2024 UPDATE: Williams Public Forests up for Auction - Lets #KeepWilliamsWild!   

What Happened?

On October 2nd, 2024, the Josephine County Commissioners quietly and quickly put up 9 parcels (total of 1800 acres) of county-owned land in Williams for auction to the highest bidder on November 13th, 2024. These parcels worth more than 10.4M will be auctioned through sealed bids. This is a land auction, not a timber sale. Many of these parcels are adjacent to private properties owned by community members in Williams. See our website for map and pictures to help you identify where these parcels are and impacts the community. Please reference the online auction materials for more information on the Josephine County parcels, the reserve prices, and how they are marketing these parcels. Auction info is posted here.

Williams Community Forest Project’s Goal: We intend to leverage community, conservation, and legal resources to protect and conserve Pipe Fork and as many of the parcels listed in the Nov 13th Josephine County Auction.  

Historical Information from 2019 - 2023

As a resident of the great state of Oregon, I am deeply concerned about the potential timber sale and clearcutting of 114 acres on the north side of Pipe Fork in Josephine County.  We need to support and strongly encourage Josephine County Commissioners to agree to sell the Pipe Fork County parcel of 320 acres to The Conservation Fund. The Yellow Book Appraisal value of $2,020,000, that includes the timber value. This sale will enable the Pipe Fork to be preserved and transferred to the BLM with the intention to add this parcel to the already existing Pipe Fork Port Orford Cedar Research Natural Area (RNA) that includes the Pipe Fork headwaters. This effort also aligns with management directives for Late Successional Reserves from the BLM Southern Oregon Resource Management Plan as well as the top Department of the Interior priority to conserve at least 30% of our lands and waters by the year 2030. We must preserve this rare and precious resource for future generations. Our community cannot afford such a massive ecological loss. 

Please sign this petition today and share! 

About Pipe Fork

The headwaters of Pipe Fork emerge from land preserved by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) as a Research Natural Area (RNA). Pipe Fork has been nominated for designation as a Federal, Wild and Scenic River. Its water runs cold, clear, and abundant year-round through a narrow and deeply shaded canyon wilderness. It has a quality and quantity of water that is exceptional these days, due to the effects of frequent drought and the fragmentation of watersheds by clearcut logging.  From the undivided sanctuary of these intact forests, the Pike Fork flows down into the valley and becomes the east Fork of Williams Creek, providing generously to farms and homes and enabling rich nursery and spawning conditions for Chinook and Coho salmon.

Watch the Video about Pipe Fork

 

 

 

 

 

 

The riparian area and surrounding forest provides a vital wildlife corridor between high and lower elevations.  Home and passageway for such charismatic creatures as the mountain lion and the black bear, the endangered Pacific Fisher and the rare northern spotted owl, as well as many other animals and plants that thrive only in the domain of a mature forest.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately even here on Josephine County land, that borders the protected headwaters of the Pipe Fork within the BLM Research Natural Area (RNA), the threat of clearcutting is a real danger. 

What is at stake?

Josephine County owns a 320 acre parcel that encompasses both sides of Pipe Fork and has had plans to auction the timber rights for clearcutting 114 acres on the north side of the creek. That is 114 acres on a steep mountain side with unstable soils that are highly prone to erosion.  The devastation that would result from clearcutting on the steep slopes above Pipe Fork would do lasting damage to the sensitive riparian forest and greatly diminish both the quality and quantity of water flowing into Williams Valley community. It is a known fact that clearcutting leads to soil erosion which will increase sedimentation in water bodies downstream, affecting water quality (USDA Forest Service). Moreover, mature forests play a crucial role in maintaining local climate conditions and providing habitat for wildlife. Destruction like this would reach within 30 yards of the creek, sediment from runoff and landslides would fowl its immaculate water.  Summer stream flows could decrease and become warmer, no longer a source of pure cold, plentiful water to the Williams community.

 

 

 

 

 

 

What are we doing about it?

