BLM seeks initial input on proposed timber sales in Applegate Valley
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Medford, Ore. – The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comment on proposed timber sales to reduce wildfire risk from dead and dying trees across about 5,300 acres in Applegate Valley near Jacksonville.
Sales would remove dead and dying trees in strategic locations. The work would be along roadways, near homes, and in locations where fire managers could best stop fires while they are small.
“This project will improve life for Americans in many important ways,” said BLM Ashland Field Manager Lauren Brown. “Removing dead and dying trees is critical for firefighter safety and the people who use these lands. And harvesting timber while it still has value collects revenue for the American taxpayers.”
The BLM will host a field trip to the area from 5-7 p.m. on June 11, 2025. During the field trip, BLM foresters will discuss the bureau’s plans and show project sites where dead tree removal has already happened. Please RSVP for more information to [email protected].
The U.S. Treasury and 18 western Oregon counties would split sale proceeds. Preliminary estimates show the harvest could produce at least 14 million board feet of timber, enough to build more than 850 homes and support nearly 200 local jobs.
Additional information is available at the BLM National NEPA Register, where comments can be submitted through the ‘Participate Now’ option. The comment period will close June 23, 2025.
The BLM distributed nearly $28 million in timber revenue payments, including approximately $4.3 million to Jackson County and $3.3 million to Josephine County.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.