35 March 2025 Policymaking & Advocacy Recognizing Excellence in Forestry The session wrapped up with the ODF Operator of the Year Awards, presented by Scott Swearingen from ODF. These awards highlight the importance of thoughtful, well-executed operations— reinforcing that compliance and completing project objectives can go hand in hand. Why It Matters to You Whether it’s adapting to ELZs, preparing for shifts in road management rules, or staying ahead of fire regulations, these policy changes directly impact how you work. The good news? Associated Oregon Loggers is at the table, ensuring operators’ voices are heard. Staying informed and engaged now will help you navigate these changes efficiently—protecting your ability to operate while maintaining regulatory compliance. If you have questions about how these updates affect your business, reach out to AOL and ask for Amanda. Your input shapes how regulations are developed and refined, and staying proactive is the best way to ensure Oregon’s forest sector remains strong. t Associated Oregon Loggers is directly involved in shaping the Adaptive Management Program Committee’s research on this issue, ensuring that any future rule changes are backed by sound science, rather than burdensome assumptions or negative environmental opinions of logging. Fire Season Takeaways: Rule Changes and What’s Ahead The 2024 fire season may be behind us, but the regulatory landscape is still shifting. Lee Miller of Miller Timber Services reviewed the season’s key challenges, while Amanda Sullivan-Astor of AOL, Lee Miller, and Greg Schmitz of Schmitz Timber Management shared updates from the ODF Industrial Fire Rules Review Committee. Finalized 2024 changes include adjustments to fire watch and water delivery requirements, with additional discussions underway about whether chainsaw use could be permitted during IFPL 3, and whether tethered logging should be restricted. The takeaway? Fire rules continue to evolve, and operators should stay engaged to ensure practical solutions are prioritized. Saturday at Convention offered a seminar on: What You Need to Know: Updates on Forest Regulation and Strategies for Success. The session delivered essential takeaways for forest operators navigating Oregon’s evolving regulatory landscape. With new rule interpretations, operational challenges, and policy shifts taking shape, the discussion focused on how these changes impact your business and how you can stay ahead. Adapting to Equipment Limitation Zones (ELZs): Lessons from the Field ELZs are not new, but their implementation continues to evolve. Stewardship Forester Dave Thompson provided an overview of rule expectations. But the real takeaway came from Wyatt Dunlap of Roseburg Forest Products, who showcased a recent harvest unit with a Riparian ELZ (R-ELZ), which D&H Logging executed exceptionally well. Their approach—carefully rigging the unit to protect small trees and shrubs—was so effective that it earned them the ODF Operator of the Year Award. This success story underscores that with the right planning and execution, ELZs don’t have to be a barrier to getting the job done. Hydrologic Disconnection: What It Means for Your Roads If you build, maintain, or use forest roads, hydrologic disconnection is now on your radar. Greg Erb, an ODF Roads Specialist, explained that ODF is actively assessing hydrologic connectivity and its implications for road management. With new scrutiny on how water moves across roads and into streams, operators need to be aware of changing expectations. Seth Barnes of OFIC highlighted how Updates on Forest Regulation and Strategies for Success at Convention ›By Amanda Sullivan-Astor, Forest Policy Manager
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