SALEM, Ore–The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) has been implementing many changes to the Forest Practices Act brought about by the landmark Private Forest Accord (PFA) to better protect aquatic wildlife and provide regulatory certainty for forest landowners. A big part of the legislation accompanying the PFA changes also includes funding for several grant programs to improve conservation and recovery for some of Oregon’s most sensitive fish and amphibians. One of those grant programs is administered through ODF’s sister agency, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW).
The ODFW PFA Grant Program has begun taking applications and is offering up to $10 million for its first solicitation to improve habitat for fish and amphibian species proposed in the habitat conservation program-covered species list. The grant program will fund a variety of conservation and watershed-scale investment projects ranging from in-stream habitat restoration and aquatic passage barrier removal to culvert retrofits, soil stabilization, and more. Applications are due by Dec. 31, 2023, at 11:59 p.m.
“It’s a restoration-based program,” said Andy Spyrka, program coordinator for ODFW. “And is about promoting habitat restoration of those HCP-covered species throughout Oregon.”
As with most grant programs, the details and deadlines can get complicated, but examples of projects and application instructions are clearly laid out on the ODFW’s Private Forest Accord Grant Program webpage and in the PFA Grant Guidelines.
Visit ODF’s websites for more information on the PFA or the changes to the Fore
George Custer lives in Oakridge with his wife Sayre. George is a former smokejumper from his hometown of Cave Junction, a former captain in the U.S. Marine Corps. and ran a construction company in Southern California. George assumed the volunteer duties as the Editor of the Highway 58 Herald in 2022. He loves riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, building all things wood, and playing drums on the weekends in his office.