and water quality, protect and enhance habitat, and reduce landslide risks. The law also requires landowners to replant forests after harvesting. The awards honor operators who consistently meet or exceed Forest Practices Act regulations.
Private Forests Division Chief Lena Tucker said, “These operators have shown how they can harvest needed wood products in Oregon forests while protecting natural resources. We’re pleased to honor the excellent care and diligence they demonstrate, often in challenging circumstances.”
Brad Clemens of B & M Timber earned the Eastern Oregon Operator of the Year award for minimizing soil disturbance during a winter harvest in a narrow valley. He also protected a fish-bearing stream that runs through the valley. Clemens has also been recognized for helping multiple landowners by careful salvage logging after a devastating wildfire in eastern Oregon.
Jay Browning of J.M. Browning Logging Inc. earned the Northwest Oregon Operator of the Year award for protecting streams and improving future fish habitat through structural logging. The award also recognizes Browning for decades of consistently applying best management practices to safeguard forest resources, even under challenging circumstances.
Dave Wilkerson of Dave Wilkerson Logging LLC earned the Southern Oregon Operator of the Year award for safely harvesting a highly visible tract at the entrance to the town of Butte Falls. The tract, amid power lines and busy pedestrian and road traffic, contained a fish-bearing stream. It took Wilkerson extra effort to harvest near the stream in a manner that protected a buffer zone along the waterway. He also was able to selectively log the tract without damaging younger trees, helping keep the site’s aesthetic appeal for area residents.
ODF’s Southwest Oregon District also gave a Letter of Commendation to the landowner, Weyerhaeuser. The company was commended for the responsiveness to community concerns of their logging plan for the Butte Falls tract.
Regional Forest Practices committees select the operators of the year and merit award recipients from among nominees sent in by landowners, ODF staff and others.
In addition to the honors at the March Board meeting, special recognition is also provided at the Associated Oregon Loggers training and education event in January and the Oregon Logging Conference in February.
Oregon enacted the Forest Practices Act in 1971 as a national model for forest management laws. The law focuses on ensuring responsible forest operations and protecting natural resources in forestland. The Act has been updated many times based on new scientific information and values to create a balanced approach to natural resource management.
Related Posts
Wisconsin Increases Efforts To Protect At-Risk Songbird
