Matt Spurlock for Josephine County Commissioner

Let me start by saying that I don’t think I have all of the answers, and I certainly do not have all of the power to implement any plan. The purpose of this response is to show you all where my thoughts are, and to propose some real ideas for comprehensive forest management.

Logging is connected to fire, tourism, public health, home values, insurance costs, jobs, and lives.

A Comprehensive Forest Resilience and Economic Development Strategy for Josephine County

I. Introduction

Josephine County sits in a fire-adapted landscape that has been increasingly shaped by decades of fire suppression, reduced active management, and changing climate conditions. The result is a dangerous accumulation of fuels, increased wildfire intensity, and rising long-term costs to taxpayers.

Traditional timber practices alone (particularly large scale clearcutting) are not sufficient to meet modern economic, ecological, and community expectations.

This policy proposes a balanced, proactive approach that integrates:

• Forest management
• Fire mitigation
• Workforce development
• Recreation
• Fiscally responsible funding strategies
• Ecological reforestation

II. Forest Management Reform

County-managed timberlands should transition toward a diversified management model:

Key Actions:

Reduce reliance on large clearcuts

Implement:

• Selective harvesting
• Variable retention
• Thinning regimes
• Establish phased harvest schedules to stabilize revenue

Expected Outcomes:

• Improved forest resilience
• Reduced visual and ecological disruption
• Long-term sustainable yield

III. Prescribed Fire Expansion

Prescribed fire is one of the most effective tools for reducing wildfire severity.

Strategy:

• Increase use of prescribed burns in appropriate areas
• Utilize Oregon’s prescribed fire liability framework
• Integrate burns with thinning and fuel reduction

Expected Outcomes:

• Reduced fuel loads
• Lower fire intensity
• Safer conditions for firefighters

IV. Workforce Development

A forest resilience strategy must also be an economic strategy.

Key Components:

Extend wildland firefighter employment beyond fire season

Develop local contractor capacity for:

• Thinning
• Fuels reduction
• Burn operations

Key Partnerships:

• Local training programs (RCC, Grayback Forestry, local Fire Depts)
• State and federal workforce grants

Expected Outcomes:

• Stable, year-round employment
• Retention of skilled labor
• Strengthened local economy

V. Infrastructure: Roads and Trails

Access is essential for both fire management and economic use. Outdoor recreation for tourists and locals needs to be considered in every decision we make.

Strategy:

Maintain and improve critical forest road systems

Prioritize roads for:

• Fire response
• Fuel treatment access

Repurpose select corridors for recreation:

• Hiking
• Biking
• OHV/ATV use

Expected Outcomes:

• Improved emergency response
• Expanded recreation economy
• Multi-use infrastructure

VI. Cross-Boundary Coordination

Wildfire risk exists across ownership boundaries. We need to improve our relationships with landowners and partner agencies.

Approach:

Formalize coordination with:

• Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
• Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF)
• Private landowners
• Develop shared treatment zones
• Align with existing wildfire planning frameworks

Expected Outcomes:

• More effective fuel reduction
• Reduced fragmentation of efforts
• Greater funding eligibility

VII. Funding Strategy

This is great, how do we fund it? A diversified funding model is essential.

Funding Sources:

• Federal grants (wildfire mitigation programs)
• State forestry and resilience funding
• Strategic allocation of county timber revenue
• Public-private partnerships

The guiding principle is that we need to leverage county investment to unlock state and federal dollars.

Expected Outcome:

• Reduced burden on local taxpayers
• Scalable, sustainable funding

VIII. Fiscal Responsibility

Wildfire suppression is one of the most expensive public safety costs. We have seen a meteoric rise in the cost of insurance in the county. We need to spend more on prevention vs. disaster response. An ounce of prevention is better than metric tons of cure in this case.

Key Insight:

Prevention is significantly less expensive than response

Policy Direction:

• Shift investment toward:
• Fuel reduction
• Prescribed fire
• Risk mitigation

Expected Outcomes:

• Long-term cost savings
• Reduced emergency expenditures
• Lower or at least static insurance rates

IX. Ecological Reforestation & Reduced Chemical Dependence

A modern forest policy should not rely on a single tool like herbicides to ensure regeneration. Josephine County has the opportunity to lead with a more balanced, ecologically grounded approach that reduces chemical use while maintaining productivity, resilience, and public trust.

Policy Direction:

• Selective harvesting
• Smaller, phased harvest units
• Prescribed fire post harvest rather than chemical sprays
• Replanting diverse species (doug fir, ponderosa pine, other natives)
• Manual crews + targeted grazing

Retain the following:

• Partial canopy cover
• Seed trees
• Structural diversity
• More jobs

Expected Outcomes:

• Natural suppression of competing vegetation
• Reduced reliance on glyphosate and similar herbicides
• Improved long-term forest and community health
• Reduced fuel loads
• Improved regeneration conditions
• Alignment with natural fire-adapted ecosystems
• Reduced vulnerability to fire, pests, and drought
• Healthier, more resilient forests
• Less need for ongoing intervention
• Greater public acceptance

Strategic Partnerships for Restoration

To implement this effectively, the county should partner with experienced restoration organizations.

Potential Partners:

• Oregon Department of Forestry
• Lomakatsi Restoration Project
• The Nature Conservancy
• Siskiyou Mountain Club

Role of Partnerships:

• Technical expertise in prescribed fire and restoration
• Workforce development and training
• Grant access and project implementation
• Building trust across traditionally divided stakeholders

X. Conclusion

Josephine County has the opportunity to lead with a modern, balanced approach to forest management.

By integrating:

• Smarter timber practices
• Prescribed fire
• Workforce development
• Infrastructure investment
• Strategic partnerships

We can:

• Reduce wildfire risk
• Create jobs
• Expand recreation
• Strengthen our economy
• Protect taxpayers

Josephine County doesn’t need to choose between its forests and its future. With the right approach, we can protect both.