WCFP and the Williams Community are determined to prevent a clearcut from happening. Since 2019 we have collaborated and communicated professionally in good faith with the County Commissioners to find a way to preserve Pipe Fork. WCFP has found a partner with The Conservation Fund to purchase the property. The BLM supports the effort to acquire the parcel, and has the intention to protect it by adding it to the Pipe Fork Port Orford Research Natural Area (RNA). This effort also aligns with management directives for Late Successional Reserves from the BLM Southern Oregon Resource Management Plan as well as the top Department of the Interior priority to conserve at least 30% of our lands and waters by the year 2030. 

We need to support and encourage Josephine County Commissioners to agree to sell the Pipe Fork County parcel of 320 acres for the Yellow Book Appraisal value of $2,020,000, that includes the timber value, to The Conservation Fund. 

Then the The Conservation Fund will transfer ownership to the BLM with the intention to add this parcel into the existing RNA, ensuring that the entire length of Pipe Fork and the surrounding forest, is permanently protected for the generations to come.

What can you do to help?

• Sign This Petition
• Share this Petition with anyone in Oregon!
• Write a Letter to the Josephine County Commissioners
• Talk to the Josephine County Commissioners in person every Wednesday at their Weekly Business Sessions
  • 9 a.m at Anne Basker Auditorium
  • 600 NW 6th Street, Grants Pass

Want to learn more? 

Here is a timeline of the community efforts over the last three years working in good faith with the Josephine County Commissioners. 

2019

• December: Flags reported on Pipe Fork. 

2020

• January: WCFP learned that Josephine County plans to sell timber rights via auction to clear cut. Auction sale scheduled for April 16, 2020. The clearcut would consist of 114 acres of mature forest adjacent to the Pipe Fork Creek on 320 acres of land owned by Josephine County. 
• January - March: WCFP and Williams Community voices concerns through proper channels, including meetings with County Commissioner Dan DeYoung. 
• March 25th - Josephine County cancels timber sale due to the pandemic.
• March - August: WCFP and Williams Community writes more letters, publishes articles, and conducts outreach to County Commissioners and researches funders and applies fundraising.
• May 1st: Chas tours Southern Oregon Land Conservancy on Pipe Fork with hope of purchase.
• May 18th - Williams Community submit written and video testimonies to value of Pipe Fork watershed to remain in current state and to not conduct clearcutting
• June 1st: WCFP sends letter to Southern Or Land Conservancy requesting partnership to purchase
• June 1st:  Dave Streeter, estimates property worth $1.6 million, Has 3.74 million board feet.
• June 4th: Wally Hicks, Josephine County attorney confirms, “the estimated value of the 320 acre Pipe Fork property is $1,654,749.40.”
• August 4th: Josephine County postpones sale until Feb 28, 2021
• August 12th: Josephine County Commissioners public meeting,
  • Dan DeYoung says: “If you have conservancy on board, it's time they came forward.”  
• September 3rd: Josephine County Commissioners public meeting,
  • Dan DeYoung says: “lean on conservancy to get purchased” and
  • Darin Fowler says “If an alternative offer, the commissioners will entertain.”
• August 5th: Article in Grants Pass Daily Courier states that David Streeter estimates the value of the entire 320 acres including Pipe Fork timber, at roughly $1.6 million.
• October 8th: BLM initiates application to Land and Water Conservation Fund
• October 26th: WCFP contacts a forest conservation group who had expressed interest in owning PipeFork
• October 28th: WCFP meets with Dan DeYoung who agreed to write a letter of intent to sell.
• December: Commissioners reluctant to sell  - fearing other lands in Williams would be protested - asked WCFP to promise not to protest. 
  
  • WCFP provided a letter promising not to protest in a good faith effort. 

