Site search
sponsored by
Home
News
ENLARGE
Drain tour: Catharina Besseling of Winston peers over the shoulder of Kayla Epperly, 9, as she counts the growth rings on a core sample from a Douglas fir tree during a forest tour in the Drain area. With foresters from Lone Rock Timber Co. as guides, 15 residents from Douglas County toured sites owned by the timber company to see how they thin and maintain trees on their lands.
|
ENLARGE
|
Forester
Jake Gibbs, a Lone Rock Timber Company forester, describes the laws regarding cutting treees near streams and how Douglas fir trees are better for fish habitat due to its resistance to rotting when they fall into the streams.
|
DRAIN -- Standing in a growth of Douglas fir trees, Lone Rock Timber Co. forester Jake Gibbs asked if anyone in the crowd could find the nearest clear cut.
Heads turned in every direction, but Gibbs quickly cut in with the answer.
"It's a trick question," he said. "You're standing in it."
Gibbs was leading a tour of forest land owned by Lone Rock, one of several forest tours that take place every summer to explain timber practices to the public.
The tours are organized by Douglas Timber Operators, a nonprofit community organization focused on promoting timber harvest, restoration and the production of forest products.
DTO executive assistant Donna Johnson said the tours fill a need in the area to educate the public about modern forestry practices, including what Johnson described as "the fact that clear cuts are a good thing," and how and why they are done.
"Especially we're trying to attract folks that are visitors to the area who can take back the information," she said. "There are a lot of misconceptions about Oregon and trees."
The Roseburg Visitors Center helps coordinate the trips, while DTO plans them and pays for transportation. The free tours -- two more are scheduled for August -- are led by foresters from four different area companies.
Heads turned in every direction, but Gibbs quickly cut in with the answer.
"It's a trick question," he said. "You're standing in it."
Gibbs was leading a tour of forest land owned by Lone Rock, one of several forest tours that take place every summer to explain timber practices to the public.
The tours are organized by Douglas Timber Operators, a nonprofit community organization focused on promoting timber harvest, restoration and the production of forest products.
DTO executive assistant Donna Johnson said the tours fill a need in the area to educate the public about modern forestry practices, including what Johnson described as "the fact that clear cuts are a good thing," and how and why they are done.
"Especially we're trying to attract folks that are visitors to the area who can take back the information," she said. "There are a lot of misconceptions about Oregon and trees."
The Roseburg Visitors Center helps coordinate the trips, while DTO plans them and pays for transportation. The free tours -- two more are scheduled for August -- are led by foresters from four different area companies.
On the most recent tour, Gibbs explained the site the crowd was standing on along Brush Creek just west of Drain had actually been clear-cut about 50 years ago. The trees surrounding the crowd -- most about 50 years old -- were scheduled to be harvested within 18 months, after which the plot of land would be replanted.
"We're also a business," Gibbs said, discussing sustainability and what it means to different people. "We can grow forest here."
"We're sustainable in that we're always going to have an inventory to harvest," added Gibbs, a stand management forester with the company who focuses on thinning and fertilizing.
Later on the tour, Gibbs explained that much of his job involves working with streams. He said timber practices affect streams, and the state regulates how close to a stream trees can be cut. Gibbs often keeps track of the temperature of streams that flow through company lands.
Gibbs said there is some talk in the state about increasing the buffer around streams. He disagrees with the need to increase the buffer, but he added, "If there is a negative impact (on fish), then we want to stop it."
"We're also a business," Gibbs said, discussing sustainability and what it means to different people. "We can grow forest here."
"We're sustainable in that we're always going to have an inventory to harvest," added Gibbs, a stand management forester with the company who focuses on thinning and fertilizing.
Later on the tour, Gibbs explained that much of his job involves working with streams. He said timber practices affect streams, and the state regulates how close to a stream trees can be cut. Gibbs often keeps track of the temperature of streams that flow through company lands.
Gibbs said there is some talk in the state about increasing the buffer around streams. He disagrees with the need to increase the buffer, but he added, "If there is a negative impact (on fish), then we want to stop it."
Two Tours Set
Forest tours led by professional foresters are offered every summer in July and August.
The remaining two tours this summer— set for Aug. 9 and 23 — will leave at 9 a.m. from the parking lot on Fowler Street across from the Douglas County Library. Space is limited, and a spot can be reserved by calling the Roseburg Visitors Center at 672-9731, Ext. 10. Guests should bring a sack lunch, and refreshments will be provided. The tours are operated by Douglas Timber Operators. |
Later, the tour was led to the edge of Brush Creek, and some people opted to dip their feet in the water or sit on logs that were resting across the water. Gibbs explained that trees are left behind in the stream to contribute to the habitat.
"We grow the trees up there, we manage the stream down here, and I think all parties are happy," he said.
Many of the 15 people who came on Tuesday's tour were happy to learn a new perspective about forest practices, and others were simply happy to get outside on a clear, sunny day.
Jeanne Rogness of Roseburg said she came on a tour a few years ago and learned a lot, so she wanted to come back.
"I love the stuff about the stream," said Rogness, a retired mental health worker at Roseburg's Veterans Affairs hospital. "There's always so much publicity about how the timber industry destroys streams. We have a really good example of just the opposite -- one particular company doing a spectacular job."
Dana Epperly, who works for Roseburg's public works department, rallied her two kids and her parents to come on the five-hour tour.
"I've seen the ad for several years and I finally decided it was time to take the day off," she said. "And we're looking for the sun."
Epperly's son Brett, a 14-year-old incoming freshman at Roseburg High School, took the opportunity to think about future career goals. He said he is considering a minor in forest management to go along with a planned major in computer design. He said he liked the tour because it "gives you a way to learn something you probably wouldn't get to see otherwise."
Gibbs, who led the tour along with co-worker Dave Sutton, was pleased with the results.
"Any time you can talk to people who don't know what we do or why we do it, it is a good thing," he said.
* You can reach reporting intern Dan Traylor at 957-4213 or by e-mail at dtraylor@newsreview.info.
"We grow the trees up there, we manage the stream down here, and I think all parties are happy," he said.
Many of the 15 people who came on Tuesday's tour were happy to learn a new perspective about forest practices, and others were simply happy to get outside on a clear, sunny day.
Jeanne Rogness of Roseburg said she came on a tour a few years ago and learned a lot, so she wanted to come back.
"I love the stuff about the stream," said Rogness, a retired mental health worker at Roseburg's Veterans Affairs hospital. "There's always so much publicity about how the timber industry destroys streams. We have a really good example of just the opposite -- one particular company doing a spectacular job."
Dana Epperly, who works for Roseburg's public works department, rallied her two kids and her parents to come on the five-hour tour.
"I've seen the ad for several years and I finally decided it was time to take the day off," she said. "And we're looking for the sun."
Epperly's son Brett, a 14-year-old incoming freshman at Roseburg High School, took the opportunity to think about future career goals. He said he is considering a minor in forest management to go along with a planned major in computer design. He said he liked the tour because it "gives you a way to learn something you probably wouldn't get to see otherwise."
Gibbs, who led the tour along with co-worker Dave Sutton, was pleased with the results.
"Any time you can talk to people who don't know what we do or why we do it, it is a good thing," he said.
* You can reach reporting intern Dan Traylor at 957-4213 or by e-mail at dtraylor@newsreview.info.
