CTCLUSI FORESTRY

We are the living descendants of the Miluk, Hanis, Siuslaw and Lower Umpqua people. We have and always will be stewards of our lands.

The Western Oregon Tribal Fairness Act was passed and signed into law in January of 2018. Title II of the Act conveyed portions of federal lands, previously managed by the Bureau of Land Management, into trust for the benefit of the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians (CTCLUSI). These conveyed lands consist of seven parcels totaling 14,742 acres. Dispersed throughout the ancestral territory of CTCLUSI, each of these tracts is culturally and/or economically significant and will play a vital role in promoting Tribal self-determination and sovereignty. These lands, now held in trust by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), will be managed in accordance with applicable federal and tribal law, according to the desires of the Tribal Membership.

Forest Planning Advisory Committee The Forest Planning Advisory Committee (Committee) was established by Tribal Resolution in accordance with the Tribal Code of the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians (CTCLUSI), and will serve initially as an “Ad-Hoc Committee” as defined in Title 7-5-2(e). The Committee will oversee the development of the Forest Management Plan (FMP) for those lands held in trust by the Federal Government, with a focus on the 14,742 acres of forested lands conveyed under the passage of the Western Oregon Tribal Fairness Act of 2018. Indian forested lands requires an approved FMP prior to the authorization of activities or expenditure of funds for forest management activities.

Role and Responsibilities The Ad-Hoc Committee will oversee the development of the FMP. The Committee will ensure the FMP addresses the needs and desires of the CTCLUSI membership, bring strategic advice, unique knowledge, provide independent feedback and recommendations, and serve as a sounding board during the development of the FMP. The Committee will serve as an intermediary between the tribal public and Tribal Council ensuring effective planning and strengthening of the FMP. Committee members will be asked to review the draft FMP during the various stages of development. Committee members include: George Barton, Jesse Beers, Greg Norton, Joe Swigert, Howard Roy, Sophia Cisneros, Sam Sprague, and Ashley Russell.

The Forest Stakeholder Advisory Group will be less formal than the Forest Advisory Committee (not subject to Tribal Code) and will be made up of individuals from Federal, State, private, and local agencies and associations. The Advisory Group will represent a broad set of interests and perspectives related to the CTCLUSI forest management. Those agencies, companies and individuals participating in this working group will have a vested interest in the outcome and success of the FMP. The Advisory Group will provide technical constructive feedback, identify issues and concerns, and present relevant and appropriate information from their respective agency prospective to ensure for the successful development of the FMP. Committee participants may include representatives from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), wildland fire protection associations and districts, local agencies, private timber companies, potential operators and others with specific interest in timberlands of the CTCLUSI. The Stakeholder Advisory Group representatives may likely be on-going partners during the implementation of the FMP. Participation by individuals representing their respective agency or company will be dependent on how much of a vested interest they have in the outcome of the FMP. For example, the BIA will have a significant interest coming from multiple people/positions, while an adjacent private landowner may only be interested in site specific details of the FMP. In another example, the BLM will be especially interested in road use and a sub-work group (i.e. Transportation Planning Team) may be a necessary requirement during the development of the FMP. Likewise, the Coos Forest Protection Association has wildland firefighting responsibilities on the trust lands, and coordination with this agency may be a necessary requirement during the development of the FMP.

The Support Workgroup will actively participate in the development of the various sections of the FMP. Critical will be staff from CTLUSI who represent a multi-disciplinary team of technical experts in their respective fields and subject areas, working collaboratively and independently on specific areas of the FMP. Forestry staff (the Forest Lands Manager and Forester), with support from consultants, will be the primary authors of the FMP, including the forest inventory analysis, silvicultural guidelines, calculation of the annual allowable cut (AAC) and timber harvesting schedule, outlining social and economic benefits, and development of the monitoring protocol. Support from natural and cultural resources staff, technical input relating to water resources, fisheries, wildlife, and related non-timber specialists will ensure there is a balanced approach to the FMP and not simply a timber plan. A Forest History document including a chronology of events and harvest history is a requirement of the FMP, which will be prepared separate but in conjunction with the FMP. This project will be completed by this workgroup.

Click any of the following links to view maps of the seven forest tracts. To download a map, right click on the link and select “Save link as.” The maps can be viewed in any PDF viewer. They can also be used for navigation using a mobile device and a PDF map app such as Avenza Maps.

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CTCLUSI Forest Management

1245 Fulton Ave, Coos Bay, Oregon 97420

541-888-9577

Our Forest Lands

Inventory Presentation

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