The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has distributed more than $27.7 million in timber revenue payments to 18 western Oregon counties. The payments are supported by the timber harvested from public lands and they support local services including emergency response and education.
BLM Oregon/Washington State Director Barry Bushue said the agency manages more than 2.4 million acres of some of the world's most productive forests in western Oregon and it is committed to supplying a reliable, secure and resilient domestic supply of timber while providing jobs and support to local communities.
The BLM manages this area -- known as the O&C and CBWR lands as well as funds generated from timber harvests in accordance with two laws. The Oregon & California Railroad Act of 1937 directs revenue from O&C Lands to be shared between the US Treasury and 18 western Oregon counties. The Coos Bay Wagon Road Act of 1939 directs revenue from CBWR lands to be paid in lieu of tax payments to Coos and Douglas counties.
Locally, Douglas County is by far the largest recipient of BLM timber revenue payments with more than $6.9 million. Jackson County received about $4.3 million while Josephine County received over $3.3 million, Coos County received more than $1.9 million, Curry County received just over $1 million and Klamath County got $642,000.
This funding provides local communities with the means to construct new county buildings; develop fairgrounds and museums; support libraries, school and jails; and build flood-control dams and reservoirs. Beyond these direct payments to counties, the BLM timber program supports approximately 2,000 local jobs and generates more than $1 billion for local economies.