2021

• January: Template for Notice of Intent to Negotiate for sale of Pipe Fork drafted and sent to County Legal team for review
• February: 
  
  • Wally Hicks - County Attorney - motioned to discuss the sale of Pipe Fork at the next Commissioner meeting. Darin Fowler says he supports selling to a conservation fund.
  • WCFP sends letter to County Commissioners requesting to enter into private negotiation of sale
  • Video about Pipe Fork by Kevin Peer of White Oak Productions released and sent to Commissioners to view. Link below. 
  • Testimony from over 20 people from Williams Community sent and heard by Commissioners
• Feb 24th: Commissioners decide to postpone sale again until Sept 2021
• March: 
  Message from the forest conservation group noting they having difficulty obtaining information from Josephine County in order for them to assess property and determine their willingness to sell.
• May 29th: BOC meeting decision to sell property outright. Dave Streeter to view the property first of June and the following executive meeting will determine the price to sell.
• July 19: Message from the forest conservation group to Josephine County Commissioners confirming use of Yellow book appraisal
• Sept 28th: Dan DeYoung approves use of the Yellow Book Appraisal
  • Yellow Book Appraisals promote fairness, uniformity, and efficiency in the appraisal of real property in federal land acquisitions. 

2022

• The forest conservation group decides to not pursue the purchase.
• June 14th: Application submitted by BLM to Oregon Land And Water Conservation Fund program is approved and is #1 priority - sent to Congress to approve BLM purchase.
• Sept 9th: WCFP sends message to Josephine County informing them that The Conservation Fund is interested in purchasing Pipe Fork land
• Oct 25th: WCFP, BLM, Josephine County, and The Conservation Fund tours Pipe Fork
• Nov 14th: Commissioners communicate that they are willing to entertain an offer.
• Dec 15th: Commissioners communicate that they have not agreed to negotiate, there will be an update after January meeting

2023

• Jan 17th: Josephine County Commissioners Executive session sends letter of intent to sell Pipe Fork for preservation
• March 6th: Congress approved LWCF for BLM purchase of Pipe Fork
• March 10th: Proposal for purchase by The Conservation Fund
• August 27: Yellow Book appraisal complete. Pipe Fork valued at $2,020,000
• Sept 9th: The Conservation Fund meets with Josephine County Commissioners and offers of $2,020,000 that matches the Yellow Book Appraisal
• October 13th: Received Message from Dave Streeter that appraisal and offer was $750,000 short of his personal appraisal
• Nov 1st: The Conservation Fund sent message to Josephine County Commissioners asking for response to The Conservation Funds interest in purchasing Pipe Fork
• November 7th:  Josephine County Commissioners did not make a motion to accept the offer from The Conservation Fund
• November 20th: WCFP requested copy of Dave Streeters Appraisal
• December 12th: the Josephine County Commissioners decided they would not share the details of their internal assessment that they claim adds an additional $750,000 to the $2.02M offered by The Conservation Fund. 
• December 13th: the Commissioners listened to concerned citizens and Cheryl Bruner of WCFP requested for their "good faith" in honoring the Yellow Book Appraisal price that a was offered by The Conservation Fund. Dan DeYoung stated that "You're not out of this yet. Don't don't go into Christmas thinking you're you're out of it... I'm still fighting for you."
• December 20th: 34 citizens spoke - consisting of all ages and backgrounds, urging the Commissioners to accept The Conservation Fund's offer of $2.02M to preserve Pipe Fork. The community effort definitely had an impact and impressed the Commissioners. All three stated in their comments that they are willing to sell, yet they are holding fast to wanting more money than the current $2.02M on the table that was determined by industry standard Yellow Book Appraisal that cost the BLM $19K.

See below for detailed updates!!!

Important Links:

Williams Community Forest Project information on Pipe Fork
https://www.williamscommunityforestproject.org/save-pipe-fork/

Kevin Peer's 7-minute Pipe Fork Informational Video
https://vimeo.com/510133955

The Conservation Fund
https://www.conservationfund.org/

The Daily Courier
http://www.thedailycourier.com/archives/search.html

Josephine County Commissioners
https://www.josephinecounty.gov/government/board_of_county_commissioners/meet_the_commissioners/index.php